Country-specific qualifications

We accept specific high school qualifications from selected countries as evidence of English language ability.

Each country-specific qualification remains valid for a certain number of years. If you've completed one of the qualifications listed below, it's important to check that your award will continue to be valid on the start date of your course.

Accepted for undergraduate courses

CountryQualificationRequirements
Botswana Cambridge Overseas School Certificate  Credit (3-6) or above 
Brunei Brunei-Cambridge O Level Grade C or above
Cameroon GCE O Level (British system) Grade C or above 
Caribbean Caribbean Examination Council General Proficiency  Grade I, II or III 
Gambia West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC)  Credit (4-6) or above 
Ghana West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC)   Credit (4-6) or above 
Hong Kong Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE)  Grade 4 or above for most courses. Grade 5 or above for Medicine and Dentistry. 
Hong Kong Use of English AS Level  Grade C or above
Hong Kong Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education

Grade 5 overall, with no component less than 5, if IELTS 7.0 is required for your intended degree.

Grade 4 overall, with no component less than 4, if IELTS 6.5 or less is required for your intended degree.

India Standard XII

75% or above when awarded by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).

80% or above when awarded by an accepted State Board. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and State Boards of Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are not accepted.

Education must have been completed in English Medium.

Kenya Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)  Grade C or above 
Liberia West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC)   Credit (4-6) or above 
Malawi Malawi School Certificate of Education  Credit (3-6) or above 
Malaysia Malaysian SPM 1119 Grade C or above 
Malaysia Malaysian SPM English CEFR B2 with at least B2 in each element. Some courses also accept CEFR C1 with at least B2 in each element.
Nigeria West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC)   Credit (4-6) or above 
Norway Vitnemal Videregaende Opplaering (VVO) English GPA 3.0 or above
Sierra Leone West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC)   Credit (4-6) or above 
Singapore Singapore-Cambridge O Level  Grade C or above 
South Africa National Senior Certificate (SANSC or NSC)  Grade 5-7
Tanzania Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)  Grade C or above 
Uganda Certificate of Educaton (UCE)  Credit (3-6) or above 
UK A Level or AS Level English Language  Grade E or above 
UK GCSE English Language  Grade 4 or grade C or above 
UK IGCSE English as a First Language  Grade 4 or grade C or above 
UK IGCSE English as a Second Language  Grade 5 or grade B or above. Some courses accept grade 4 or grade C or above.
UK International Baccalaureate in English Language B (Group 2)  Standard level grade 5 or Higher level grade 4. Please note, English Ab Initio Standard level is not accepted.   
UK International Baccalaureate in English Language and Literature A (Group 1) Standard level grade 5 or Higher level grade 4. Please note, English Ab Initio Standard level is not accepted.
Zambia Secondary School Certificate Grade 6 or above 
Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education Credit (5-6) or above 

Accepted for master's courses

CountryQualificationRequirements
Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE/GCE) Grade C or above 
Cameroon GCE O Level (British system)  Grade C or above 
Caribbean Caribbean Examination Council General Proficiency  Grade I or II 
Gambia West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC)   Credit (4-6) or above 
Ghana West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC)   Credit (4-6) or above 
Hong Kong Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE)   Grade 4 or above for most courses. Grade 5 or above for Medicine and Dentistry.
Hong Kong Use of English AS Level  Grade C or above 
Hong Kong Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education 

Grade 5 overall, with no component less than 5, if IELTS 7.0 is required for your intended degree.

Grade 4 overall, with no component less than 4, if IELTS 6.5 or less is required for your intended degree.

India Standard XII  

75% or above when awarded by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE).

80% or above when awarded by an accepted State Board. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and State Boards of Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are not accepted. 

Education must have been completed in English Medium.  

Kenya Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)   Grade C or above 
Liberia West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC)   Credit (4-6) or above 
Malawi Malawi School Certificate of Education  Credit (3-6) or above  
Malaysia Malaysian SPM 1119  Grade C or above  
Nigeria West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC)   Credit (4-6) or above 
Norway Vitnemal Videregaende Opplaering (VVO) English  GPA 4.0 or above
Sierra Leone West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC)   Credit (4-6) or above 
Singapore Singapore-Cambridge O Level   Grade C or above  
South Africa National Senior Certificate (SANSC or NSC)   Grade 5-7  
Tanzania Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)   Grade C or above  
Uganda Certificate of Educaton (UCE)   Credit (3-6) or above  
UK A Level or AS Level English Language  Grade E or above  
UK GCSE English Language   Grade 4 or grade C or above  
UK IGCSE English as a First Language   Grade 4 or grade C or above  
UK IGCSE English as a Second Language   Grade 5 or grade B or above
UK International Baccalaureate in English Language B (Group 2)   Standard level grade 5 or Higher level grade 4. Please note, International Baccalaureate in English Language and Literature A (Group 1) and English Ab Initio Standard level are not accepted.  
Zambia Secondary School Certificate  Grade 6 or above 
Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education  Credit (5-6) or above  

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