Entry Requirements

Academic Entry Requirements

Students from countries outside the UK will be expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor degree (or equivalent) for Postgraduate Study. 

To apply for MPhil or PhD you should have the equivalent of an upper second class British Bachelor degree (i.e. a 2.1 or a 1^st) in a subject relevant to that you wish to study. If you have a lower second class Bachelor degree (2.2) then you will be required to also have the equivalent of a British Master’s degree.

International applicants should refer to the Courses website for details of specific course requirements. For country specific entry requirements see Your Country and International and European Baccalaureates.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. In some cases work experience or success in other fields may be accepted as equivalent to formal qualifications.

If you are from overseas and are looking to come to the UK to study then you, and the education establishment, will need to know whether your qualifications are recognised in the UK. To enable you to make this comparison more efficiently and accurately, please contact UK NARIC. UK NARIC can provide you with a 'statement of comparability' that is designed to assist you when applying for courses in the UK. The comparability statement will enable admitting institutions to make informed decisions about the suitability of your qualification(s) for the course for which you are applying. For more information about UK NARIC please visit www.naric.org.uk or call +44 (0)871 330 7033.

English Language Requirements

With the exception of foreign language modules, all programmes at the University of Chester are taught and assessed in English. Applicants whose first language is not English must have an appropriate level of English proficiency certification before applying. This should include the name and result of any English language test taken, as well as copies of the appropriate certificates.

What English Qualifications does University of Chester accept?

We recognise the following, most common, English proficiency examinations. Please note that the validity of IELTS and TOEFL qualifications is 2 years. They cannot be verified after two years and, if expired, may not be accepted by UKBA.

The below table contains required scores for the majority of our courses. However, please note that for some courses, for instance: Nursing, PGCE, Art Therapy, Marketing Communications and PR, the English language proficiency requirements may differ from the ones mentioned below. For further details please contact the International Office.

Postgraduate Study

IELTS 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in any band)

TOEFL 90 (internet based) with the following minimum scores in each component: listening 21, reading 22, speaking 23, writing 21

PTE Academic with overall score of 57 and no less than 51 in any component

Undergraduate Study

IELTS 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in any band)

TOEFL 87 (internet based) with the following minimum scores in each component: listening 21, reading 22, speaking 23, writing 21

PTE Academic with overall score of 51 and no less than 51 in any component

Please note that these are general entry requirements and some courses may require you to have a higher score either overall or in a specific component.  For many courses in the faculty of health and social care you will generally be required to have a higher level of English language proficiency. 

We may also accept other English Language proficiency examinations (e.g. WAEC or Indian Standard XII).  Please contact the International Office for advice.

TOEFL code number for the University of Chester:  3886.  Please use this code number if you wish your TOEFL score to be sent directly to the University of Chester.

Is English your "Official Language"?

As the countries listed below teach through the medium of English and English is used widely for administrative purposes, it is expected that nationals from these countries would not be required to have an English Language qualification, unless their grades fall below the required standard. Applicants who are nationals of the following countries are thus permitted to submit a copy of their school leaving certificate with their grade for English Language and a copy of their passport in lieu of any IELTS or TOEFL tests.

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• The Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Jamaica
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United States of America

What if I have not met the English language requirements?

If you do not have the required English language entry level, you may wish to attend a pre-sessional English language course. The Pre-sessional English language course is run in partnership with English in Chester and is for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Courses vary in length depending on students' current level of English. There are 6 and 12 week courses with entry requirements of IELTS 6.0, 5.5 and 5.0 (or equivalent).  Please contact English in Chester if you are interested in enrolling.

*Please contact the International office for IELTS equivalents