Postgraduate Study

English Language Requirements for Postgraduate Study

If your First Degree was Taught in English. Applicants who provide evidence that their first degree was taught and assessed in English do not have to provide further evidence of language competence. Applicants should normally have completed their first degree within two years of the entry date of the postgraduate programme, to ensure adequate currency in English. 

However,  if you completed your first degree over two years ago and you can provide evidence that you have regularly continued to use academic-standard English in the interim, then you may not need to provide a current English language test certificate. 

In such cases,  applicants should provide their evidence when they apply for postgraduate study,  at which time we will consider each request on an individual basis.  Acceptable evidence would include,  for example, testimonials from line managers from an English-speaking company who can attest to your written and spoken English language capability.

If your First Degree was Not Taught in English. Applicants whose first degree was not taught and examined in English must show that they have passed one of the following tests, to the level shown in the table below. Tests must have been taken within two years of the proposed date of admission.

IELTS Certificates . Photocopies, legible faxed or scanned copies of IELTS certificates can be accepted as the University can verify IELTS scores through the web-based IELTS verification service. Your certificates should be scanned and uploaded through the on-line application system.

Please click here to go to the IELTS page for more information about the IELTS test.

 

TOEFL Certificates . If you are about to take a TOEFL test, you should chose the College as one of your "Designated Institutions" using the DI number 3760. This will enable us to verify your test certificate, which you should scan and upload with your application through the on-line application system. If you have already taken your test, then please upload a scanned copy of your test certifcate.

Please click here to go the TOEFL page for more information about the TOEFL test.

Variations in English Requirements. The level of English language required can vary from programme to programme, so applicants should always check the exact requirements as detailed in the table below.

Conditional Offers Without English Proficiency. If you do not meet the English requirements at the time of application we can make a conditional offer, giving you the opportunity to improve your score so that an unconditional offer can be made later.

We would, however, caution you that, although you could travel to the UK to undertake further tuition prior to the start of the academic year, we would still need you to pass the language test at the required level before you could be admitted. We therefore advise applicants to ensure that they have passed a test at the required level and met any other conditions before going to the expense of travelling to the UK . 

Students with a Total IELTS Score of Less than 7.0 (or TOEFL Equivalent).  Students with a total IELTS score of less than 7.0 (or TOEFL Equivalent) will need to take a Test of English at Matriculation (TEAM) test when matriculating (see below).

The Test of English at Matriculation (TEAM)

What is TEAM?  TEAM is not used to decide whether or not to accept you at the University. TEAM is used to assess whether,  when you matriculate at the university, you may benefit from the English language testing and tuition courses offered, free of charge, to non-native speakers on postgraduate programmes at Edinburgh.  These courses are held at the Institute for Applied Language Studies (IALS), University of Edinburgh.  More information on TEAM testing - and the benefits to students - is shown here:

Web Link to TEAM testing at the University of Edinburgh

Who Has to Take TEAM?  If the English test score you present for acceptance at the University is below 7.0 IELTS (below 600 TOEFL, 250 TOEFL-CBT or 100 TOEFL-iBT), then you must take TEAM as part of your matriculation.  You will receive instructions how to do this from the College office.

If you score 7.0 IELTS or more (600 TOEFL or more; 250 TOEFL-CBT or more; 100 TOEFL iBT or more) you will not be required to take TEAM.  However, we strongly recommend you consider doing so, as you may find you could benefit from additional English language classes. 

Waivers.  The PG Dean retains the discretion to adjust the proof of English language competency requirements on an individual basis,  depending on the evidence provided.  Students given waivers will be required to take a TEAM test at matriculation.

English Language Support for Applicants and On-Course Students.  IALS can provide full time pre-sessional courses for applicants (on a paid basis).  In addition,  during the academic year IALS runs a special programme on behalf of the University, free of charge, for postgraduate students registered for a degree who need help with their English.

Further information on the English language testing and tuition services provided by the Institute for Applied Language Studies can be found from the web site here:

Link to the Institute for Applied Language Studies web page

English Requirements for Applicants from the University of Nottingham,  Ningbo (China)

Graduates of the University of Nottingham at Ningbo (China) who apply for admission to the College of Humanities and Social Science within 2 years of graduating from Ningbo need not provide further proof of English Language proficiency PROVIDED that the Edinburgh postgraduate programme requires an IELTS total score of 6.5 or less.

Ningbo graduates who apply for admission at the University of Edinburgh after 2 years of graduating from Ningbo, or who are applying for programmes requiring an IELTS test score greater than 6.5, must provide proof of English Language proficiency.

TABLE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Key:   

TWE = Test of Written English,
CBT =Computer Based Test
CPE = Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English
CAE =Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English
iBT = Internet-based TOEFL English Test

Note: If you are intending to take the TOEFL paper test, then the University requires you to take the Test of Written English. You are therefore advised to ascertain, when booking your TOEFL test, that this test is available. If not applicants should make arrangements to take the IELTS test. 

Page owned by CHSS PG Office.                         Updated 16/01/09