Entry Requirements
Entry into undergraduate and postgraduate programmes is dependent on your academic qualifications and English Language proficiency.
International applicants must satisfy both the English language entry requirement for their chosen course AND the academic entry requirement for their chosen course in order to be eligible to study.
English language entry requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate that they have an appropriate level of English language to be eligible to study one of our foundation, undergraduate or postgraduate courses. The level of English required depends on the course applied for.
Secure English Language Tests (SELT)
We accept the following SELT tests at the levels identified for entry:
| SELT Tests | Undergraduate | Postgraduate |
| IELTS for UKVI Academic | 6.0 (Min. 5.5 in each-sub-skill) | 6.5 (Min 5.5 in each sub-skill) |
| PTE Academic UKVI | 61 overall (Min. 59 in each sub-skill) | 65 overall (Min. 59 in each sub-skill) |
| Trinity College London ISE | ISEII - Merit in all 4 components |
ISEII - Distinction in all 4 components |
| LanguageCert SELT (online version not accepted) | LanguageCert B2 Communicator – Pass (minimum 33/Pass in each component) | LanguageCert B2 Communicator – High Pass (minimum 33/Pass in each component) |
| Skills for English UKVI English Language Level Test | B2 Pass | B2 Pass with Merit |
If you have taken a SELT test and have scored below our English language entry requirements for your chosen course, you may be able to join one of our pre-sessional English courses prior to starting your chosen main course of study. Our pre-sessional English courses are designed specifically to improve your overall English language ability, and on successful completion will allow you to progress on to your chosen main course of study.
Other English language qualifications
We also accept a number of additional English language qualifications for entry to our courses.
| Qualification | Undergraduate | Postgraduate |
| IELTS Academic/Indicator (including One Skill Retake) | 6.0 (Min. 5.5 in each-sub-skill) | 6.5 (Min 5.5 in each sub-skill) |
| PTE Academic (online version not accepted) | 61 overall (Min. 59 in each sub-skill) | 65 overall (Min. 59 in each sub-skill) |
| International Baccalaureate (A or B Higher) | Grade 4 | Grade 4 |
| International Baccalaureate (B Standard) | Grade 5 | Grade 5 |
| GCSE/IGCSE English Language | Grade C or above | Grade C or above |
| OxfordAQA GCSE | Grade 4 | Grade 4 |
| Gatehouse International ESOL | Level 1 Merit or above | Level 2 Pass or above |
| AES Bellerbys Foundation | 50% | 60% |
| Cambridge Upper Main Suite | B2 First Grade B overall | C1 Advanced Grade C / B2 First Grade A |
| OET | NA | 2 C and 2 C+ |
| TOEFL iBT (and TOEFL At Home) |
Overall score: 79 |
Overall score: 91 |
|
Oxford International English Language Test (ELLT) Use the VOUCHER CODE 'Che25' to reduce the price of this test from £120 to £90. The code must be used with this link. |
B2+ overall with at least B2 in each band OR 6 overall with no less than 5 in each band | C1 overall with at least B2 in each band OR 7 overall with no less than 5 in each band |
|
Password Skills Plus At-home Test Students can use the code PSPCHES20 for £20 off (total £108 cost) |
Password 6.0 with no less than Password 5.5 in each band | Password 6.5 with no less than Password 5.5 in each band |
| LanguageCert Academic | Overall 65 with no less than 60 in each band | Overall 70 with no less than 60 in each band |
|
Kaplan International Tools for English (KTE) Use this VOUCHER CODE to claim a 25% discount, reducing the price to just £88.50: CHESKRS65. Simply enter this code on this booking form to claim the discount. |
444 overall with no less than 425 in each component | 478 overall with no less than 425 in each component |
In-country English language qualifications
In addition to the above tests, we also accept some country-specific in-country English language qualifications for entry to our courses. To see if we accept an in-country English language qualification from your home country, please visit the Your Country section and choose your country.
Please note, we do not accept in-country English Language Tests for the following courses:
- MSc Pre-registration Adult Nursing
- MSc Pre-registration Mental Health Nursing
- MA Social Work
- MA Art Therapy
- MA TESOL
- PGCE (Primary and Secondary)
- MBChB
Majority English Speaking Countries
Applicants from Majority English Speaking Countries will normally not need to provide further evidence of English language proficiency.
- 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
Academic entry requirements
Applicants must satisfy the academic entry criteria for their chosen course of study in order to be eligible to study.
International Foundation Programme & Bachelor's Degree (with Foundation Year)
For entry onto our Bachelor's Degree including a Foundation Year, we require a school leaving qualification which is equivalent to British GCSE's and English proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall. For entry onto our International Foundation Programme, we require a school leaving qualification which is equivalent to British GCSE’s. To find out which qualifications are acceptable from your home country, please visit the Your Country section and choose your country. You can learn more about our Foundation Options.
Undergraduate/Bachelor's degree
For entry onto the first year of our undergraduate/Bachelor degree programmes, we normally require a school leaving qualification which is equivalent to British A-level/International Baccalaureate. To find out which qualifications are acceptable from your home country and at what grades, please visit the Your Country section and choose your country. You can also view our range of Undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees.
Postgraduate Taught/Masters' degree
Entry onto our postgraduate Masters' courses requires an undergraduate/bachelor degree of equivalent standard to the British undergraduate/bachelor degree. To find out which qualifications are acceptable from your home country, please visit the Your Country section and choose your country. You can also view our range of Postgraduate Taught/Master's Degrees.
Occupational Health/DBS Requirements
You will start to receive information regarding your DBS check and Occupational Health Check once your CAS has been issued to you. If you do not require a CAS to study with us in September 2024 you will receive this information once, you have paid your deposit and your offer is unconditional. Please note that while your offer is unconditional your place does remain provisional upon completing these suitability checks irrespective as to whether you have enrolled and commenced your studies.
DBS Check
Please note applicants from Overseas are still required to complete a DBS check as well as a Good Conduct Declaration in the normal way, you will also be required to supply a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ (or similar) from your home country.
For further detailed information on the DBS process please contact dbs@chester.ac.uk.
Occupational Health Check
The Occupational Health Check (also known as pre-medical check) is being conducted on behalf of the University of Chester by Innovate Healthcare.
The process is completed and submitted online; you will receive an email from Innovate Healthcare directly which will provide you with a link to complete your questionnaire. This will usually be sent within 10-14 days of your CAS being issued (or from when your offer is updated to unconditional if you do not require a CAS to study at the University of Chester). Please also check your junk folder periodically. You may need to speak to a Clinician so we ask that you keep an eye out for calls once you have submitted the questionnaire. The call may be from a withheld number.
The email from Innovate Healthcare will be sent to the email address that was provided on your application form. If you no longer use this email address, please provide us with your new email address so that we can update your records accordingly. To update your email before the course begins, you should email us at applyinternational@chester.ac.uk. Please also let us know if your contact number changes.
If you need to contact Innovate Healthcare, you can do so on ChesterStudents@innovatehealthcare.co.uk or +44 (0) 161 527 7405. The Occupational Health service is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm UK time.