Ewch i’r prif gynnwys

English language requirements

Mae'r cynnwys hwn ar gael yn Saesneg yn unig.

All applicants must demonstrate a standard level of academic English or Welsh language to study our courses.

In addition to meeting the academic language standard, applicants who require a Student Route visa to study in the UK must present an acceptable English language qualification to meet UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) requirements - in most cases, this will be the same language evidence.

The university minimum requirement for English language is a grade C/4 at GCSE or IELTS (Academic) with 6.5 overall and a minimum of 5.5 in each of the subskills, but for some undergraduate and postgraduate courses, our admissions tutors may ask for higher grades or scores. We accept a variety of English language tests and academic qualifications for entry and have published a list of acceptable equivalents to GCSE and IELTS.

We have several agreements in place for universities with whom we have formal partnership agreements in relation to English Language requirements. Applicants from partner institutions should contact their current place of study for more details on eligibility.

For European Exchange applicants, please see the European Exchange study pages on what evidence you will need to provide.

Find out more about accepted English language equivalences for undergraduate and postgraduate study:

Undergraduate

English language requirements for undergraduate students.

Postgraduate

English language requirements for postgraduate students.

Choosing the right IELTS test

IELTS for UK Visas Immigration (offered by the IELTS SELT Consortium) is not required for undergraduate or postgraduate courses. We will accept all IELTS (Academic) tests (including the one skill retake) from any IELTS test centre, but do not currently accept the online IELTS test.

For Foundation courses, Pre-sessional English and English for University Study courses, you usually must take an IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration test or a Pearson Academic (UKVI) test.

For English for University Study (EfUS) applicants intending to apply for a Short Term Student Visa, please contact elt@cardiff.ac.uk for advice on other acceptable English language tests.

English language test overall score comparison table

Accepted language test

Equivalency to IELTS 6.5 overall

Equivalency to IELTS 7.0 overall

Equivalency to IELTS 7.5 overall

Test validity period

Cardiff University English for University Study Exit Test (EFUS)

B+

A

A+

Two calendar years

Cardiff University Pre-sessional programmes

Pass in the 20-, 12-, or 8-week course

Pass in the 10-week course

Not accepted

For immediate progression only

IELTS Academic (including one skill retake*)

6.5

7.0

7.5

Two calendar years

Pearson Test of English
Academic (PTE Academic)

69

76

80

Two calendar years

Study Group (UK) Academic English Skills**

60%

70%

80%

One academic year

TOEFL iBT (including
Home Edition)

90

100

109

Two calendar years

Trinity II/III

II: Accepted

III: Accepted

II: Not accepted

III: Accepted

II: Not accepted

III: Accepted

Two calendar years

*The one skill retake must be taken within 60 days of the original test. Only one retake is acceptable. The two-year validity period starts on the date that the original test was taken.

**Study Group International Foundation Programme - Academic English Skills (accepted only when taken as part of a full academic Foundation programme and studied in the UK) / Study Group Pre-Masters Programme - Academic English Skills (accepted only when taken as part of a full academic PMP and studied at the International Study Centre in Cardiff)

English language test subskill score comparison table

Accepted language test

Equivalency to IELTS 5.5 subskill

Equivalency to IELTS 6.0 subskill

Equivalency to IELTS 6.5 subskill

Equivalency to IELTS 7.0 subskill

Equivalency to IELTS 7.5 subskill

Cardiff University English for University Study Exit Test (EFUS)

C+

B

B+

A

A+

Cardiff University Pre-sessional programmes

Pass in the 20-, 12-, or 8-week course

Pass in the 20-, 12-, or 8-week course

Pass in the 20-, 12-, or 8-week course

Pass in the 10-week course

Not accepted

IELTS Academic (including one skill retake*)

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

Pearson Test of English
Academic (PTE Academic)

59 in all communicative skills

62 in all communicative skills

69 in all communicative skills

76 in all communicative skills

80 in all communicative skills

Study Group (UK) Academic English Skills**

40% in each subskill

50% in each subskill

60% in each subskill

70% in each subskill

80% in each subskill

TOEFL iBT (including
Home Edition)

17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading, and 20 for speaking

20 in all subskills

22 in all subskills

24 in all subskills

26 in speaking and 24 in all other subskills

Trinity II/III

II: At least two Distinctions and two Merits

III: Pass in all components

II: Not accepted

III: Merit in all components

II: Not accepted

III: Merit in all components

II: Not accepted

III: Distinction in all components

II: Not accepted

III: Distinction in all components

*The one skill retake must be taken within 60 days of the original test. Only one retake is acceptable. The two-year validity period  starts on the date that the original test was taken.

**Study Group International Foundation Programme - Academic English Skills (accepted only when taken as part of a full academic Foundation programme and studied in the UK) / Study Group Pre-Masters Programme - Academic English Skills (accepted only when taken as part of a full academic PMP and studied at the International Study Centre in Cardiff)

Waiting for test results

When applying for most programmes if you do not have your English language test results you can send these in later. Please indicate on your application form when you took or expect to take the English language test and when you expect to receive your test results. You can then send in your test results once you have them. In this case, your offer will be conditional upon us receiving your test results.

Please note that in some cases students may be made offers to attend pre-sessional English courses instead of or in addition to an English Language qualification or test, and some courses will require you to provide your English language results when submitting your application.

If you don’t meet the requirements

We offer a range of English language courses to help you meet our entry requirements. Find out more about our English language programmes.