International entry requirements
English language requirements
For those starting at Liverpool John Moores University in 2023, due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 we have introduced new English language options, which we will accept as evidence of English language proficiency.
Please note
LJMU reserves the right to change the evidence it will accept for English Language proficiency, the information on this page should be used as guidance only.
Faq Items
Accepted Secure English Language Tests (SELTs)
Qualification |
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary) |
IELTS Academic for UKVI from authorised test centres only (register) |
6.0 Overall with 5.5 in each component |
Trinity Integrated Skills in English II (ISEII) – B2 Level (find out more information) |
Pass in all Skills |
Trinity Integrated Skills in English III (ISEIII) – C1 Level (find out more information) |
Pass in all Skills |
LanguageCert SELT (register) |
(IELTS 6.0 equivalent) B2 Pass – no component below 33/50 OR (IELTS 6.5 equivalent) B2 Pass – no component below 33/50 |
Pearson PTE Academic UKVI |
61 (Minimum of 59 in each component) |
PSI Service UKVI Skills for English test |
B2 pass in all 4 components (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component) |
English Language Proficiency Tests
Qualification |
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary) |
IELTS Academic (register) |
6.0 Overall with 5.5 in each component |
TOEFL IB (register) |
78 Overall with R18, W17, L17, S20 |
Cambridge CPE (register) |
Grade C |
Cambridge CAE (register) |
Grade C or Minimum of 169 with no skill less than 162 |
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level IV (find out more information) |
Pass in all Skills |
Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III (find out more information) |
Pass in all Skills |
LanguageCert International ESOL (register) |
(IELTS 6.0 equivalent) B2 Communicator overall pass with no section below 33/50 OR (IELTS) 6.5 equivalent) B2 Communicator overall pass with no section below 33/50 |
NCUK English Language Test (visit NCUK to register) |
6.0 |
Oxford Test of English (OTE) |
120 Overall with 111 in each component (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component) |
Oxford Test of English (OTE) |
130 Overall with 111 in each component (equivalent to IELTS 6.5, 5.5 for each component) |
Pearson PTE Academic UKVI |
61 (Minimum of 59 in each component) |
Pearson Versant English Placement Test |
55 (Minimum of 50 in each component) |
PSI Service UKVI Skills for English test |
B2 pass in all 4 components (equivalent to IELTS 6.0, 5.5 for each component) |
Online English Language Level Test (ELLT)* (find out more information) |
ELLT 6 Overall, Reading 5, Listening 5, Writing 5, Speaking 5 (for courses that require IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each component) Or ELLT 7 Overall, Reading 5, Listening 5, Writing 5, Speaking 5 (for courses that require IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each component) *Register for this test - Please use the code LJMU75 to get a discounted test price of £75 |
Please note: the university will not accept LanguageCert, Pearson Versant or ELLT qualifications from students from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Please visit your country page for more information on accepted tests.
International School Qualifications
The qualifications listed below are valid where they are taken no more than 4 years* before the start date of your chosen programme of study.
*This is except for Indian qualifications which are valid for six years and Kenyan KCSE English which does not have a time limit.
Please note that the grades listed are equivalent to IELTS with 6.0 overall** and a minimum of 5.5 in each component
**Selected programmes require grades equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall
Qualification |
Grade required (Minimum standards – courses may vary) |
IGCSE English as a First Language |
Grade C/4 |
IGCSE English as a Second Language |
Grade C/4 |
International Baccalaureate: Literature |
Grade 5 at SL or Grade 4 at HL |
International Baccalaureate: Language |
Grade 5 at SL or Grade 4 at HL |
AS Level English Language or Literature |
Grade D |
A Level English Language or Literature |
Grade D |
Botswana (BGCSE) |
Grade C |
Brunei-Cambridge Certificate Education (CIE) |
Grade C |
Cameroon O Level |
Grade B |
Hong Kong (HKDSE) |
Grade 4 |
Hong Kong (HKALE) |
Grade D |
India Standard XII English (CBSE and CISCE) |
70% |
India (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka) |
70% |
India Standard XII English (CBSE and CISCE) - please note that this qualification is not accepted for students from Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, North East States (Arunachal/Assam/Mizoram/Meghalaya), who must provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI. |
70% |
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) |
Grade C |
Malawi (MSCE) |
English 4 |
Malaysia (1119) |
Grade C/6 |
Norway (Vitnemal fra den Videregaende Skole) |
Grade 4 |
Singapore O Level |
Grade B |
Singapore A Level |
Grade D |
Singapore Integrated Programme (Literature in English H2 or English Language and Linguistics H2 |
Grade D |
South Africa (NSC) |
Level 5 |
Tanzania Secondary School Leaving Certificate |
Grade C in English |
Uganda Certificate of Education |
Grade 6 in English |
Zimbabwe Cambridge School Certificate / Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) |
Grade C |
West African Examination Council Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) |
C6 |
Do I need to provide evidence of my English language ability?
Applicants who are nationals of one of the following countries and have completed high school or three years of education in their home country, will normally be exempt from providing additional evidence of their English language ability:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- the Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Jamaica
- Malta
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- USA
*The University reserves the right to ask for additional evidence of English language if we have concerns about an applicant’s level of English.
For further information, contact internationaladmissions@ljmu.ac.uk.