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English Requirements

To gain entry to study at UPIC, you will need to meet our academic and English language requirements.

English Language Requirements

We teach in English. To join one of our foundation, first year or pre-masters programmes, your need to achieve the levels below or apply for pre-sessional English (PSE).

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We accept other equivalent qualifications such as WAEC, HKDSE and SPM.

We also accept PTE Academic, SQA ESOL (intermediate 2 and Higher) and Trinity College ISE.

Please contact our admissions team for further details: admissions@upic.plymouth.ac.uk


The UK government classifies the following overseas countries as majority native English speaking:

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

If you have studied a degree or postgraduate diploma (taught in English) in one of these countries, you will not usually have to present other evidence of English language ability.

No other country may be considered as being ‘majority English speaking’ for visa purposes.

You also do not need to prove your knowledge of English if one of the following applies:

  • you’re a national of Canada
  • you’re applying to come to the UK for a study abroad programme as part of a university degree course in the USA
  • you proved your level of English in a previous visa application.

We work in partnership with the University’s English Language Centre (ELC) to deliver pre-sessional English (PSE) programmes, which means that we have other options for you if you don’t meet the above entry criteria.

Pre-sessional English Language Entry Requirements

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Please note that, where appropriate, UPIC will exempt the need for IELTS/PTE from students who have taken local examinations in English, such as WAEC, HKDSE and SPM.

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