This page is specifically for those wishing to apply for a Postgraduate Research degree, if you are interested in applying for a Postgraduate taught degree, then please read the guidance on English language requirements for Postgraduate taught degrees.
If you apply to study at the University of Bath and your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English language requirements before you can start your course.
If you need a Student visa to study in the UK, you will need to meet the UK Home Office requirements. You will not need to provide an English language test result if you are a national of one of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) recognised majority English-speaking countries.
You are welcome to apply before taking an English language test. If you are made an offer it will be conditional upon you providing us with evidence that you have met the English language requirements for your course. You can find what the requirements are on the relevant course page.
There are some Doctoral scholarships that require the English language requirements to be met before the deadline. You will need to check the individual scholarship webpages.
Accepted English language tests
We accept various English language tests for the majority of our postgraduate taught and research degrees. The tables below show the equivalent grades for each test.
You must have passed your English language test no more than 24 months before the start date of your course.
If you defer your offer, you will need to make sure that your English language test results are still valid for the start of your course.
| Tests Accepted | Faculty of Science, Faculty of Engineering & Design, and PhD PoLIS | School of Management and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (excluding PhD PoLIS) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (including One Skill Retake) | IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each component | IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in each component |
| IELTS Online | IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each component | IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in each component |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) only. We do not accept the PTE Academic Online test | 62 with no less than 59 in any component | 69 with no less than 62 in any component |
| Cambridge Certificate of proficiency in English (CPE) | 176 with no less than 169 in all elements | 185 with no less than 176 in all elements |
| Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) | 176 with no less than 169 in all elements | 185 with no less than 176 in all elements |
| TOEFL iBT | 90 overall with no less than 21 in any element | 100 overall with no less than 24 in any element |
| TOEFL iBT Home Edition | 90 overall with no less than 21 in any element | 100 overall with no less than 24 in any element |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 Communicator High Pass with no less than 65 in any component | C1 Expert Pass with no less than 70 in any component |
| LanguageCert International ESOL | B2 Communicator High Pass with no less than 33 in any component | C1 Expert Pass with no less than 33 in any component |
| Trinity College London | ISE III with Pass in all four components | ISE III with Merit in all four components |
Duolingo - Minimum Overall Score and Subscores for tests taken on or after 1 July 2024
| IELTS | Duolingo Overall Score | Literacy Subscore | Comprehension Subscore | Conversation Subscore | Production Subscore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each component | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in each component | 130 | 130 | 130 | 130 | 130 |
Duolingo - Minimum Overall Score and Subscores for tests taken on or before 30 June 2024
| IELTS | Duolingo Overall Score | Literacy Subscore | Comprehension Subscore | Conversation Subscore | Production Subscore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each component | 120 | 120 | 130 | 115 | 100 |
| IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in each component | 130 | 130 | 140 | 125 | 110 |
Exemptions
If you have studied at a level equivalent to a UK Bachelor's degree in a UKVI recognised majority English-speaking country, or you have been awarded a qualification at this level from a non-majority English speaking country but for which the sole medium of instruction was English, you may be exempt from providing an English language test depending on how long it is since you graduated.
Generally, you must have graduated no more than two years before your intended PhD start date for this to apply, unless you have continued to live in a majority English speaking country since you graduated. A longer period may apply if you are from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda or India and completed your secondary school education in this country also. Please contact your Admissions team to discuss.
Pre-sessional Programmes
Applicants who need to improve their English language skills may be able to attend a pre-sessional programmeat the University of Bath. We provide 5 to 20-week courses that will help you to improve your English and academic skills to be ready to start your studies at Bath.