Before you leave to study in the UK you will, in most cases, need to obtain a Student visa. Applying for a visa can take time, so it’s important to plan far enough in advance to get one.
To help you navigate the visa application process, we’ve prepared answers to common questions – take a look below.
5. Do I need UKVI IELTS to study in the UK?
Any student who doesn’t hold a degree or nationality from a majority-English-speaking country will need to satisfy the UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) English language requirement. You can do this by taking an IELTS for UKVI test, or another UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), at a UKVI-approved test centre, and reaching the required English level no more than 2 years before your CAS is assigned.
For a test to be approved, it needs to be at B1 level or above in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and test all 4 language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. The tests currently accepted are:
- IELTS for UKVI
- LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B1 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
- LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
- PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic UKVI
- Skills for English UKVI (4 component)
If you have a degree from another country, which was taught in English, you will also need an English Language Assessment from UK ENIC. Anybody who has taken GCSEs, A-Levels, or Scottish Highers in English Language or English Literature in a UK school while they were under 18, is also exempt.