You may need to provide a recognised English language qualification depending on your nationality and where you have studied previously.
The English language scores required vary depending on the course that you are applying for. You can find these in the entry requirements for each course on the course information pages.
Entry in 2026
You can provide evidence of your English language ability in several ways. Details are listed below.
We accept the following tests as evidence of English language ability:
IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson, LanguageCert, Kaplan and Oxford Test of English Advanced certificates are valid for 2 years from the test date and your certificate will need to be valid on the start date of your studies at Lancaster. If you have taken a test multiple times, we cannot combine scores together to meet the requirements.
You can register online for the Oxford ELLT digital test. Use the The Lancaster University code LAN25 for a 25% discount.
If you take the Pearson test, you will need to give permission for Lancaster University to verify your score.
If your English language score does not meet our requirements, we may be able to consider you for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.
If you have not taken one of our recognised English language qualifications we may be able to accept an alternative English language qualification. The alternatives we may be able to consider are detailed below by country.
If you are applying for a Postgraduate course and your country is not listed above and if you have you taken one of the recognised English Language qualifications, please contact the Admissions Team.
If your High School English Language qualification was awarded more than 10 years ago you will also be asked to provide a standard English Language test, or take part in an English language interview.
If you have a WAEC certificate, please share your results with us via the WAEC website so we can verify them, or supply your scratch card details.
You may not be required to submit evidence of your English language ability if you are from one of the following countries or territories, or you have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in one of them.
The following criteria will apply:
Study in the UK or other accepted majority English-speaking country for at least 2 years of your undergraduate degree. Have completed and been awarded your degree no more than 3 years before the intended start of your chosen course.
Studied in the UK or other accepted majority English-speaking country for at least 1 year if you studied a postgraduate degree. Have completed and been awarded your degree no more than 3 years before the intended start of your chosen course.
You also do not need to prove your knowledge of English if the following applies:
We cannot accept medium of instruction in English or degree studies in English if this is not completed in the UK or one of our accepted majority English-speaking countries.
These lists show the scores we require for different English language tests and entry to our Pre-sessional English programmes.
Most of our postgraduate programmes will require one of these standard IELTS bands. You can check the English language scores required for your programme in the entry requirements on our course information pages.
English language test scores equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in each skill
If your English language score does not meet the requirements above, you may still be accepted on to the academic course by successfully completing one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.
The scores required are listed as IELTS but we will accept other approved English tests. Please contact us for the scores required for these tests.
| Pre-sessional | Requirements | Minimum overall IELTS score | Minimum IELTS element score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 week in person | UKVI test |
5.0 |
4.5 |
| 20 week online | Any accepted test |
5.0 |
4.5 |
| 10 week in person | UKVI test if you have an academic condition |
5.5 |
5.0 |
| 10 week in person | Any accepted test if English is your only condition |
5.5 |
5.5 |
| 10 week online | Any accepted test |
5.5 |
5.0 |
| 4 or 5 week | Any accepted test |
6.0 |
5.5 |
English language test scores equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum score of 5.5 in each skill
Pre-sessional programmes
If your English language score does not meet the requirements above, you may still be accepted on to the academic course by successfully completing one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.
The scores required are listed as IELTS but we will accept other approved English tests. Please contact us for the scores required for these tests.
| Pre-sessional | Requirements | Minimum overall IELTS score | Minimum IELTS element score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 week in person | UKVI test |
5.0 |
4.5 |
| 20 week online | Any accepted test |
5.0 |
4.5 |
| 10 week in person | UKVI test if you have an academic condition |
5.5 |
5.0 |
| 10 week in person | Any accepted test if English is your only condition |
5.5 |
5.5 |
| 10 week online | Any accepted test |
5.5 |
5.0 |
| 4 or 5 week | Any accepted test |
6.0 |
5.5 |
English language test scores equivalent to IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in each skill
If your English language score does not meet the requirements above, you may still be accepted on to the academic course by successfully completing one of our pre-sessional English language programmes (PSE).
The scores required are listed as IELTS but we will accept other approved English tests. Please contact us for the scores required for these tests.
| Pre-sessional | Requirements | Minimum overall IELTS score | Minimum IELTS element score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 week in person | UKVI test | 5.5 | 4.5 |
| 20 week online | Any accepted test | 5.5 | 4.5 |
| 10 week in person | UKVI test if you have an academic condition | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| 10 week in person | Any accepted test if English is your only condition | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| 10 week online | Any accepted test | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| 4 or 5 week | Any accepted test | 6.5 | 5.5 |
We do have some postgraduate courses that require English language test scores different to those listed above. Please check the individual course pages.
You can contact us on the form below to request details of the scores required to meet these requirements with one of our approved English test.
If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, please complete our enquiry form and one of our team will get back to you.
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