Abrodio — Your journey. Our mission.
NU

Northumbria University

English Requirements

Verify before applyingLast checked: July 2026
Official source

Standard English Requirement

Northumbria states English requirements per course, anchored on IELTS (Academic): undergraduate courses typically require 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component; postgraduate taught courses typically 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each component — the statement on each official course page is authoritative. Other recognised tests are accepted but Northumbria publishes no numeric equivalences (needs verification with Admissions). On-campus Pre-Sessional English routes accept applicants from IELTS 5.0.

6

IELTS UG (typical)

6.5

IELTS PG (typical)

5.5

Min Each Component

Indian Class XII English — Board Rules

Northumbria officially accepts Indian Class XII English in lieu of a test from the boards below, “where the English component meets an appropriate level” — no minimum percentage is published and acceptance is at the discretion of the admissions team (needs verification per applicant):

Accepted boards (discretionary — no published minimum %)

CBSE (AISSC Standard 12th) · ICSE · CISCE (ISC Standard 12th) · Andhra Pradesh (state board Std 12th) · Bihar (state board Std 12th) · Karnataka (state board Std 12th) · Madhya Pradesh (state board Std 12th) · Maharashtra (state board Std 12th) · Tamil Nadu (state board Std 12th) · Uttar Pradesh (state board Std 12th) · West Bengal (state board Std 12th)

IELTS mandatory for these state boards

Standard XII English from the Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana state boards is not accepted — an IELTS (or other recognised) test is required.

Accepted English Evidence

IELTS Academic (anchor requirement)
UG typically 6.0 overall / 5.5 each component; PG taught typically 6.5 / 5.5 — per course page
Pearson PTE Academic
Accepted from test centres only — numeric equivalence not published (needs_verification)
TOEFL iBT
Accepted from test centres only — numeric equivalence not published (needs_verification)
Duolingo English Test
Accepted — numeric equivalence not published (needs_verification)
LanguageCert Academic (in-person, Online and SELT)
Accepted — numeric equivalence not published (needs_verification)
Trinity ISE
Accepted — level equivalence not published (needs_verification)
PSI Skills for English
Accepted — equivalence not published (needs_verification)
Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
Accepted — score equivalence not published (needs_verification)
GCSE / IGCSE English
GCSE English Language or recognised equivalent satisfies the general rule
International Baccalaureate English / European Baccalaureate
IB Literature or Language & Literature accepted — grade thresholds not published (needs_verification)
Indian Class XII English
Accepted from CBSE (AISSC), ICSE, CISCE ISC and 8 named state boards — no minimum % published; discretionary
WAEC / WASSCE / NECO English (West Africa)
Accepted; Nigeria country page indicates C6 typically
Other African school qualifications
Botswana BGCSE, Kenya KCSE, Malawi SCE, Namibia SSC, South Africa NSC/Grade 12, Tanzania/Cameroon O-Level, Uganda CE, Zambia & Zimbabwe GCE
Hong Kong / Caribbean school qualifications
HKDSE, HKCEE, A-level Use of English; Caribbean CSEC
European school-leaving diplomas
~24 accepted (Abitur, French Bac/OIB, Matura, VWO and more) — thresholds per Admissions
English-speaking country exemptions
Degree taught in one of 17 listed English-speaking countries exempts; nationals of 18 listed countries fully exempt
Pre-Sessional English (on campus)
1-semester (3 months, £4,000 25/26; from IELTS 5.0) or 6-week (£2,000 25/26; from IELTS 5.5) routes

Note: PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT are accepted from test centres only, and Northumbria publishes no numeric equivalences for non-IELTS tests — scores need verification with Admissions. MOI (Medium of Instruction) has no published central policy and the official Nigeria page explicitly rejects English-medium study as evidence — do not treat MOI as accepted. On-campus Pre-Sessional English (3-month from IELTS 5.0; 6-week from IELTS 5.5) is available; there is no online pre-sessional option.

Acceptable English Qualifications Your Country Pages

Guidance information only. Course fees, entry requirements, scholarships, intakes and availability may change. Please verify final details with the official university website before applying. Abrodio does not guarantee admission, scholarship approval or visa outcome.