English Language Requirements

For all courses, students whose first language is not English must prove that they are sufficiently able to understand and express themselves in both spoken and written English.

For those students who do not currently reach the required criteria, enrolment onto one of our Pre-Sessional English Language courses may be sufficient.

Information for Overseas Applicants

	IELTS [validity 2 years]	TOEFL iBT [validity 2 years]	PTE [validity 2 years]
FE [CEFR B1] Evidence of SELT will be required for CAS	Overall score 5.5 Minimum 5.0 in all elements	Overall 71 With minimum: * Reading 18 * Listening 13 * Speaking 19 * Writing 17	Overall 43 Minimum 43 in all elements
FDA / Higher Certificates / Higher Diplomas [CEFR B1] Evidence of SELT will be required for CAS	Overall score 5.5 Minimum 5.0 in all elements	Overall 71 With minimum: * Reading 18 * Listening 13 * Speaking 19 * Writing 17	Overall 43 Minimum 43 in all elements
UG degree [CEFR B2] Evidence of SELT is not required for CAS	Overall score 6.0 Minimum 5.5 in all elements	Overall 87 With   minimum * Reading 21 * Listening 22 * Speaking 23 * Writing 21	Overall 59 Minimum 59 in all elements
PG [CEFR B2] Evidence of SELT is not required for CAS	Overall score 6.5 Minimum 5.5 in all elements	Overall 92 With minimum * Reading 21 * Listening 22 * Speaking 23 * Writing 21	Overall 62 Minimum 59 in all elements
Writtle College also accepts various tests of English   as alternatives to IELTS, TOEFL or PTE provided they appear on the new   approved English tests sheet issued by UKBA in April 2011.  These are listed in the appendix.

EU English language levels for entry

EEA applicants whose first language is not English must be able to provide evidence that they have sufficient English to follow the course they wish to take at Writtle. This will require evidence of successful study of the English language of at least four years, with the date of their highest level English language exam being within five years of the date of application. Applicants who are unable to fulfil these requirements are subject to the same rules as for non-EEA applicants.

EEA nationals are passport holders of the following countries:
The United Kingdom (inc. the Irish Republic) Austria Belgium Bulgaria Czech Republic Cyprus Denmark	Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy	Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland	Portugal Romania Slovenia Slovak Republic Spain Sweden Switzerland (not in the EEA but have the same rights as)

 

Native speakers of English from outside the UK

Native speakers of English from outside the UK, that is, speakers whose secondary education has been in English, and whose first language is English, are not normally required to provide evidence of their level of English.

Following guidance published by UKBA,Writtle College recognise the following countries as being ‘majority English speaking’

Antigua and Barbuda Australia The Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Dominica Grenada

Guyana Jamaica New Zealand St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States of America

 

The College will also consider a Student to be proficient in English if the student has successfully completed a degree which is the same as a UK bachelor's degree and which was taught or researched in English to a particular level. The qualification must:

• be recognised by National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the UK (UK NARIC) as equivalent to at least a UK bachelor's degree;
• and have been taught in English.

The College can assume that a degree taken in a majority English speaking country listed above, will have been taught in English with the exception of Canada. If the degree was taken in another country, the College would need to assess whether the student’s overseas qualifications are the same as a UK bachelor's level or higher.

The College will also consider applicants who have attended an English-medium school, college or university for at least three years, including a minimum of two years post-16, and can provide documentation from the school which clearly gives evidence that the applicant has a sufficient level of English to follow the course they wish to take at Writtle College. This education must normally have been completed within five years of the date of application to Writtle College.

An applicant who is classed as a UK resident, but is a national of another country, is subject to the same rules regarding levels of English, depending on whether they are EEA or non-EEA nationals.

The Head of Higher Education or Head of Further Education may be able to make exceptions to the above in individual cases though this is subject to UKBA agreement.