International Applicants and English Language
International Applicants and English Language
We know that international students have a lot more to organise than our home students, with visas to sort out before you get here. In order to help answer your questions and support your journey, UCL has two designated departments which are there to help prospective and current international students: UCL International Office and UCL International Student Support.
English Language Requirements
For the MSc Speech and Language Sciences, we ask for a special advanced level of English in line with professional body and Health and Care Professions Council requirements. You will start clinical placements and tutorials in the first term of the course so it is important that you can communicate easily in English with placement colleagues, peers and the clients/patients. Having this special high level of English before you start the programme will enable you to get the best start on the course.
Evidence
All students whose first language is not English must be able to provide recent evidence that their spoken and written command of the English language is at special advanced level.
In most cases the required evidence will be a recently obtained acceptable English language qualification or test result. The qualification or test result must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment.
Accepted English Language Tests
The Academic IELTs is UCL’s preferred English language qualification, as it uses topics and materials covered in undergraduate, graduate or professional programmes. Applicants must obtain an overall grade of 8.0 on the IELTs with a minimum of 7.5 in each of the subtests. Equivalent English language qualifications will be considered:
| Language Tests Accepted for MSc Speech and Language Sciences | Special Advanced Level |
|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Version | Overall grade of 8 with a minimum of 7.5 in each of the subtests |
| Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English | Overall score of 200 with 191 in all subtests |
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English | Overall score of 200 with 191 in all subtests |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) often referred to as PTE (Academic) | Overall score of 79 with a minimum of 73 in each Communicative Skill |
| Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT | Overall score of 110 with a minimum of 27/30 in reading, 29/30 in writing, 24/30 in speaking and 27/30 in listening |
| UCL International Premasters | Overall score of 80% with a minimum of 75% in each of the four components |
The evidence should if possible be included with your application. If either unsatisfactory or no evidence of English language proficiency has been provided with the application, admission will be conditional upon the provision of such evidence. This condition will be clearly indicated on the offer letter and must be fulfilled before enrolment at UCL.
UCL reserves the right, in individual circumstances, to specify an additional language requirement for an applicant.