All teaching at Royal Holloway (apart from some language courses) is in English. You therefore need to have good enough written and spoken English to cope with your studies right from the start.
The English language qualifications we accept
We accept the following internationally-recognised English language qualifications:
- IELTS
- Pearson Test of English
- Cambridge ESOL
- TOEFL ib
We also accept some local English language qualifications from certain countries. For details, see the information on our Find your country pages.
The scores we require
For IELTS and Pearson Test of English, see the table below for the scores needed by our individual departments. For other English language qualifications, give details in your application of the level you have achieved.
Does my English language qualification need to be a SELT?
A SELT is a Secure English Language Test that is acceptable for UK immigration purposes. It has to be taken at an approved centre.
Your IELTS qualification must be a SELT if one of your IELTS subscores is below 5.5 and you are:
- applying for one of our Pre-sessional English Language Programmes with IELTS
- eligible for a linked Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) covering both your degree and your pre-sessional English language programme.
If all of your IELTS subscores are at 5.5 or above, then we can give you a linked Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) for a non-SELT IELTS.
Please note that TOEFL ib can not be used as a SELT.
English language requirements for Research degrees
All Postgraduate Research degrees (i.e. PhD and Masters by Research) require:
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26.
English requirements for undergraduate and taught Masters degrees can be found below.
University preparation programmes
International students, who do not meet the English language requirements for an undergraduate course, can apply for a preparation programme at the Royal Holloway International Study Centre. Once this
has been completed, students can progress to study the degree of their choice at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Classics
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
Drama, Theatre and Dance
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
English
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 7.0 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 69 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE IV.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 97 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
European Studies
Undergraduate degrees
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 61. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
History
Undergraduate degrees and Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
Media Arts
Undergraduate degrees
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 6.5. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 61. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 25
Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
Music
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
Politics, International Relations and Philosophy
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
Social Work
Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 7.0 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 69 overall. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE IV.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 97 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 17
Faculty of Management, Economics and Law
Law
Undergraduate degrees
LLB Law programmes
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 6.0. Reading 6.0. No subscore lower than 6.0.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. 54 in writing. 54 in Reading. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 22 Listening 20 Speaking 22 Writing 24
BSc Criminology and Sociology and BSc Criminology and Psychology
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. 54 in writing. 54 in Reading. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
MSc Consumption, Culture and Marketing (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 6.5. No other subscore lower than 6.0.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 61. No other subscore lower than 54.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 22 Listening 20
Speaking 22 Writing 2
MSc Forensic Psychology (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
Economics
Undergraduate degrees
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Reading and writing 6.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Reading and writing 54. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 22 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 24
Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. 6.5 in Writing. No subscore lower than 6.0.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 61. No other subscore lower than 54.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 22 Listening 20 Speaking 22 Writing 25
Management
Undergraduate degrees
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Reading and writing 6.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Reading and writing 54. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 22 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 24
Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 6.0.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 61. No other subscore lower than 54.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall with Reading 22 Listening 20 Speaking 22 Writing 24
Faculty of Science
Biological Sciences
Undergraduate degrees
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 54. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
Computer Science
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 54. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
Earth Sciences
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 54. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
Electronic Engineering
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
Geography
Undergraduate degrees
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
All programmes except MA Cultural Geography (Taught)
- IELTS 6.5 overall. Writing 6.5. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 61. No other subscore lower than 54.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 25
MA Cultural Geography (Taught)
- IELTS 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0 No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 61. No other subscore lower than 54.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
Information Security
Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
Mathematics
Undergraduate degrees
All programmes except BSc Mathematics and Management and BSc Mathematics and Music
- IELTS: 6.0 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 81 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
BSc Mathematics and Management
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Reading 6.0. Writing 6.0 No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 22 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 24
BSc Mathematics and Music
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
Physics
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 54. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
Professional Studies
Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. No subscore lower than 51.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
Psychology
Undergraduate degrees
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. No subscore lower than 54.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
-
TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17
Speaking 20 Writing 17
Postgraduate degrees (Taught)
- IELTS: 6.5 overall. Writing 7.0. No other subscore lower than 5.5.
- Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 69. No other subscore lower than 54.
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.
- TOEFL ib: 88 overall, with Reading 18 Listening 17 Speaking 20 Writing 26
