English Requirements

Tier 4 (General) – UKBA English Language Requirements

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has recently changed the requirements for students applying for a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK. The most recent changes came into effect on 21 April 2011 and apply to all colleges in the UK. 

The UKBA requires colleges to verify that applicants have achieved a specified minimum level in English before we are permitted to issue the Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) which you need to apply for a Tier 4 visa. Please also read the UKBA’s Tier 4 policy guidance when making your application.

Further information, guidance and advice regarding making a Tier 4 application overseas or in the UK is available on our website.

Requirements for the issue of a CAS for degree courses

If you have used an IELTS, TOEFL iBT or Pearson Academic test as evidence of your English language ability either to gain an unconditional offer, or to meet a conditional offer for a degree, you must have:

o    IELTS: an overall score of at least 5.5 with 5.5 in each component (listening, reading, speaking, writing)

o    TOEFL iBT: minimum scores of Listening 21, Reading 22, Speaking 23 and Writing 21

o    Pearson: at least 51 in each component (listening, reading, speaking, writing)

In addition, the test must normally be no more than 2 years old on the date we issue the CAS.

Other English language tests are also accepted by the College. The minimum level of achievement required by the UKBA in each test is published on the UKBA website. This document also includes information about the validity of each test.

I have already received an offer from ETL? How do these changes affect me?

These changes have been introduced during the admissions cycle for October 2011 entry and are additional to the ETL’s admission requirements for both undergraduate and postgraduate study. Consequently you must meet the UKBA’s English language requirement in addition to the requirements specified in the college’s offer of admission in order for a CAS to be issued to you.

The changes apply equally to all students seeking admission for October 2011, regardless of whether an offer has already been issued.

I have not met the UKBA English language requirement. What should I do?

If you have used an English language test such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT and Pearson as evidence of your English language ability and you have not met the UKBA’s minimum requirements set out above, it will not be possible for the College to sponsor you for a visa application by issuing a CAS, even you have met the conditions specified in our offer letter.

The Undergraduate or Graduate Admissions Office at ETL will contact you to tell you what action you need to take in order to meet the UKBA requirement for issue of a CAS. These communications will be different for undergraduates and postgraduates.  In many cases, applicants will need to arrange to be re-tested if their existing scores do not meet the new requirement for minimum score levels in each component.

Requirements for the Issue of a CAS for courses below degree level (including English language courses)

If you are studying or continuing to study an English language course including Pre-sessional English, Bridging Year or Certificate of Higher Education, your course is below degree level. In order for the College to issue you a CAS so that you can apply for a Tier 4 visa you must have a valid Secure English Language Test (SELT), if you are applying for admission to commence a new course you must also meet the college’s requirements for admission to that course as specified in our offer letter.

The SELT document must show that you have reached the UKBA minimum requirement of level B1 in all four components; listening, reading, speaking and writing and must be submitted with your Tier 4 application, some types of SELT are only valid for 2 years. The College will only be able to issue you with a CAS if you are eligible and can provide a valid SELT. If you do not have a valid SELT you will need to take a test and provide the University evidence of the results before we can issue you with a CAS. The CAS will include the necessary information from your SELT as required by the UKBA. More information about the minimum level of achievement in each test and the validity of SELTs is available on the UKBA website.

If you need to apply to extend your Tier 4 visa to complete your current course at ETL and you do not have a valid SELT or have any queries about this please contact us.