International postgraduate entry requirements

We welcome postgraduate applications from candidates offering a range of overseas qualifications. As well as achieving appropriate grades in your examinations, you also need to submit official transcripts of your qualifications translated into English and showing the subjects and grades obtained.

Academic requirements

The programme requirements are listed next to the programme entry in the course finder. To find out what the grade requirements would be for a qualification that you have studied in your own country, please see your individual country page information.

English language requirements

In order to undertake a programme of study here at the University, you will need to demonstrate that you have a good level of written and spoken English. You can demonstrate your level of English with IELTS/TOEFL/PTE or alternative qualifications.

English Language test certificates should be no more than two years old on the start date of your chosen programme. The sections below will tell you what grades you need in these qualifications for the subject area you want to study.

Some degree programmes have slightly higher requirements than those stated here. When this is so, we will ensure that you are informed using the contact details you have provided on your application. If you have been instructed and assessed in English language at a recognised institution, you may be exempt from these requirements.

Proof of English language proficiency

For those joining us for 2024, we will accept the following additional online tests as evidence of English language proficiency:

TOEFL Home Edition
IELTS Online
PTE Academic Online
Cambridge English
Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI)
Trinity ISE II
Trinity ISE III

For 2024 entry onwards, we accept IELTS One Skill Retakes.

Postgraduate degree programmes

Academic area	TOEFL	IELTS	Pearson Test of English (PTE)	Cambridge English	LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI)
Science***	80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 19 in Writing	6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band	PTE Academic 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills	C1 Advanced Minimum overall score of 169,with no less than 162 in any component	B2 'Communicator' with no less than 25 in each skill
Arts*,Business Economics, Computer Science, International Business, Metallurgy and Materials, Dentistry, Education (taught), Engineering, Health Sciences, Law (LLM), Medicine, Social Sciences**	88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing	6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band	PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills	C1 Advanced Minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component	B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill
ClinPsyD, Education (research), Management	95 overall with no less than 22 in any band	7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any band	PTE Academic 76 with no less than 67 in all four skills	C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency Minimum overall score of 185, with no less than 176 in any component	C1 'Expert' with no less than 25 in each skill

*** Some programmes require higher or lower grades. Please see individual course entry requirements for further details.

Some Business programmes require higher grades. Please see the Business School website for more details.

Trinity ISE is also accepted. For further information, please contact our admissions team.

Further information on can be found at the IELTS website. IELTS tests must be the Academic version, we cannot accept the General test.

Further information on the PTE test and how to register.

Alternative qualifications for postgraduate programmes

Qualification	Minimum University requirement
University of Birmingham presessional English course (see below)	Pass (see the BIA page for details)
India Standard XII (CBSE/CISCE/West Bengal)	75% or above*
India Standard XII (other Indian state boards)	80% or above*

*India Standard XII requirement varies depending on the IELTS equivalent for each individual programme and the exam board.

IELTS 7.0/TOEFL IBT 100 = 85% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra or 80% West Bengal or 90% Other State boards
IELTS 6.5/TOEFL IBT 93 = 80% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra or 75% West Bengal or 85% Other State boards
IELTS 6.0/TOEFL IBT 87 = 75% ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra or 75% West Bengal or 80% Other State boards

English language courses

If you do not have the required level of English or would like to improve your English before the start of the academic year, you can take one of our pre-sessional English language courses.

Learn more

For advice on entry requirements or English language requirements for specific courses, you can contact the Admissions Tutor listed against the course entry in the course finder or visit the relevant department's website.

Special requirements

For some courses there are very specific entry requirements concerning a students' fitness to practice their chosen course of study. For information concerning these requirements, please visit the Terms and conditions page which also contains important information concerning the University's conditions of study.