Country Specific Qualifications

Entry to Postgraduate Study

Our English Language requirements are listed as IELTS scores but we will also accept English in the following qualifications.

If you obtained the qualification outside the validity period it may still be possible to accept you if you have undertaken further study or worked in the medium of English since taking the test. See ‘what if my test or qualification is outside the validity period’ for further details.

Candidates who have studied at Bachelor level or higher in one of the countries listed in TABLE 1, within 10 years of the programme start date, DO NOT need to provide evidence of an English Language qualification. Applicants from Malaysia, Nigeria and Singapore can also be accepted on post-school Diploma qualifications completed through the medium of English, as long as they have been studied within the 10 year validity period.

Candidates who have studied in countries listed in TABLE 2, within 10 years of their postgraduate start date at Swansea. MUST provide evidence of English proficiency, as outlined.

TABLE 1

COUNTRY	COMPLETION OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS	VALIDITY PERIOD	EVIDENCE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE QUALIFICATION
Botswana	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Gambia	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Ghana	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required

Hong Kong	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Kenya	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Liberia	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Malawi	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Malaysia	Post-school Diploma Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Namibia	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Nigeria	Post-School Diploma Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required

Sierra Leone	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Singapore	Post-school Diploma Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Tanzania	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Uganda	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Zambia	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required
Zimbabwe	Bachelor one year of postgraduate study at NQF level 7	10 years	None required

TABLE 2

Applicants from the following countries MUST provide evidence of English Language as outlined below.

COUNTRY	Equivalent to IELTS 6.0	Equivalent to IELTS 6.5	Equivalent to IELTS 7.0	VALIDITY PERIOD	ACCEPTABLE BOARDS AND EVIDENCE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE QUALIFICATION REQUIRED
Brunei	C6	C5	B4	10 years	Brunei-Cambridge GCE O Level
Cameroon	C	C	C	10 years	Ordinary Level from General Certificate of Education Examination Board (GCE)
India - National level board managed by Government of India	70%	75%	80%	10 years	Year XII Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) from Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Year XII Indian School Certificate (ISC) from Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
India - State Board from following:
Andhra Pradesh (from 2018)	75%	80%	85%	10 years	Year XII/Intermediate II Year from AP Board of Intermediate Education (APBIE)
Karnataka	75%	80%	85%	10 years	Year XII Department of Pre-University Education Certificate from Government of Karnataka
Maharashtra	75%	80%	85%	10 years	Year XII Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) from Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE)
Tamil Nadu	150/200	160/200	170/200	10 years	Year XII Higher Secondary Course Certificate (HSC) from Tamil Nadu State Board of School Examinations
Telangana (from 2018)	75%	80%	85%	10 years	Year XII/Intermediate II from Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education
West Bengal	75%	80%	85%	10 years	Year XII Higher Secondary Examination from West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE)
India – from any other Board/State or where grades listed have not been achieved	6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each component)	6.5 (with at least 5.5* in each component) *see course pages for specific component score requirements	7.0 (with at least 5.5* in each component) *see course pages for specific component score requirements	2.5 years	IELTS Avademic (UKVI and non-UKVI) Test Report Form Other acceptable tests and validity periods can be found at English Language Requirements

Mauritius	C	C	B	10 years	Cambridge GCE O Level
South Africa	4	5	6	10 years	National Senior Certificate (NSC) from Department for Basic Education (DBE) or Independent Examination Board (IEB)

Although the above tests/qualifications are acceptable for admission to the University, you may be asked to sit a further English test on arrival to assess whether any additional English language support may be needed.

What if my test or qualification is outside the validity period?

All tests and qualifications must have been obtained within a set number of years before starting your course with us. If you hold one of the approved tests or qualifications listed above which met standard programme requirements, but it was obtained outside the valid period it may still be possible to accept you if you have continued to study or work in the medium of English since taking the test.

For example:

If you have successfully completed 1 year of study at secondary, undergraduate or postgraduate level through the medium of English within 10 years of the programme start date - please provide us with a letter, transcript or certificate from the school or college confirming the study was in English;
If you have worked in a Majority English Speaking Country for a significant amount of time since completing your approved English test or qualification – please provide a detailed cv outlining the nature of the work;
If you have worked in any other country through the medium of English for a significant amount of time since completing your approved English test or qualification it might be possible to exempt you from another English test - please provide us with a reference from your employer confirming that you have worked in a formal capacity in English using the form below so that we can make an assessment:

Employer English Language Referee Report Form