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  5. English Language Requirements
  6. Country Specific Qualifications
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  1. Home
  2. Postgraduate
  3. How to Apply For Your Postgraduate Course
  4. English Language Entry Requirements for Postgraduate Taught Courses
  5. English Language Requirements
  6. Country Specific Qualifications

Country Specific Qualifications

Related pages
  • Postgraduate Taught Application Process
  • After you Apply
  • How to accept your Postgraduate Taught Course Offer
  • After accepting your Postgrad study place
  • Postgraduate Taught Study Entry Requirements
  • English Language Entry Requirements for Postgraduate Taught Courses
    • English Language Requirements
      • Majority English Speaking Countries
      • Approved Tests for Nationals of Any Country
      • Country Specific Qualifications
      • Postgraduate EU/EEA Students
  • Fast-track your master's study application

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

70% 75% 80% 10 years

Year XII Department of Pre-University Education Certificate from Government of Karnataka

Kerala

75% 80% 85% 10 years

Year XII Higher Secondary Examination Certificate from Government of Kerala Board of Higher Secondary Examinations

Maharashtra 70% 75%  80%  10 years   Year XII Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) from Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) 
Tamil Nadu 150/200 or 75% 160/200 or 80% 170/200 or 85% 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 70% 75% 80% 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 Academic (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

Nepal

B+/GPA 3.2 in English Language PLUS Medium of Instruction letter (MOI) 

A-/GPA 3.4 in English Language PLUS Medium of Instruction letter (MOI) 

  10 years  Nepal School Leaving Certificate Examination (Year XII) awarded by National Examinations Board (2018 onwards) 

PLUS Medium of Instruction letter (MOI) confirming degree taught in English from the following institutions:

  • Tribhuvan University
  • Pokhara University
  • Purbanchal University
  • Kathmandu University

 

South Africa

 

4

 

5 

 

6 

 

10 years

National Senior Certificate (NSC) from Department for Basic Education (DBE) or Independent Examination Board (IEB)

Sri Lanka

 

 C PLUS Medium of Instruction letter (MOI) 

 

C PLUS Medium of Instruction letter (MOI)

 

C PLUS Medium of Instruction letter (MOI)

10 years 

Sri Lanka O Level PLUS MOI confirming degree taught in medium of English from the following institutions:

  • University of Colombo
  • University of Jaffna
  • University of Kelaniya
  • University of Moratuwa
  • University of Peradeniya
  • University of Ruhuna
  • Sabaragamuwa University
  • University of Sri Jayewardenepura
  • Uva Wellassa University
  • Wayamba University

 

 

 

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.

 

Approved UK Qualifications

 

Our English Language requirements are listed as IELTS scores but the following English language qualifications are also accepted if taken within the listed period before the start date of the programme at Swansea.

If you obtained the qualification outside the valid period which met standard programme requirements, 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.

Qualification

Equivalent to IELTS 6.0 Equivalent to IELTS 6.5 Equivalent to IELTS 7.0 Validity Period

GCSE English Language or IGCSE English Language (first or

second language)

Grade C  Grade C  Grade C  10 years
A-level English Language and/or Literature Grade D     10 years
AS-level English Language and/or Literature Grade C      10 years
INTO English Language Assessment 169 176 185 10 years
Irish Leaving Certificate English HL Grade B3     10 years
International Baccalaureate English Language and/or Literature standard level 5; higher level 4 standard level 5; higher level 5 - 10 years

What if my qualification is outside the validity period?

All qualifications must have been obtained within a set number of years before starting your course with us. If you hold one of the approved qualifications listed above which met standard programme requirements, but it was obtained outside the validity 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 qualification.

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 qualification – please provide a detailed CV outlining the nature of the work;
  • If you have worked through the medium of English in any other country for a significant amount of time since completing your approved English Language qualification, it may be possible to exempt you from taking an English test.

    Please provide us with a reference from your employer confirming that you have worked in a formal capacity in English. References must give specific examples of how you use the four components of English Language (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking) in your place of employment daily.  Your referee should be responsible for your line management or in charge of the company/organisation.  We are unable to accept references from friends or family members.  If you have worked in multiple roles since completing your acceptable English Language qualification, you may be asked to provide a reference from each of the organisations you have worked.  References should include an employer stamp and an official employer email address.  Referees whose details include Hotmail or Gmail accounts may not be accepted.

    References will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.  Providing a reference does not guarantee exemption from an English Language test.

English-language-employer-reference-form

Professional Qualifications

Professional Qualifications

Professional registration/membership of the following can be accepted as meeting English Language requirements:

o             General Medical Council (GMC) or Medical Council of Ireland registration

o             General Dental Council (GDC) registration

o             General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration

o             Full membership or fellowship by examination to one of the UK or Ireland's Medical Royal Colleges (Academy members - AOMRC)

 

Registration or revalidation must have been obtained within the past 5 years to be considered valid.

Validity

WHAT IF MY QUALIFICATION IS OUTSIDE THE VALIDITY PERIOD?

All qualifications must have been obtained within a set number of years before starting your course with us. If you hold one of the approved qualifications listed above which met standard programme requirements, but it was obtained outside the validity 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 qualification.

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 qualification – please provide a detailed CV outlining the nature of the work;
  • If you have worked through the medium of English in any other country for a significant amount of time since completing your approved English Language qualification, it may be possible to exempt you from taking an English test.

    Please provide us with a reference from your employer confirming that you have worked in a formal capacity in English. References must give specific examples of how you use the four components of English Language (Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking) in your place of employment daily.  Your referee should be responsible for your line management or in charge of the company/organisation.  We are unable to accept references from friends or family members.  If you have worked in multiple roles since completing your acceptable English Language qualification, you may be asked to provide a reference from each of the organisations you have worked.  References should include an employer stamp and an official employer email address.  Referees whose details include Hotmail or Gmail accounts may not be accepted.

    References will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.  Providing a reference does not guarantee exemption from an English Language test.

    English-language-employer-reference-form

  • Postgraduate Taught Application Process
  • After you Apply
  • How to accept your Postgraduate Taught Course Offer
  • After accepting your Postgrad study place
  • Postgraduate Taught Study Entry Requirements
  • English Language Entry Requirements for Postgraduate Taught Courses
    • English Language Requirements
      • Majority English Speaking Countries
      • Approved Tests for Nationals of Any Country
      • Country Specific Qualifications
      • Postgraduate EU/EEA Students
  • Fast-track your master's study application
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