Entry requirements

Academic and English language entry requirements for inbound students

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Academic requirements

To be considered, you must be a registered student at a university or college. For the academic requirements you need to reach, please refer to our country list. If you cannot find your country listed, please refer to the general information pages linked from the top of the page.

English language requirements

You are required to provide evidence of your English language proficiency to the University of Sheffield, regardless of your application route (exchange student or direct enrolment). You must submit evidence of your English language proficiency when you submit your application.

You must meet both the departmental language requirement and provide evidence of of your English language proficiency through one of the University's recognised qualifications. 

If you will study with us through one of our European exchanges for a single semester, and you do not require a Student Visa to enter the UK, you can provide a form or letter from your home university to confirm your English Language proficiency. More information about this will be provided to you once you have been nominated by your home university.

Departmental English language requirements

Each of our academic departments at Sheffield have individual English language requirements. If you are studying in more than one department, you must meet the score for each department. 

Acceptable English language qualifications

Undergraduate (Bachelor) students: Accepted English Language Tests

Postgraduate (Masters) study: Accepted English Language Tests

Important:

  • You are expected to meet the minimum scores in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) as well as the overall score
  • We do not accept internal or institutional English language tests, and we do not accept MyBest TOEFL scores
  • All documents will need to be submitted in English. See this webpage for further information about translation of documents

International students at English speaking universities

If you were previously educated in a non-English speaking country and now study in an institution where the language of instruction and assessment is in English (for example a Chinese national studying at an Australian university) then you can request an additional reference from your university which confirms you are taught in English and your current level of English in addition to sending a University of Sheffield recognised English language qualification.

You can email globalopps@sheffield.ac.uk to check if you are unsure what you are required to submit as proof of English language proficiency with your application.

Study in the English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC)

If you want to study in the ELTC to raise your level of English through a pre-sessional English programme during the summer or your first semester, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI certificate. No other English language certificate can be accepted for a pre-sessional English course due to UK visa regulations. You can see the list of approved IELTS for UKVI test centres here.

A global reputation

Sheffield is a research university with a global reputation for excellence. We're a member of the Russell Group: one of the 24 leading UK universities for research and teaching.