Language Requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English and do not have a degree from a UK university will be required to provide evidence of competency in English by reaching an appropriate standard in an approved text such as IELTS, TOEFL and the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (grades A-C) or the Certificate in Advance English (grades A or B). Test results should be less than two years old at the time of expected registration at the University of Southampton and must be verified before admission. The table below lists the more common qualifications accepted, however we do accept a number of other English language qualifications. A full list can be found at:
www.soton.ac.uk/international/entry_reqs/enlish_language.shtml
Further English language study is also available during your degree programme.
| IELTS | TOEFL (paper based test) | TOEFL iBT (Internet-based test) |
| Overall score 6.5 or above and all sections scores 6 or above. | Overall score 580 or above and all sections scores 55 or above. | Overall score 92 or above and all section scores 21 or above. |
Applicants who do not meet the normal entry requirements may nevertheless receive an offer subject to appropriate conditions, as they may be eligible to take pre-sessional English courses specifically tailored for the School of Management:
- Applicants with an overall IELTS score of 6.5 but who have not achieved 6.0 in all elements will be required to attend and pass a 5 week pre-sessional programme provided by the Centre for Language Study.
- Applicants with an overall IELTS score of 6.0 will be required to attend and pass a 10 week pre-sessional programme provided by the Centre for Language Study.
- Applicants with an overall IELTS score of 5.5 will be required to attend and pass a 15 week pre-sessional programme provided by the Centre for Language Study.
To compare scores between TOEFL and IELTS refer to this table:
Equivalent scores between IELTS and TOEFL
| IELTS | TOEFL (paper based test) | TOEFL iBT (Internet-based test) |
| 4.5 | 477 | 53 |
| 5.0 | 500 | 61 |
| 5.5 | 527 | 71 |
| 6.0 | 553 | 81 |
| 6.5 | 580 | 92 |
| 7.0 | 617 | 105 |
| 7.5 | 630 | 110 |
If you meet our language requirements but have little or no experience of studying at a UK university then we strongly recommend that you attend our 5 week pre-programme course designed to support your transition to studying at Masters level.
Notes
- Applicants with several months residence in the UK and/or attendance at a UK Language School or UK university college will be required to obtain an IELTS/ TOEFL test result satisfying the above conditions for direct entry i.e. pre-sessional English courses are not accepted in place of a satisfactory test result.
- Other applicants with IELTS/TOEFL results not satisfying the above standard will be required to satisfactorily complete the relevant pre-sessional English course at the University's Centre for Language study as specified in their offer letter.
