Brighton, UK
University of Sussex: English test requirements
Sussex uses three named levels, Standard, High and Advanced (IELTS 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0), with Medicine BMBS the one exception, and each course page states its level.
Checked on 31 Oct 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
Applicants from India
Indian Standard XII is accepted at stated marks only from named boards: CBSE English Core, CISCE, and ten state boards. Other state boards are not recognised. The page says: “other State Boards are not currently recognised”
Applicants from Nigeria
WAEC or NECO Senior School Certificate English at A1 to C6 is listed as an accepted English qualification. The page says: “Grades A1-C6 (1-6) in English language when awarded by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO).”
IELTS
UG from 6.0
PG from 6.0
TOEFL iBT
UG from 4 / 80
PG from 4 / 80
PTE Academic
UG from 59
PG from 59
Duolingo English Test
UG from 110
PG from 110
Undergraduate
Three named levels, Standard, High and Advanced, plus Medicine BMBS. Each course page states its level in the IELTS entry line. The undergraduate page prints PTE, Duolingo and other test scores for Standard and Advanced only. Tests should be within two years.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standarde.g. Computer Science BSc, Law LLB, Psychology BSc, Mathematics BScSource for this group | 6.0at least 5.5 in each of the four componentsIELTS Academic; One Skill Retake and IELTS Online accepted. | 4 (tests from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 80 (tests before 21 Jan 2026, 0-120)1-6: 4 in Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing; 0-120: Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17Home Edition accepted. | 59at least 59 in all four skillsOnline test not accepted. | 110at least 105 in each componentResults must be shared with the university. |
| HighSource for this group | 6.5at least 6.0 in each of the four componentsIELTS Academic; One Skill Retake and IELTS Online accepted. | 4.5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 88 (tests before 21 Jan 2026, 0-120)1-6: 4 in Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing; 0-120: Listening 20, Reading 19, Speaking 21, Writing 23Home Edition accepted. | Not on the listThis level is not printed for PTE Academic on the page. | Not on the listThis level is not printed for Duolingo on the page. |
| AdvancedSource for this group | 7.0at least 6.5 in each of the four componentsIELTS Academic; One Skill Retake and IELTS Online accepted. | 5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 95 (tests before 21 Jan 2026, 0-120)1-6: 4.5 in Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing; 0-120: Listening 22, Reading 23, Speaking 23, Writing 24Home Edition accepted. | 67at least 62 in all four skillsOnline test not accepted. | 130at least 120 in each componentResults must be shared with the university. |
| Medicine BMBSe.g. Medicine BMBSSource for this group | 7.5not less than 7.0 in each section | Not on the listOnly IELTS is stated for Medicine BMBS. | Not on the listOnly IELTS is stated for Medicine BMBS. | Not on the listOnly IELTS is stated for Medicine BMBS. |
Standard, other tests: Cambridge English 169; LanguageCert Academic 65; Oxford ELLT 6
Advanced, other tests: Cambridge English 185; LanguageCert Academic 75; Oxford ELLT 8
“We have three main levels of English, depending on the course applied for: standard, high and advanced.”
English language requirements (undergraduate)
Postgraduate taught
The same three named levels apply, and the Masters page prints High for every test. Each course page states its level. Tests should be within two years.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standarde.g. Law LLM, Data Science MSc, International Relations MA, Computer Science (Conversion) MScSource for this group | 6.0at least 5.5 in each of the four componentsIELTS Academic; One Skill Retake and IELTS Online accepted. | 4 (tests from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 80 (tests before 21 Jan 2026, 0-120)1-6: 4 in Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing; 0-120: Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17Home Edition accepted. | 59at least 59 in all four skillsOnline test not accepted. | 110at least 105 in each componentResults must be shared with the university. |
| Highe.g. English: Literature, Culture and Theory MASource for this group | 6.5at least 6.0 in each of the four componentsIELTS Academic; One Skill Retake and IELTS Online accepted. | 4.5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 88 (tests before 21 Jan 2026, 0-120)1-6: 4 in Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing; 0-120: Listening 20, Reading 19, Speaking 21, Writing 23Home Edition accepted. | 62at least 59 in all four skillsOnline test not accepted. | 120at least 110 in each componentResults must be shared with the university. |
| Advancede.g. Secondary English PGCESource for this group | 7.0at least 6.5 in each of the four componentsIELTS Academic; One Skill Retake and IELTS Online accepted. | 5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 95 (tests before 21 Jan 2026, 0-120)1-6: 4.5 in Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing; 0-120: Listening 22, Reading 23, Speaking 23, Writing 24Home Edition accepted. | 67at least 62 in all four skillsOnline test not accepted. | 130at least 120 in each componentResults must be shared with the university. |
Standard, other tests: Cambridge English 169; LanguageCert Academic 65; Oxford ELLT 6
High, other tests: Cambridge English 176; LanguageCert Academic 70; Oxford ELLT 7
Advanced, other tests: Cambridge English 185; LanguageCert Academic 75; Oxford ELLT 8
“We have three main levels of English, depending on the course applied for: standard, high and advanced.”
English language requirements (Masters)
Other tests the university lists
- Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency
- LanguageCert Academic SELT
- LanguageCert International ESOL SELT
- Oxford ELLT Global or Digital
- AS/A level and GCSE English, HKDSE and other qualifications
- Sussex Centre for Language Studies pre-sessional course
The page says these are not accepted
- PTE Academic Online
- LanguageCert online and non-SELT versions
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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