UK visa applicants - Students - new English requirements

Mandatory secure English language testing comes into effect today (12 August 2010) for Tier 4 (General) applicants wishing to study a course below degree level (excluding foundation degrees).

Students applying for these courses will need to demonstrate from today, through an approved test, that they have the required level of English language competence to apply to study in the UK. Only approved test providers will be able to deliver these secure tests.

The requirement to take a test will not apply to English language courses.

In South Africa, applicants will be asked to sit the test through the British Council or the Language Lab who are both IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test centres. The minimum English test results are:

Listening – 4.0
Reading – 4.0
Writing – 4.0
Speaking – 4.0

A guideline was put up today by the UK Border Agency to help applicants understand whether they do or do not need to apply for a secure language test.

Type of course I am applying for? Do I need a secure English language test?
NQF Level 6 / Degree course No
Foundation Degree / SQA HND’s No
English language courses below degree level No*
NQF Level 3 / A-Level (for applicants over 18) Yes
Pre-sessional course linked to a degree No
Pre-sessional course not linked to a degree Yes*
NQF Level 4/5 course linked to pre-sessional course Yes
Pre-sessional course not linked to NQF 4/5 Yes*
Child student course No
Student visitor courses up to 6 months No

* denotes that the UK Border Agency is not accepting applications for English language courses in North India, South China, Nepal and Bangladesh.