Entry requirements
Learn about our entry requirements for Pre-sessional courses.
Entry requirements (10-week and 6-week courses)
If you hold an English language qualification with scores slightly below the English language requirements for your chosen academic degree course, you may be offered the option of taking a summer pre-sessional course to meet the direct English language entry requirements.
To be eligible for our summer pre-sessional courses (10-week (July) and 6-week courses), you must hold an offer for a degree course at The University of Manchester.
You must be 18 years old or older at the start of the course to be eligible to apply for our pre-sessional English language courses. Unfortunately, students aged under 18 are not eligible to attend the course.
If you are eligible, the Admissions Team which has issued you an offer for your academic degree course, may also add an offer condition for you to take a pre-sessional course.
The length of the pre-sessional course, will depend on your current English language scores and the direct English language requirements for your chosen degree course. To be considered for a pre-sessional course you will usually be required to meet the requirements listed in the table below.
If your current English language scores are below the PS10 and PS6 entry requirements listed, you will need to retake a recognised English language test to meet the direct English language entry requirements to your chosen academic degree course, or, the pre-sessional entry requirements noted below.
Not all academic degree courses at The University of Manchester offer the option of taking a pre-sessional course. Applicants to these courses must meet their English language offer condition by submitting a recognised English language test score. See below for a list of entry requirements by academic school.
If you meet the pre-sessional entry requirements noted on this webpage, but do not see an offer condition on your student portal, or have any questions about entry onto these courses, please contact the Admissions Team for your chosen degree course. You can find their details on the University study pages.
If you have an offer to study at The University of Manchester, you will usually be required to meet one of our English Language entry profiles. You can find the details of our entry profiles, along with level of English required to apply for a pre-sessional course in the table below:
| Profile | Direct entry requirements | PS10 entry requirements | PS6 entry requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | IELTS 7.0 overall with no element below 7.0 | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in each element | IELTS 6.5 overall with minimum 6.5 in each element |
| B | IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing, and 6.5 in each other element | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in each element | IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and no more than one element of 6.0 |
| C | IELTS 7.0 overall with no element below 6.5. If you have an offer to study an MSc course at AMBS, or, SEED GDI MSc course (excluding SEED’s MSc Real Estate course), there are higher requirements, please refer to Profile H |
IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in 3 elements and 5.5 in no more than 1 element | IELTS 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each element |
| D | IELTS 6.5 overall with no element below 6.5 | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each element | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in each element |
| E | IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing, and 6.0 in each other element | IELTS 5.5 overall with minimum 5.5 in each element | IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing and 2 other elements and no more than one element of 5.5 |
| F | IELTS 6.5 overall with no element below 6.0 | IELTS 5.5 overall with minimum 5.5 in each element | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each element |
| G | IELTS 6.0 overall with no element below 6.0 | IELTS 5.5 overall with minimum 5.5 in each element | IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each element |
| H | AMBS and SEED GDI MSc courses - IELTS 7.0 overall with no element below 6.5 | IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0 | IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and speaking, and 6.0 in listening and reading OR IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in writing or speaking, and 6.0 in the other elements |
Entry requirements 4-week course
Our 4-week pre-sessional course is available to students who hold an offer for a degree course at The University of Manchester and have already met their direct English language offer condition. You must also have a minimum of IELTS 6.5 overall, with no individual element below 6.0. If you have already met your English language requirements, but would like to study for longer than 4 weeks, please contact presessional@manchester.ac.uk for advice.
Entry requirements by academic School
You can find details of the pre-sessional entry requirements for each academic school in the University below. The entry requirements are based on IELTS test scores; however, we can accept a number of alternative qualifications including Pearson PTE Academic UKVI, Pearson PTE Academic, LanguageCert International ESOL SELT, and TOEFL iBT. Please note, the 4 week pre-sessional course cannot be used to meet your English language offer condition. For more information, please see above.
Immigration requirements for the UK, as well as the University’s own English language requirements, determine the acceptability of these qualifications; these requirements vary by type of CAS.
If you require a visa to study in the UK and opt to study your pre-sessional course here in Manchester you will usually require a Secure English Language Test (SELT). We can accept:
- IELTS Academic SELT UKVI
- Pearson PTE Academic UKVI
- LanguageCert International ESOL SELT
If you opt to study your pre-sessional course fully online from outside the UK we can accept non-SELT tests such as:
- IELTS Academic
- Pearson PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT
To check the entry requirements for an alternative qualification to the IELTS, or, to check your visa eligibility, please contact the Admissions Team for your chosen degree course, you can find their details on the University study pages.
Faculty of Humanities
Undergraduate courses
English language requirement for direct entry; IELTS 6.5 overall with no sub-skill below 6.0.
- 10-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
- 6-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
Applicants will need to meet the English language offer conditions by submitting a recognised English language test.
Postgraduate taught courses (MSc)
English language requirement for direct entry; IELTS 7.0 overall with no sub-skill below 6.5.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile H for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile H for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
English language requirement for direct entry; IELTS 7.0 overall with no sub-skill below 6.5.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile H for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile H for entry requirements.
MBA courses
English language requirement for direct entry; IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and speaking and 6.0 in reading and listening.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. IELTS 5.5 overall with 5.5 in each sub-skill OR 6.0 overall with 5.5 in writing and speaking and no more than one other sub-skill of 5.0.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing and speaking and 5.5 in each other sub-skill.
Undergraduate courses
English language requirement for direct entry; IELTS 7.0 overall with no sub-skill below 6.5.
- 10-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
- 6-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
Applicants will need to meet the English language offer conditions by submitting a recognised English language test.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
English language requirement for direct entry; IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in other sub-skills.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile B for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile B for entry requirements.
Applicants to the following courses will need to meet their English language offer conditions by submitting a recognised English language test. pre-sessional results are not accepted:
- MA English Literature and American Studies
- MA Modern and Contemporary Literature
- MA Gender, Sexuality and Culture
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
English language requirement for direct entry; IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile B for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile B for entry requirements.
Undergraduate courses
English language requirement for direct entry; IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in each other sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Not accepted.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Not accepted.
Applicants will need to meet the English language offer conditions by submitting a recognised English language test.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
Note; Please check the direct English language entry requirement for your course on the University study page.
If the English language requirement for direct entry is: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in each other sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile E for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile E for entry requirements.
If the English language requirement for direct entry is: IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile H for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile H for entry requirements.
For applicants to the following courses:
- MSc Real Estate Asset Management
- MSc Real Estate Development
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Not accepted.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
Applicants to the following courses must meet their English language offer condition by submitting an official test score. pre-sessional results are not accepted:
- MSc Global Development: Development Management
- MSc Global Development: Environment Climate Change and Development
- MSc Global Development: Globalisation, Trade and Industry
- MSc Global Development
- MSc Global Development: Politics, Governance and Development Policy
- MSc Global Development: Poverty Conflict and Reconstruction
- MSc Global Development: Poverty, Inequality and Development
- Med Psychology of Education
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.0 in each other sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in each other sub-skill.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in each other sub-skill.
Undergraduate courses
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with no sub-skill below 6.0.
- 10-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
- 6-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
Applicants will need to meet their English language offer conditions by submitting a recognised English language test.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
English language requirement for direct entry (excluding MSc Data Science programmes): IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in each other sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile B for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile B for entry requirements.
MSc Data Science programmes: English language requirements: IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in each other sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile B for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile B for entry requirements.
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering
Undergraduate courses
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in each other sub-skill.
10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile E for entry requirements.
6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile E for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Department of Computer Science
Undergraduate courses
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Undergraduate courses
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Undergraduate courses
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each sub-skill OR 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each sub-skill for integrated foundation courses.
- 10-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
- 6-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
Applicants will need to meet their English language offer conditions by submitting a recognised English language test.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
For applicants to the following courses:
- MSc Commercial Project Management
- MSc Construction Project Management
- MSc Engineering Project Management
- MSc Management of Projects
- MSc Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Systems Management
- MSc Mechanical Engineering Design
- MSc Structural Engineering
- MSc Aerospace Engineering
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
For applicants to the following courses:
- MSc Thermal Power and Fluid Engineering
- MSc Reliability Engineering and Asset Management
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Department of Chemistry
Undergraduate courses
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- 10 Week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Undergraduate courses
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- 10 Week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Department of Materials
Undergraduate courses
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
English language requirement for direct entry (not including Distance Learning): IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- 10 Week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Department of Mathematics
Undergraduate courses
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in each other sub-skill OR 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each sub-skill for integrated foundation courses.
- 10-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
- 6-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
Applicants will need to meet their English language offer conditions by submitting a recognised English language test.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
For applicants to the following courses:
- MSc Actuarial Science
- MSc Applied Mathematics
- MSc Pure Mathematics
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Not accepted.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
For applicants to the following courses:
- MSc Mathematical Finance
- MSc Statistics
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in writing and 6.0 in each other sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Not accepted.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Undergraduate courses
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
- 6-week pre-sessional: Not accepted.
Applicants will need to meet their English language offer conditions by submitting a recognised English language test.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing and two other sub-skills, and no more than one sub-skill of 5.5.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Undergraduate courses
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile D for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile D for entry requirements.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
Please check the direct English language entry requirement for your course on the University study page.
If the English language requirement for direct entry is: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile D for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile D for entry requirements.
If the English language requirement for direct entry is: IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile A for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile A for entry requirements.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Undergraduate courses
For applicants to the following course:
- BSc Healthcare Science (Audiology)
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile A for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile A for entry requirements.
For applicants to the following courses:
- BSc Psychology
- MPharm Pharmacy
- MSci Optometry
- BSc Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
For applicants to the following courses:
- Pharmacy Foundation
- Public Health (on-campus only)
English language requirement for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile F for entry requirements.
For applicants to the following courses:
- BNurs (all pathways)
- BSc Speech and Language Therapy
Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Undergraduate courses
For applicants to the following courses:
- Medicine
- Dentistry
- Dentistry Foundation
English language requirements for direct entry: IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile C for entry requirements.
For applicants to the following courses:
- Medicine Foundation
- Dental Hygiene and Therapy
English language requirements for direct entry: IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each sub-skill.
- 10-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile D for entry requirements.
- 6-week pre-sessional entry requirements: Accepted. See profile D for entry requirements.
Postgraduate taught courses (PGT)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.
Postgraduate research courses (PGR)
Note: Please contact the relevant Admissions Team for advice on whether you are eligible for a pre-sessional course. You can find their details on the University study page.