Before you apply
If you’re applying to the University of Salford from outside the UK, we want to make the process as smooth as possible. The application procedure is different for undergraduate and postgraduate students, so please follow the guidance according to your level of study.
English Language Requirements
All of our courses are taught and assessed in English, so as an applicant you must meet our minimum English language entry requirements.
English language requirements are shown on individual course pages. Generally, this is shown as an IELTS grade, however we accept a range of equivalent qualifications.
As a general guide:
- For undergraduate courses we require IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent
- For postgraduate courses, we require IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent
- For the International Foundation Year, we require IELTS 4.5 (with a minimum 4.0 in each component) in UKVI IELTS for UKVI (Academic).
The approved equivalent qualifications list includes the following:
- Secure English Language Tests (SELTs)
- Regional-based qualifications
- Majority English Speaking Countries as deemed by UKVI
- Medium of English Institutions
Applicants who require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK may require evidence of a Secure English Language test rather than an examination or qualification due to visa requirements, as deemed by the UK Government Home Office, Visa and Immigration (UKVI).
Secure English Language Tests
Applicants with the following SELT (Secure English Language Test) are deemed to be approved for entry to our courses, depending on the level of entry measured through IELTS.
Common European Framework
UKVI IELTS 4.5 equivalent: B1
UKVI IELTS 5.0 equivalent: B2
UKVI IELTS 5.5 equivalent: B2
UKVI IELTS 6.0 equivalent: B2
UKVI IELTS
UKVI IELTS 4.5 equivalent: 4.5 (pre-sessional and International Foundation Year only)
UKVI IELTS 5.0 equivalent: 5.0 (pre-sessional and International Foundation Year only)
UKVI IELTS 5.5 equivalent: 5.5
UKVI IELTS 6.0 equivalent: 6.0
Trinity College London – Integrated Skills in English
UKVI IELTS 4.5 equivalent: ISE I – Pass
UKVI IELTS 5.0 equivalent: ISE II – Pass
UKVI IELTS 5.5 equivalent: ISE II – Pass
UKVI IELTS 6.0 equivalent: ISE II – Pass
Note: By UKVI regulations, SELTs are deemed to prove knowledge of English and applicants will not require a further test for Tier 4 sponsorship. This list is managed by the UK Government Home Office (UKVI) and may be subject to change.
Regional based qualifications
These qualifications are deemed to be equivalent to English GCSE grade C/grade 4 or above and are suitable for entry onto all of our courses at degree level or above.
We accept the following qualifications as proof of English for Tier 4 visa sponsorship purposes, therefore applicants will not require an additional SELT.
Worldwide
GCSE English (all UK boards): Grade C.
iGCSE English: Grade C.
O Level English (all UK boards): Grade C.
A Level English (all UK boards): Grade E.
AS Level English (all UK boards): Grade E.
International Baccalaureate: English higher A1/A2/B at 4/5/5 or English standard at 5/6/6 (out of 7).
TOEFL IBT: 79 overall including minimum listening - 17; reading - 18; writing - 17; speaking - 20.
Pearsons (undergraduate and postgraduate only): 61=6.5, 56=6.0, 51=5.5.
NCUK – all programmes: EAP D overall, with no components below D; or EAP C overall, with no components below E, and a maximum of one component at E.
INTO Foundation: EAP D (see NCUK).
Kaplan International College - Foundation Year / pre-master's: 60% in English with all components 55% or above.
University of Michigan - Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE): ECCE test takers will receive a scaled numeric score for all four sections. Test takers who achieve an average score of 650 or higher will be awarded a certificate. Additionally, ECCE test takers who achieve a scoreof 840 or higher in all four sections will be awarded a Certificate of Competency with Honours.
Anguilla
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
Antigua and Barbuda
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree or have successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Australia
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree or have successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Austria
Reifeprufung/Matura: English subject – Mark of 2 or gut.
(The) Bahamas
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree or have successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Barbados
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree or have successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Belize
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree or have successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Bermuda
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
British Antarctic Territory
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
British Indian Ocean Territory
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
British Virgin Islands
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
Brunei Darussalam
Cambridge O-Level English Language: Grade C6 or above.
Bulgaria
Diploma of Completed Secondary Education: English subject – pass (grade 3 or above).
Canada
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree orhave successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Cayman Islands
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
China
Sino-British College International Diploma: Pass including minimum EAP D.
Cyprus
Apolyterion: 15 or above in English.
Dominica
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree orhave successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Falklands Islands
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
France
International Option of the French Baccalaureate (OIB): MUST be the English Language Stream - Pass in the OIB.
Germany
Abitur: 10 or above in English Language.
Ghana
WAEC/WASSCE English Language: Grade C6 or above.
Gibraltar
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
Grenada
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree orhave successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Greece
Apolytirion – English subject: 15 or above.
Guyana
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree orhave successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Hong Kong
HKALE Use of English: grade D or above.
HKCEE (Syllabus B): grade C or above.
HKDSE: grade 4 or above.
India
Standard XII: English (only when award from CBSE or CISCE): 70% or above.
Jamaica
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree orhave successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Kenya
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) English as a First Language: Grade C or above.
Malaysia
SPM 1119 English (Bahasa Inggeris): Grade C or above on the UCLES O level grade (or grade 6C or above if taken between 2000-2009).
Mauritius
Cambridge High School Certificate (includes O Level/iGCSE English: Grade C or above.
Montserrat
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
New Zealand
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree or have successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Norway
Vitnemal: Four or above in English Language.
Nigeria
WAEC/NECO English Language: Grade C6 or above; or Pass in GNS 1 and 2.
Pitcairn Islands
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
Poland
Matura: 70% or above in English Language.
Republic of Ireland
Irish degree: Successful completion of Irish master's degree; or Irish bachelor's degree.
Singapore
O level.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan O Level English: Credit or above.
St Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year secondary education qualification in English.
St Kitts & Nevis
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree orhave successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
St Lucia
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree orhave successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
St Vincent & the Grenadines
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree orhave successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
Tanzania
Certificate of Secondary Education (Also known as Certificate of Secondary Education Examination or CSEE): Grade C or above.
Trinidad & Tobago
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree orhave successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
Turks & Caicos
Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate or equivalent 12 year Secondary Education Qualification in English: Grade III in English Language.
Uganda
Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE): Grade 1-6.
United Kingdom
UK bachelor's or master's degree: successful completion.
United States of America
Students who have taken their education entirely in the medium of English and can demonstrate that they have completed a recognised degree orhave successfully completed the whole of their secondary education up to and including the equivalent of year twelve.
West Africa
WAEC/WASSCE English Language: Grade C6 or above.
Majority English speaking countries
Applicants with degrees from these countries (must be equivalent to a UK degree) are deemed to be equivalent to English GCSE grade C/grade 4 or above and are suitable for entry into all of our programmes.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- UK
- USA
Note: By UKVI regulations, nationals of the above countries, as well as Canada, do not need to prove knowledge of English, and applicants will not require a further test for Tier 4 visa sponsorship. This list is managed by the UK Home Office (UKVI) and may be subject to change.
Medium of English Institutions
Students who have completed applicable courses at the following institutions are deemed to be equivalent to English GCSE grade C/grade 4 or above and are suitable for entry onto all of our programmes at degree level or above, provided the course has been completed in the past two years.
We accepts the qualifications for proof of English for Tier 4 visa sponsorship purposes and applicants will not require an additional SELT.
Hong Kong
LiPACE Open University Hong Kong (OUHK): Successful completion of Higher Diploma course.
India
Indian Institute or Technology: Successful completion of course.
Indian Institute of Management (various campuses): Successful completion of course.
University of Delhi: Successful completion of course.
University of Mumbai: Successful completion of course.
University of Calcutta (Kolkatta): Successful completion of course.
Malaysia
Taylors University College: Successful completion of course.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UiTM): Successful completion of course.
Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC): Successful completion of course.
INTI University College Malaysia: Successful completion of course.
Laila Taib College (LTB): Successful completion of course.
International Foundation Year
Our International Foundation Year (IFY) will fully prepare you for entry onto one of our undergraduate degrees. Based on campus, all of your teaching will be delivered by our academics and you will have full access to our facilities. You will study a mixture of subject-specific content and improve your English language and academic study skills. The subject-specific modules are tailored to your chosen degree so when you pass the IFY, you’ll be able to progress onto over 100 degree courses here.
Undergraduate applications
Includes BSc, BA, BEng, MEng, LLB, HND, FdSc and bachelor’s degrees.
UCAS is the central admissions service for universities in the UK, and is the system we use for undergraduate applications. You will need to quote our institution code (S03) when you apply, along with our institution code name (SALF) and the code for your chosen course (find this on your course page). Leave the campus code blank.
Apply through UCAS
Personal statements
The personal statement is a crucial part of university applications in the UK. It’s your chance to tell us why you are interested in studying your course; why you want to study at the University of Salford; the skills, experiences and qualities you will bring to your studies; and why we should make you an offer. We recommend using UCAS’s helpful guide to find out what makes a good personal statement. You can also use our template to help write your statement.
Application deadlines
If you are based in the EU, the deadline to apply is 15 January. Students from outside the EU have until 30 June to apply. We recommend applying as soon as possible as courses may become full. Applications after these dates can be made through Clearing.
English language courses
We run year-round English language courses for international students. These courses are designed to help you improve your skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
NCUK students
We are a founding member of the Northern Consortium (NCUK), a group of 16 leading universities dedicated to giving international students guaranteed access to universities and helping you succeed when you get there. Since 1987, NCUK has helped over 30,000 international students gain guaranteed access to university. Find out more about NCUK's scholarships, plus the foundation and graduate pathway programmes.
Postgraduate applications
It’s an exciting time to be a postgraduate student here. Our innovative research environment is recognised around the world, building international opportunities and offering you a platform to develop your own profile.
Apply now
Postgraduate taught degrees
Includes master's, MSc, MA, MBA, LLM, PgDip and PgCert degrees.
You need to apply online for the majority of our postgraduate taught courses. Access our online application portal and find out more about applying for postgraduate study, including details of our entry requirements, application deadlines, and the supporting documents you need to submit with your application.
Postgraduate research degrees
Includes PhD and MRes degrees.
You need to apply online for the majority of postgraduate research programmes. Access our online application portal and find out more about applying for postgraduate study, including details of our entry requirements, application deadlines, and the supporting documents you need to submit with your application.
Application Deadlines
Please download this factsheet for details of application deadlines for 2018/19 entry.