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Entry requirements

Admission requirements for your course

To join us at Durham University International Study Centre, you need to have the required academic qualifications and English language skills. 

If you do not meet the English language requirements for your programme, you can join an English language preparation course first.  

International Foundation Year

To apply for the International Foundation Year, you need to meet the following entry requirements.

Academic: Good high school graduation grades or equivalent, with relevant subjects

English language: IELTS for UKVI 5.0 (5.0 in writing, minimum of 4.0 in all other skills)*†

Age: 17+

*We accept equivalent proof of English if you do not need a Tier 4 visa, or are exempt in another way.

†IELTS requirement is 5.5 overall with no less than 5.5 in writing for the following degrees:

  • LLB (Hons) Law
  • BA (Hons) English Literature
  • BA (Hons) History
  • BA (Hons) Liberal Arts
  • Combined Honours in BA (Hons) Social Sciences
Country  Qualification 
Angola  Successful completion of Certificado de Habilitação Literária (grade 12) with overall GPA at least 14  
Azerbaijan  Successful completion of 11th grade - Grades 4 and 5 
Bahrain  Successful completion of Tawjihiyaa (School Leaving Certificate) with 80% 
Bangladesh  Successful completion of HSC Year 12 - Grades 3.0-5.0 (60%+)  
Belarus  Successful completion of Attestat (11th grade) - Min. 7.0 +
Botswana  Successful completion of Cambridge Overseas School Certificate - Grade 1-6 in 4+ subjects
Brazil  Successful completion of Certificado de Ensino Medio - 6.9-5.0  in 5 subjects 
Brunei  Successful completion of Brunei-Cambridge Certificate of Education Ordinary Level - Grades 1-6 in 5 subjects 
Cameroon  Successful completion of Baccalaureat or Certificat de Probation - grade 13+ 
China (mainland)  Successful completion of Senior High 2 (80% in at least 5 academic subjects) or Senior High 3 (75% in at least 4 academic subjects) 
Egypt  Successful completion of Thanaweya - 75% 
Ethiopia  Successful completion of Grade 12 HE Entrance Qual Cert - over 301 
Gambia  Successful completion of West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) - Grades 1-6 (A-C) 
Hong Kong  Successful completion of Form 5 (2C & 2D) or HKDSE (332 in 3 relevant subjects, including 3 for Maths for Business, Economics, Accounting and Finance pathway or 3 Maths or Science for Science and Engineering pathway)
India  Successful completion of HSE/Standard 11 (70%, including 50% for Maths and Science) or HSE Year 12 (55%, including 50% for Maths and Science)
Indonesia  Successful completion of SMU 3 (Grade 6.5) or SMU2 (Grade 7.0) 
Iran  Successful completion of High School Diploma (3 years) - 14/20 
Japan  Successful completion of Upper Sec Sch Cert. Kotogakko (12th Grade) - 70% or 3/5 
Jordan  Successful completion of General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihi) - 80%
Kazakhstan  Successful completion of Attestat (11th grade) - Grades 4 and 5
Kenya  Successful completion of East African/O'seas Sch/Kenyan Cert (KCSE) - Grades 1-6 (A-C) in 4+ subjects 
Kuwait  Successful completion of General Secondary Education Certificate - 80% 
Lebanon  Successful completion of Baccalaureat - Min 12 points 
Macau  Successful completion of Form 5 / Senior Middle 2 - 70%, including C+ in relevant subjects 
Malaysia  Successful completion of UEC - 30 points in 5 subjects, including C+ in relevant subjects 
Mexico  Successful completion of Certificado de Bachillerato - 75+, including C+ in relevant sbujects 
New Zealand  Successful completion of NCEA Level 2 - 80 credits with no fewer than 60 from level 2 (majority merits/excellent) 
Nigeria  Successful completion of West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) - Grades 1-6 (A-C) in 4+ subjects 
Oman  Successful completion of General Secondary  Education Certificate - 80% from level 2 (majority merits/excellent) 
Pakistan  Successful completion of High Secondary Certificate (HSC) - Grades 3-5 (60%) 
Qatar  Successful completion of General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (Al-Thanawaya Al-Amah) - 80% 
Russia  Successful completion of Attestat (11th grade) - Grades 4+ 
Saudi Arabia  Successful completion of General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihayah) - 80% 
Singapore  Successful completion of GCE 'O' Levels (Grades A1-C6) or GCE 'O' Levels / NUS High School Diploma (Aggregate score 20)
South Africa  Successful completion of National Senior Certificate (Grades 3+ in 5 or more subjects) or High School Certificate Year 3 (5th grade average)
Sri Lanka  Successful completion of General Certificate of Education - 6 subjects grade B+ 
Taiwan  Successful completion of Senior High School Leaving Certificate (60%) or Senior High Year 2 (75%) 
Tanzania  Successful completion of East African School Certificate - Grades 1-6 (A-C) in 4 or more subjects 
Thailand  Successful completion of Matayom 5 (GPA 2.5) or Matayom 6 (GPA 2.0) 
Turkey  Successful completion of Devlet Lise Dipl (High School Completion) - GPA 3.0 (60%)
Ukraine  Successful completion of Attestat - 11 years at school - GPA 7.0+ 
United Arab Emirates  Successful completion of Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Tawjihayya) - 80% 
Vietnam  Secondary School Graduation - Year 12 - 7.0+, including 7.0 for Maths and Science

If your qualification or country is not listed then please contact us for more information.

Pre-Masters

To apply for the Pre-Masters programme you need to meet the following entry requirements.

Academic

 You need a good first degree or diploma in a relevant subject. 

  • Business, Economics, Accounting and Finance: you need proof of Maths or other numerate subject modules within your undergraduate degree or diploma. 
  • Science and Engineering: you need a relevant degree.

English language

  • Three terms - Academic IELTS for UKVI 5.5 (5.5 in all skills)*
  • Two terms - Academic IELTS for UKVI 6.0 (5.5 in all skills)*

Age: 20+

*We accept equivalent proof of English if you do not need a Tier 4 visa, or are exempt in another way.

 

Country  Qualification 
Azerbaijan  Recognised first degree or equivalent
Bangladesh  Recognised first degree 
Belarus  Bakalavr GPA 7.0 
Botswana  Recognised first degree or equivalent
China (mainland)  Recognised first degree (60%) or College Diploma (70%)
Egypt  Recognised first degree GPA 2.5/4.0 scale or 3.0/5.0 scale
Gambia  Recognised first degree or equivalent
Hong Kong  Recognised first degree, Higher Diploma (GPA 3+) or equivalent
India  Recognised three or four year undergraduate degree (Honors or Regular pass)
Indonesia  D3/D4 Diploma - A-4 excellent/ B-3 good
Iran  Recognised first degree or equivalent
Japan  4 year Gakushi
Jordan  Recognised first degree or equivalent
Kazakhstan  Bakalavr 3.0
Kuwait  Recognised first degree or equivalent
Macau  Recognised first degree or equivalent GPA 2.5
Malaysia  Advanced Diploma 2.0 or recognised first degree or equivalent
Nigeria  Recognised first degree or equivalent
Oman  Recognised first degree or equivalent
Pakistan  Bachelors Degree (Hons) - 3 Year (50%)
Qatar  Recognised first degree or equivalent
Russia  Specialist Diploma (4/5 years) - 4.0
Saudi Arabia  Recognised first degree or equivalent
Singapore  Advanced Diploma (A, B & C/2.0+) or recognised first degree or equivalent
Sri Lanka  Recognised first degree or equivalent
Taiwan  Recognised first degree 2.0+
Thailand  Recognised first degree GPA 2.3+ or equivalent
Turkey  Undergraduate Degree (Lisans Diplomasi or Muhendis Diplomasi 2.1)
Ukraine  Recognised first degree GPA 7.0 or Ukrainian Diploma GPA 7.0
United Arab Emirates  Recognised first degree or equivalent
Vietnam  Higher Diploma GPA 7.0 or recognised first degree GPA 6.5

If your qualification or country is not listed then please contact us for more information.

English language courses

English Language Preparation

If you do not meet the English language entry requirements for the International Foundation Year, you can join our English Language Preparation course first. This course is for one or two terms, depending on your level of English.

One term: Academic IELTS for UKVI 4.5 (4.5 in writing, minimum of 4.0 in all other skills)*

Two terms: Academic IELTS for UKVI 4.0 (minimum of 4.0 in all skills*

Age: 17+

English for Pre-Masters

If you do not meet the English language entry requirements for the Pre-Masters, you can join our English for Pre-Masters course first. This course is for one or two terms, depending on your level of English.

One term: Academic IELTS for UKVI 5.0 (5.0 in writing, minimum of 4.0 in all other skills)*

Two terms: Academic IELTS for UKVI 4.5 (minimum of 4.5 in all skills*

Age: 17+

Fees

Durham University student

Find out the tuition fees for your course.