International entry requirements
We apply standard admissions criteria but, more than this, we are looking for students who will contribute to and benefit from a programme of study with us. We will consider you as an individual and take into account all aspects of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
This information is provided as a general guide only. Entry requirements will vary for particular courses, and some have additional requirements - such as portfolios for art courses - so please check the specific course descriptions before applying.
You can check individual country pages to confirm that your local qualifications are suitable.
To apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) you need to have completed your high school education (12 years) and have a pass equivalent to two UK A level passes, and have the required English language qualification.
The normal entry requirements for postgraduate degrees (MA/MSc/MBA/LLM) are a UK Bachelor's degree with Honours (2:2 minimum), or equivalent (normally we will consider 50% or above in a Bachelor’s degree with Honours), in an appropriate subject from a recognised university or HE institution.
We also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications and individuals with appropriate work experience.
Some courses may require the submission of a portfolio. If this is the case, it will be outlined in your offer letter.
The portfolio is your opportunity to show us your creative skills and why you would like to join our art and design department.
Carefully select and edit a small selection of work to produce an exciting, creative and representative portfolio of your work, which informs us about your skills, interest and ambitions.
It should include a statement (max 300 words) introducing the work in your portfolio. Your statement should explain why you have chosen your discipline and where you might like to develop in your time with us.
The portfolio should contain a maximum of 15 samples of work.
This must include:
- A selection of your student projects (if relevant)
- A selection of your professional work (if relevant)
- A brief, illustrated explanation of any research you have undertaken
- Examples of preparatory creative work (for example, images from your sketchbooks)
We are unable to give individual feedback on your portfolio.
English Language entry requirements
- IELTS at a minimum 4.5 in all skills
Academic entry requirements
We only accept students studying for a qualification that is not accepted for entry at level 4 on to our International Foundation Year courses. Students who have taken a qualification that we do accept but who have not reached the appropriate grade will not be issued an offer. This also includes applicants who only need IFY for language purposes. There are however, some countries that are exempt, these are:
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Croatia
- Republic of Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- The Dominican Republic
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America
English language requirements
The University accepts the following qualification as satisfying the English Language requirements for entry to a Bachelor or Master's degree:
- UKVI Academic IELTS overall score of 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each element
Please note: some courses may require higher levels of English – the exact criteria will be specified in the course descriptions
If you do not meet our standard entry requirements for English, we offer a variety of Pre-sessional English courses, as well as an International and EU Foundation Year to help you attain stronger qualifications for entry.
Students may be exempt from the University's requirement to have a formal English language qualification if they have studied for a first degree in the English language medium in a majority English-speaking country, or they have passed one of the following:
- Cambridge English: Advanced - An Overall score of 169 with a minimum score of 162 or above in all areas (Level B2)
- Cambridge English: Proficiency - An Overall score of 169 with a minimum score of 162 or above in all areas (Level B2)
- GCSE or O Level English language grade C or above validated in the UK
- IGCSE English as a First Language Grade C and the following individual scores: Reading Grade E, Writing Grade E, Speaking and Listening: Speaking Grade D (0522) or 2 (0500), Listening Grade D (0522) or 2 (0500)
- IGCSE English as a Second Language Grade C and the following individual scores: Reading and Writing: Reading Grade D, Writing Grade D, Oral (Speaking) Grade C (0511) or 2 (0510), Listening Grade A
- Scottish Certificate of Education Standard Grade English, minimum grade C
- Scottish Certificate of Education Higher Grade English, minimum grade D
- Irish Leaving Certificate – Ordinary Level English, minimum grade C
- Irish Leaving Certificate – Higher Level English, minimum grade D
- International Baccalaureate - Standard grade 5 and Higher Level grade 4 (Language B, Language A – Literature, Language A – Language and Literature, Literature and Performance, English Language A1, English Language A2)
- TOEFL iBT - Listening: 17, Reading: 18, Speaking: 20, Writing: 17. The TOEFL Home Edition (Online test) is not accepted.
- Pearson PTE Academic – Listening 59, Reading 59, Speaking 59, Writing 59. The PTE Academic Online is not accepted.
- LanguageCert Academic SELT - Listening: 60; Speaking: 60; Reading: 60; Writing: 60
- LanguageCert General SELT - Listening: 60; Speaking: 60; Reading: 60; Writing: 60
- West African Examinations Council School Certificate (WAEC SSCE): Minimum Grade C/6
- Indian Class XII - English minimum 70% from the following boards:
- CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education)
- CISCE (Council of Indian School Certificate examination)
- ISC (Indian School Certificate)
- ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education
- Maharashtra
- West Bengal
- Karnataka
- Goa
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Andhra Pradesh
- Gujarat
- Telengana
Duolingo
For courses requiring IELTS 6.0 - 110 overall with no sub score less than 100
For courses requiring IELTS 6.5 - 120 overall with no sub score less than 105
These additional conditions must be met:
- Only tests that provide individual Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening component scores are acceptable
- Only tests taken after 1st July 2024 are acceptable
- Test results valid for two years
- Applicants will need to share their results with the University
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