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Official sources checked 6 October 2026

Which English test do you need for a UK Student visa?

Separate your university's admission requirement from the Student visa evidence before you choose a test. They can overlap, but they are not the same decision.

Short answer: start with your course provider. GOV.UK says a degree-level higher education provider with a track record of compliance can assess English itself. If you must use a Secure English Language Test, Student applicants prove all four skills at B2 for degree-level study or B1 below degree level. See the official Student visa English guidance.

You have two English checks, not one

University admission

Your course sets this

The university decides which tests, scores, prior study and exemptions satisfy the academic offer. Requirements can change by course and level.

Student visa

UKVI sets this

For degree-level study, a higher education provider with a track record of compliance can assess English itself. Other cases may require an approved SELT and the route's CEFR level.

Your booking

Make one result do both jobs

Ask the provider which exact test and delivery mode will satisfy the offer and how it will record English evidence on your CAS.

GOV.UK's Student visa page says: If you’re studying at degree level or above, your Higher Education Provider can assess your level of English themselves. That is why a non-SELT test may work for one university applicant while another must book a UKVI-approved product.

If you need a SELT, the product name matters

IELTS SELT Consortium

IELTS for UKVI

Available inside and outside the UK. Book the four-skill test, not IELTS Life Skills.

LanguageCert

Academic SELT or General SELT

Available inside and outside the UK. Do not substitute a similarly named non-SELT product.

Pearson

PTE Academic UKVI

Available inside and outside the UK. PTE Home only assesses speaking and listening.

Trinity College London

Integrated Skills in English

Available inside the UK. Use the four-skill ISE product, not the speaking-and-listening-only GESE.

PSI Services

Skills for English UKVI

Available outside the UK. Book at an overseas centre on the current UKVI list.

LanguageCert's older International ESOL SELT four-skills test was replaced on 6 July 2025. A result already awarded under the old product can remain valid for two years, but it is not the current four-skill product to book.

Source and current centre lists: GOV.UK approved SELTs. UKVI says the result must come from the approved test list, an approved location and normally within two years of the application.

Choose in this order

  1. Open the exact course page. Record the accepted tests, overall score, component minimums, test-delivery restrictions and any exemption you may qualify for.
  2. Ask how the provider will assess English for your CAS. Do not assume a university acceptance page automatically establishes your visa evidence.
  3. If a SELT is required, use the UKVI list. Match the provider, product, skills, CEFR level and approved centre before paying.
  4. Only then compare formats. Try official samples and choose between eligible tests based on speaking setup, writing tasks, timing, nearby dates and result turnaround.

Do not book a test because its name looks familiar. “PTE Academic UKVI”, “IELTS for UKVI” and “LanguageCert Academic SELT” identify regulated products; the similarly named global exam may not be interchangeable for your application.

Compare the supported exam formats side by side →

Frequently asked questions

Do all UK university applicants need a SELT?

No. For degree-level study, a higher education provider with a track record of compliance can assess English itself. Your provider tells you what evidence it accepts and records the assessment for the Student visa process.

Is ordinary IELTS the same as IELTS for UKVI?

No. When your route requires an approved SELT, GOV.UK names IELTS for UKVI or IELTS Life Skills as the approved IELTS products. Book the exact product and approved location your route and provider require.

Can I use TOEFL for UK university admission?

Some universities accept TOEFL for admission, but TOEFL is not on the current UKVI SELT provider list. A university may be able to assess English itself for degree-level study, so ask the admissions team which evidence will support both your offer and Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.

How long is a UKVI SELT result valid?

GOV.UK says an approved SELT used for an immigration application must normally have been awarded within the two years before the application. Check the current Student route and provider guidance for your case.

Official sources

Requirements change. Check the immigration authority and the receiving institution or programme again before booking a test or submitting an application.

Related destination guides

Practise after you confirm the exact test.

ScoreFluent includes PTE Academic, IELTS and LanguageCert Academic practice. These are global exam formats; a UKVI product has separate booking and security rules.

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