Tier 4 (General) student visa

Knowledge of English

You must prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

This usually means passing a secure English language test (SELT).

Where you’re studying	What you’re studying	Knowledge of English needed	Level
Higher education institution (HEI)	Degree level or above	Reading, writing, listening and speaking	Equivalent to CEFR (Common European Framework for languages) level B2
Institution that’s not HEI	Degree level or above	SELT in reading, writing, listening and speaking	CEFR level B2
Any institution	Below degree	SELT in reading, writing, listening and speaking	CEFR level B1

HEIs can choose how to assess a student’s knowledge of English. They must still be at:

CEFR level B2 if you’re studying at a degree level or higher
SELT in reading, writing, listening and speaking and CEFR level B1 if you’re not studying at a degree level

If you have to pass a SELT, it must be from an approved provider.

Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.

You don’t need to prove your knowledge of English if you’ve completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in:

You also don’t need to prove your knowledge of English if one of the following apply:

you’re a national of Canada or any of the countries in the list above
you have studied in the UK before as a Tier 4 (Child) student
you’re applying to come to the UK for a study abroad programme as part of a university degree course in the USA