Which IELTS students need to sit for Tier 4 Visa?

There have been lot of confusions about which type IELTS students need to sit for UK Tier 4 student visa application.

With Tier 4 visa application, some prospective students must* submit an English language qualification which is included on the UK Home Office’s list of Secure English Language Tests (SELTs).

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one of the SELTs (Secure English Language Tests) widely used by international students – this IELTS is known as IELTS for UKVI.

Do you need IELTS academic, general or IELTS for UKVI?

• If you are applying for a bachelor or postgraduate degree course (without a pre-sessional) to study at an HEI (Higher Education Institution) i.e. university in the UK that is a Tier 4 Sponsor, then the HEI can choose their own method of testing your English language ability for entry onto their courses – this means that it is not mandatory for you to sit IELTS for UKVI. The Tier 4 Sponsor HEI may ensure your proficiency at CEFR B2 Level or above if required for the course in each of the 4 components (speaking, listening, reading and writing) by IELTS academic, IELTS General, IELTS for UKVI, Trinity College London, Tier 4 Sponsor HEI’s own English Test or other recognised English tests of their choice (check with your chosen university for their English language entry requirements).
• If your Tier 4 Sponsor is not a UK HEI (Higher Education Institution) i.e. university, you must demonstrate your English language proficiency at CEFR B2 Level by IELTS for UKVI (if not, other SELT approved by UK Home Office).
• If you are applying to study a bachelor or postgraduate degree course with a pre-sessional course, a foundation degree or English as a Foreign Language course at a Tier 4 Sponsor HEI or non-HEI, you must sit for IELTS for UKVI to demonstrate your English Language proficiency at minimum CEFR B1 Level.

(Sourcec: Tier 4 Policy Guidance 04/2016 & www.ielts.org)

IELTS for UKVI – Key information

• IELTS for UKVI is held in UKVI approved test centres worldwide on separate test dates - you must confirm at the time of registration that you wish to use your test result for UK visa application
• IELTS for UKVI is designed to meet certain administrative requirements that are specific to UKVI
• Test Report Forms will be slightly different, to show that test takers have taken the test at an IELTS UK visa session
• There are no differences in the test format or questions. The actual test taken is the same – same content, examiners, format, level of difficulty, scoring and so on

*some students will fall under the ‘Exceptions to the English language requirements’ – please check point 127-129 of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance version 04/2016 for more information.