Undergraduate entry requirements
To be considered for direct entry onto a Bachelor's degree at Birkbeck, applicants from China must have:
a 2- or 3-year Diploma (Zhuanke or Da Zhuan) with a minimum final grade of at least 80% or equivalent
OR, at the discretion of the department, a Vocational Diploma (Gaozhi) with a minimum final grade of at least 80% or equivalent
OR to have completed the first year of a Bachelor's degree (Xueshi) with an average grade of at least 80% or equivalent. Students from higher tiered universities may be accepted with an average grade of 75%
Applicants from China who have completed the Senior Secondary School Certificate will normally require a Foundation course for entry onto undergraduate programmes at the university. These offer the opportunity for guaranteed progression onto Birkbeck’s Bachelor programmes.
Applicants with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or A-levels will be considered for direct admission to our undergraduate degree programmes. IB requirements range from 28–30, depending on the course.
General English language requirements for undergraduate courses
IELTS 6.5 (with 6.0 in each of the sub tests): please note we only accept the Academic, not the General Test.
Trinity College London – Integrated Skills in English: the minimum score required will be ISE II (equivalent to IELTS 5.5); however, admissions tutors may ask for a higher score depending on the course entry requirements - for example ISE III (equivalent to IELTS 7.0).
English requirements for courses in Arts Policy, English Literature, Law and Psychology
IELTS 7.0 (with 6.5 in each of the sub tests, and at least 7.0 in writing or equivalent): please note we only accept the Academic, not the General Test.
Trinity College London – Integrated Skills in English: the minimum score required will be ISE III (equivalent to IELTS 7.0).
English language courses before you enrol
Settle into London life, familiarise yourself with the British approach to learning and improve your English before your course begins!
If you have not met the English language condition of your offer to study with us, or you feel that your English language skills need improvement, we offer pre-sessional English language courses:
4-week pre-sessional English course: Our pre-sessional English for Academic purposes is an intensive course that introduces students whose first language is not English to the conventions of academic study at a UK university. The focus is on academic reading, writing, speaking and listening. This skills-based course is restricted to students who have already been offered a place at university. Students eligible for the 4-week pre-sessional are ones who achieve an IELTS 6.5 but score less than 6.0 in one subtest (but no lower than 5.5).
10-week pre-sessional English course: This course combines all the language teaching of the pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes course, but in greater depth. Students will progress onto their main course of study at Birkbeck upon successful completion. Students who are eligible for the 10-week pre-sessional must have a minimum score of IELTS 6.0 (minimum 5.5 per subtest).
Please note that if you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, unless you have already obtained a Bachelor's degree from a 'majority English-speaking country' as defined by the UKVI or are a national of one of these countries, then you will be asked to obtain an English language score equivalent to IELTS 5.5, with at least 5.5 in each subtest.