For a foundation course application, you need a copy of your passport, your secondary school certificate and transcripts, proof of English language proficiency (such as an IELTS) and a completed application form with your full contact information.

As an international student looking to apply for a place on a Bachelor’s degree programme, you need the following:

• Copy of your passport
• Secondary school certificate and transcripts
• Foundation certificate or A-levels
• Proof of English language proficiency (such as an IELTS)
• One academic reference
• Personal statement
• Completed application form

• Copy of your passport
• Bachelor’s degree certificate and transcripts
• Proof of English language proficiency (such as an IELTS)
• Two academic reference (ideally dated no more than two years prior, stamped, signed and on institution-headed paper)
• Personal statement
• Any work experience or training certificates (if available)
• A completed application form
• CV

• Copy of your passport
• Bachelor’s degree certificate and transcripts
• Master’s degree certificate and transcripts
• Proof of English language proficiency (such as an IELTS)
• Two academic reference (ideally dated no more than two years prior, stamped, signed and on institution-headed paper)
• Personal statement
• Research proposal
• Any work experience or training certificates (if available)
• A completed application form
• CV

Yes, as an international student, you will require proof of English language proficiency (such as an IELTS) in order to study abroad. However, if you graduated from a university in an English-speaking country (such as the UK, USA, Australia or New Zealand) in the last three years, this condition may be waived.

For students who require a visa to study abroad, they will need to provide a SELT (Secure English language Test). For the UK, the tests approved for visa purposes are:

• Pearson: ‘PTE Academic UKVI’ or ‘PTE Home’
• PSI Services: ‘Skills for English UKVI’
• Trinity College London: ‘Secure English Language Tests for UKVI’ Integrated Skills in English (ISE)
• IELTS SELT Consortium: ‘IELTS for UKVI’ or ‘IELTS Life Skills
• LanguageCert International ESOL SELT

However, if you are applying for a degree that is at NQF Level 6 and above (ie Bachelor’s and above), you may not require a SELT as other tests may also be approved. In some cases, universities are able to assess your English language ability themselves.

A SELT is a Secure English language Test. This is required if you will need a student visa to study in the UK. The most common one is the IELTS UKVI. However, many institutions accept other SELTs as well. These include the Pearson PTE and Trinity College London (ISE). See the list on the previous question.

Yes, you can apply for a foundation, Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD course before you take your IELTS. You will be considered for the course and given a conditional offer if you meet the other academic requirements. Once you meet the English language condition, your offer will be revised and made unconditional.

If you receive a conditional offer, it means you have been accepted onto the course subject to some conditions (such as meeting the English language or academic requirements). English language conditions could be attached to your offer if you have not yet taken an English test or have taken it but are still awaiting your results. Academic conditions could be attached to your offer if your grades are not yet available (for example awaiting exam results). If you are issued an unconditional offer on a course, it means the school/ university has reviewed your documents and grades and accepted you with no attached conditions. It means you have secured your place (pending a few non-academic arrangements).

Your IELTS scores are valid for two years and can be used for any applications within the two years following to the date the test was taken.

There is no “one” correct way to write a personal statement. It is personal and can be a chance for you to show your personality and articulate why you would like to study a particular course at a particular university. However, as a general guideline, your personal statement should provide information on your academic background and studies up to date. It should then articulate why you would like to study the course for which you are applying and why you are applying to the university to which you are applying. For instance, if you are applying for a business course, you could describe how your passion for business first started and when you knew for sure you wanted to pursue your studies on the discipline. When describing your choice of university, it would help to do some research and state keys points that make it attractive such as high student satisfaction scores or its location in a nice city. Finally, you can go on to describe your future academic and career objectives. You can express and describe what you intend to do after you graduate, whether you intend to study more or begin your professional career.