Postgraduate English Requirement
English Requirement for 1st Year Postgraduate Research Students who are not native speakers of English
All postgraduate research students who are not native speakers of English must take an Initial English Assessment Test when they arrive at Imperial College to start their studies. This is an internal Imperial College test, chiefly of writing skills, and is completely separate from the entrance requirements for English (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.).
The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that students who need language support are identified quickly and given support during the period before their early stage (9 month) assessment (ESA) or before transferring from MPhil to PhD. Depending on the assessment result, the student may have to take a second test at the time of their ESA (9 months after registration) or MPhil to PhD transfer (12-15 months after registration).
Students in the following categories can seek exemption from this requirement (subject to confirmation from their department) by filling in and returning the exemption form (Acrobat PDF) to their department (not to ELSP):
- native-speakers
- students who are bi-lingual (by birth or domicile)
- students with undergraduate degree in the medium of English (3 years minimum)
- students with extensive education or work experience (4+ years minimum) in the medium of English
Please note that if you exempt yourself from the requirement you will not be eligible to take English classes.
Further information about the Initial English Assessment Test can be found here.
Further information about the English Test at ESA can be found here.
Further information about the English Test at Transfer can be found here.
