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The UK government classifies the following overseas countries as majority native English speaking:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Malta
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• USA

You also do not need to prove your knowledge of English if one of the following applies:

• you are a national of Canada
• you are applying to come to the UK for a study abroad programme as part of a university degree course in the USA
• you proved your level of English in a previous visa application

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

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• British overseas territories
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Malta
• New Zealand
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• UK
• USA

Canada is not included in this list.

If required by UKVI, your qualification may need to be verified by UK ENIC to confirm it meets UK degree equivalency and was taught in English. 

You will need to prove this by providing your official test certificate.

You must take a SELT if you are studying below degree level with Goldsmiths. The most common SELT we accept is a test.

Courses below degree level (Pre-sessional English language and International Foundation Certificates)

• Language level: B1
• UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) IELTS equivalent: 4.0 minimum in each component

There are two types of IELTS tests, and for study below degree level you must take the UKVI IELTS test .

Undergraduate degrees / Masters courses

• Language level: B2
• IELTS equivalent: 5.5 minimum in each component

MPhil/PhD qualifications

• Language level: B2
• IELTS equivalent: 5.5 minimum in each component

As a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance, Goldsmiths can assess English language ability for degree-level study. However, in some circumstances (such as for below-degree level study) UKVI may require a SELT. If you are unsure which test you need, please contact the IAS team. 

Under the current rules, you can take any IELTS test for study at degree level or above with Goldsmiths. However, if you are worried about your ability to achieve a sufficient score in all four components, you might prefer to take a UKVI IELTS test so that you could study for a Pre-Sessional English language course if necessary.

You can refer to our English language webpage for more information about meeting the requirements for your course and the Student visa.

Under Appendix Student, students are normally limited to a maximum of 5 years’ study at undergraduate degree level (RQF Level 6) in the UK on the Student or Tier 4 route. 

This includes time spent: 

• holding Student or Tier 4 permission
  • repeating academic years
  • resitting modules 
  • completing integrated placements where relevant 

How to calculate your study history

To calculate whether you meet the 5-year cap: 

• Add up all periods of permission as a Student or Tier 4 migrant at RQF Level 6 (from visa start date to visa expiry date) 
• Add the length of the course for which you are seeking a CAS at undergraduate level 

If the total exceeds five years, you may not be eligible for further undergraduate study unless an exception applies. 

Calculating your study history can be complex. We will assess this during the CAS process. You can email the IAS for more information at immigration (@gold.ac.uk).

Exceptions to the 5-year cap

There are specific exceptions set out in Appendix Student. These may include: 

• Certain professional courses (such as architecture, medicine, dentistry or veterinary science) 
• Completing a course after repeating part of it 
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• Compelling and compassionate circumstances accepted by UKVI 

Each case must be assessed individually. The IAS will review your full immigration history before issuing a CAS. If you do want to read more about some of the exceptions available, you can visit the . 

If you have previously studied in the UK on a Student visa, you need to meet the ‘academic progression’ rules.

The Student visa rules state: 

• Your new course must normally be at a higher academic level than yourpreviousUK course 
  • Study at the same academic level is only permitted in limited circumstances 

Study at the same academic level

You may be permitted to study at the same level if: 

• Your new course is related to yourpreviouscourse (this means that your studies have to be connected, and part of the same subject group) 
• Your new course combined with your previous course supports your genuine career aspirations 

You must also have successfully completed your previous course. 

You will be asked to provide substantial evidence if you want to rely on this exception as part of the Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) process. 

Goldsmiths must be satisfied that your new course represents genuine academic progression before issuing a CAS. If you do not meet the academic progression requirement, we will not be able to issue a CAS.