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Programmes underpinned by internationally excellent/world-class research – Research Excellence Framework 2014

Entry Requirements

What qualifications do you need?

We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.

Don’t worry if your qualifications are not listed here, we take a range of factors into account when assessing your application and are happy to consider other alternative combinations of qualifications and experience

If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Postgraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.

You must satisfy one of the following criterion:

  • Possess a teaching qualification or early years equivalent
  • Possess a first (bachelor's) degree in the broad area of education
  • Possess a first (bachelor's) degree in another discipline but with substantial content relating to education
  • Have relevant work or professional experience or completion of an appropriate programme of study for which prior knowledge and skills have provided an appropriate foundation, including a compulsory element of independent work

Graduates of the UWS PGDE Primary or Secondary who gained SCQF Level 11 credits in the course of their PGDE will be able to enter the programme with advanced standing.

English language requirements for most courses

For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.

General IELTS Requirements

General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)

  • overall score 6.0
  • no sub-test less than 5.5

Exceptions to this level of IELTS scoring exist for some accredited or professionally-recognised courses (see IELTS Score Exceptions section below for more details).

IELTS Score Exceptions (Research degrees, Biomedical Science degrees, Nursing & Midwifery degrees with NMC registration, Paramedic Science and Social Work degrees, Certificate of Higher Education, etc.)

Research Degrees

For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf) applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 6.5
  • no sub-test less than 6.0

Health & Midwifery Awards

For all our Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to, or require professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.

For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:

  • overall score of 7.0
  • score of at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and no less than 6.5 in writing

* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).

Biomedical Degrees

For our BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science, BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and MSc Advanced Biomedical Science degrees, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 7.0
  • no sub-test less than 6.5

Paramedic Science

Our BSc Paramedic Science degree leads to professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); it has different IELTS requirements than other Health-related courses. Although it is not possible to apply for this degree directly as an international student, for applicants who meet SAAS residency requirements and for whom English is not their first language, then the following IELTS scores are required:

  • overall score of 7.0
  • no sub-test less than 6.5

Social Work Degrees

Our BA (Hons) Social Work and MSc Social Work degrees are professionally-recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council; applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 7.0
  • no sub-test less than 7.0

Certificate of Higher Education

For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:

  • overall score of 5.0
  • no sub-test less than 4.5

Common equivalent English language qualifications

All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:

  • CAE (Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
  • CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English): 176 overall; no sub-test less than 169
  • Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English: ISEII with the minimum of a Pass in all sub-tests
  • PTE Pearson Academic English: An overall score of 59 to 64 with no element below 59 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5). An overall score 65 to 75 with no element below 65 (for programmes that require IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0)

TOEFL IBT

TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:

  • Reading: 17;
  • Listening: 17;
  • Speaking: 17;
  • Writing: 17

* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.

 

West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE)

West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*

  • C6 or above in English

*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate. WAEC Certificates should not be older than 10 years at the time of making the application.

 

Pre-sessional courses

Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:

    • 10 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.0 with no element below 4.5.
    • 5 week pre-sessional - entry criteria UKVI IELTS 5.5 with no element below 5.5.
    • English Language for University Study - entry criteria UKVI IELTS with score of 4.0 in all elements (10 month course), or 4.5 with no score below 4.0 (7 month course).

Find out more about our English language courses.

Postgraduate Tuition Fees (Academic Session 2022/23)

Academic Session 2022/23 Postgraduate Tuition Fees - Full-time

Scottish

£7,000 Cost of study

Rest of UK (English, Northern Irish, Welsh)

£11,250 Cost of study

Republic of Ireland

£11,250 Cost of study

International (including EU)

£14,500 Cost of study

Check Your Tuition Fee Status

Academic Session 2022/23 Tuition Fees for 20-credit Modules (online)

Scottish

£560 Cost per 20-credit module of study

Rest of UK (English, Northern Irish, Welsh)

£560 Cost per 20-credit module of study

Republic of Ireland

£560 Cost per 20-credit module of study

International (including EU/EEA)

£1,350 Cost per 20-credit module of study

Check Your Tuition Fee Status

Academic Session 2022/23 Tuition Fees for 20-credit Modules (face-to-face)

Scottish

£1,000 Cost per 20-credit module of study

Rest of UK (English, Northern Irish, Welsh)

£1,610 Cost per 20-credit module of study

Republic of Ireland

£1,610 Cost per 20-credit module of study

International (including EU/EEA)

£2,070 Cost per 20-credit module of study

Check Your Tuition Fee Status

Postgraduate Tuition Fees (Academic Session 2023/24)

Postgraduate Tuition Fees - Full-time

Scottish

£7,500 Cost of study

Rest of UK (English, Northern Irish, Welsh)

£11,750 Cost of study

Republic of Ireland

£11,750 Cost of study

International (including EU)

£15,250 Cost of study

Check Your Tuition Fee Status

Tuition Fees for 20-credit Modules (face-to-face)

Scottish

£1,070 Cost per 20-credit module of study

Rest of UK (English, Northern Irish, Welsh)

£1,680 Cost per 20-credit module of study

Republic of Ireland

£1,680 Cost per 20-credit module of study

International (EU/EEA & non-EU/EEA)

£2,180 Cost per 20-credit module of study

Check Your Tuition Fee Status

How to apply

Postgraduate courses (MA, MSc, MEd, MBA, DBA, PG Cert, PG Dip, etc.) & some Post-experience courses (CertHE, BA, Grad Cert, Grad Dip, etc.)

All students should apply directly to the University through our online application system. Before you apply, you should check that you meet our entry requirements and you should have all your supporting documents ready.

The first stage of the process is to create a profile; you don't have to complete the application in one session - you can complete it in stages by saving each section and return to complete it at a later date.

You will need to upload documents with your applications, which may include transcripts and degree certificates.

Most courses don't have a formal closing date, but they will close when they are full; apply early to avoid disappointment. There may also be funding deadlines that apply to you. Please be aware that programme fees are subject to increases each year.

Before you begin your application, it is important to read the Postgraduate & Post-Experience application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.

 

An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.

Get in touch

Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!

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Research at UWS

With cutting edge facilities, specialist knowledge and world-leading and internationally excellent expertise, we aim to develop research outputs that have a tangible, early and positive impact on society across the globe.

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