English Requirements
To undertake a programme of study at GBS, you will need to demonstrate a suitable level of English proficiency.
You can demonstrate your level of English with a Secure English Language Test (SELT), an admissions interview or by providing alternative qualifications.
The sections below will tell you what score you need for the area you want to study.
All qualifications submitted for the English language must be achieved within two years of the course start date.
Foundation level
To join one of our level 2 or level 3 courses, the following requirements apply:
| Test | Overall | Reading |
Listening |
Speaking |
Writing |
| IELTS Academic | 4.5 | 4.5 | - | - | 4.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 35 | - | - | - | - |
| PTE Academic | 40 | - | - | - | - |
| LanguageCert International ESOL | B1 | - | - | - | - |
| Duolingo | 65 | - | - | - | - |
Undergraduate Level
To join one of our level 4 or level 5 courses, the following requirements apply:
| Test | Overall | Reading |
Listening |
Speaking |
Writing |
| IELTS Academic | 5.5 | 5.5 | - | - | 5.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | 46 | - | - | - | - |
| PTE Academic | 51 | - | - | - | - |
| LanguageCert International ESOL | B2 | - | - | - | - |
| Duolingo | 95 | - | - | - | - |
You are exempted from sitting an English test if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- the 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
If you have a qualification not listed here, please get in touch with our International Admissions team at admissions@gbs.ac.ae, and we will consider your qualifications on an individual basis.
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