Direct answer
The University of Aberdeen sets two distinct English language bands for postgraduate study: Postgraduate Standard and Postgraduate Higher. The MSc Applied Health Sciences sits within the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, which uses the Postgraduate Higher requirements. The official page does not publish separate academic entry criteria for Chinese applicants; it provides a single international framework for proving English proficiency through nationality, prior qualifications, or a recognised test. All test scores must be verified directly with the awarding body, and certificates must normally be less than two years old at the start of the programme.
Which English band applies to MSc Applied Health Sciences
The University of Aberdeen groups postgraduate programmes under two English language criteria. The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition—alongside the Schools of Business, Divinity, History and Philosophy, Education, Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture, Law, and Social Sciences—follows the Postgraduate Higher requirements. This means any applicant to MSc Applied Health Sciences must meet the higher sub-score thresholds shown in the official table, not the Postgraduate Standard thresholds used by the Schools of Biological Sciences, Engineering, Geosciences, Natural and Computing Sciences, and Psychology.
How to prove English proficiency without a test
The University offers five routes to satisfy the English condition without sitting a new language test:
- Nationality – Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, or the United States of America are exempt.
- Honours degree from a listed country – A qualification equivalent to a UK Honours degree completed in one of the countries above, or in the United Kingdom, satisfies the requirement with a transcript or certificate.
- Approved high school qualification – Certain senior school qualifications listed by the University can be used if the certificate is no older than 10 years at the start of the programme.
- Degree taught and assessed fully in English – If a previous degree appears on the University’s approved list, an official medium-of-instruction letter confirming that teaching, assessment, and examination were entirely in English is sufficient.
- Recognised English language test – Scores from IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo, LanguageCert Academic, Cambridge B2 First/C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency, Oxford ELLT Digital, or Skills for English: SELT can be submitted, provided the certificate is within the two-year validity window.
Postgraduate Higher test scores in detail
The table below reproduces the exact Postgraduate Higher thresholds published by the University of Aberdeen. All scores must be achieved in a single test unless the test provider offers a recognised one-skill retake, which the University accepts where available.
IELTS Academic (including IELTS UKVI Academic and IELTS Online)
- Overall: 6.5
- Listening: 5.5 or above
- Reading: 6.0 or above
- Speaking: 5.5 or above
- Writing: 6.0 or above
TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition (tests taken before 21 January 2026)
- Overall: 90
- Listening: 17 or above
- Reading: 21 or above
- Speaking: 20 or above
- Writing: 21 or above
- MyBest scores are accepted; DI code is 0818.
TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition (tests taken from 21 January 2026)
- Overall: 4.5 or above
- Listening: 4 or above
- Reading: 4 or above
- Speaking: 4 or above
- Writing: 4 or above
- MyBest scores are accepted; DI code is 0818.
PTE Academic (online test not accepted)
- Overall: 62
- Listening: 59 or above
- Reading: 59 or above
- Speaking: 59 or above
- Writing: 59 or above
Duolingo (tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward)
- Overall: 120
- Listening: 95
- Reading: 105
- Speaking: 95
- Writing: 105
Other accepted tests
- LanguageCert Academic / LanguageCert Academic SELT: Overall 70, with Listening and Speaking at 60, Reading at 65, Writing at 65.
- Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency: Overall 176, with Listening and Speaking at 162, Reading at 169, Writing at 169.
- Oxford ELLT Digital: Overall 7.0, with Listening, Reading, and Speaking at 5.0, Writing at 6.0.
- Skills for English: SELT: B2 Pass with Merit.
- University of Aberdeen English Pre-Sessional Programme (PSE): Pass, valid for one year; a refresher can be offered if out of date.
- Pre-sessional Academic English Preparation Programmes at other UK universities: Pass at an equivalent of CEFR B2 overall and in all four skills, with certification within one year prior to commencement.
What the official page does not cover
The evidence page focuses entirely on English language proficiency. It does not list academic grade requirements for Chinese qualifications, nor does it specify intake months, application deadlines, or tuition fees for the MSc Applied Health Sciences. Those details must be checked on the dedicated programme page or the University’s country-specific academic entry requirements page, both of which fall outside the scope of this article. The page also confirms that UK degree holders are not required to provide proof of English proficiency, but it does not extend that exemption to degrees from other English-medium systems unless they appear on the approved list.
How to use this information for a 2026/27 application
Applicants who already hold a valid test report can check their scores against the Postgraduate Higher column. Those who need to sit a test should note the two-year certificate validity rule and the specific sub-score requirements—particularly the higher Reading threshold of 6.0 for IELTS and 21 for the older TOEFL iBT scale. If a test date falls after 21 January 2026, the new TOEFL iBT scoring scale applies. The University verifies all certificates with the awarding organisation, so scores must be genuine and verifiable.
For a broader view of how UK institutions structure their postgraduate admissions, you may find it useful to read about UK agent recommendations and rankings for 2026. If you are comparing study destinations, the article on one-year private masters in Singapore outlines a different model. Students who need to understand accommodation logistics can refer to international student housing recommendations, and those considering practical training options may want to review CPT visa arrangements.
FAQ
Is the English requirement different for Chinese applicants?
No. The University of Aberdeen applies the same Postgraduate Higher English requirements to all international applicants whose first language is not English, regardless of nationality. Chinese applicants follow the same test score table and exemption routes as every other non-exempt applicant.
Can I use a medium-of-instruction letter from my Chinese university?
Only if the degree appears on the University’s approved list and the letter confirms that teaching, assessment, and examination were conducted fully in English. The official page does not publish the approved list; you must check directly with the University.
Does the University accept IELTS One Skill Retake?
Yes. The University accepts valid IELTS One Skill Retake test scores where available. The same sub-score thresholds apply.
What if my English test certificate is older than two years?
The University requires certification to be within two years prior to commencement of your course, unless otherwise stated. An expired certificate will not satisfy the condition, and you would need to sit a new test or complete an accepted pre-sessional programme.
Is the online PTE Academic accepted?
No. The official page explicitly states that the online version of PTE Academic is not accepted.
Which TOEFL scoring scale applies to me?
If you took the test before 21 January 2026, the traditional 0–120 scale applies (overall 90, with sub-scores such as Reading 21). If you took the test on or after 21 January 2026, the new 0–5 scale applies (overall 4.5, with sub-scores such as Reading 4).
Official sources
The entire content of this article is drawn from the University of Aberdeen’s official postgraduate English requirements page: Postgraduate Degrees – English Requirements. No other sources have been used.