With international students from over 100 countries, the University of Hull welcomes students from around the world into its global community.

To get the most out of your studies as an international student with Hull, it’s important to have the English language skills you need to dive in to your exciting new learning experience.

If English isn’t your first language, you may need to take an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test to be accepted into your chosen course with Hull. The IELTS is an international standardised test that measures your English language proficiency.

Here is an IELTS guide that can help you if you’re an international student looking to study with Hull:

Step 1: Book your IELTS test

Because of high demand, IELTS test dates usually get booked out quite quickly, so it’s a good idea to book your test as early as possible.

Generally, if you’re not a citizen of a majority English-speaking country, or if you haven’t been studying at degree-level in English for at least three years in a majority English-speaking country, it’s likely that you’ll need to take an IELTS test to be accepted into your chosen course with Hull.

By preparing well in advance and booking your IELTS test early, you can give yourself the time you need to make sure you’re able to meet the IELTS entry requirements of your course.

You can book your IELTS test online at over 800 test centres worldwide.

Step 2: Know what to expect

Taking the time to understand what to expect and thoroughly prepare for your IELTS test before your test date will give you the best chance of success.

IELTS tests are scored on a scale of 1 to 9. The IELTS score you’ll need to get into a degree course with Hull is 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the writing, listening, reading and speaking skills tested.

Keep in mind there are two types of IELTS tests: Academic and General Training. You’ll need to take the IELTS Academic test for admission to Hull.

Getting to know the IELTS test format will help you to better understand what to expect when your test date arrives. You can find out more about the IELTS test format.

There are also several online resources you can use to help you improve your IELTS test score. A great way to prepare for the test is to test yourself with a practice test. You can also find other helpful resources on the British Council/IELTS website.

Step 3: Practice reading and writing

Practicing your reading and writing skills will also greatly help you improve your IELTS score.

A good start is to try and read some of these books for English language learners. You can also try reading English graded readers, which are world-renowned classic stories in English that have been rewritten especially for English language learners. Both these tools will help you boost your reading speed and broaden your vocabulary.

You can also improve your English writing skills by keeping a journal and writing about your day in English in your journal each day. Getting in the habit of writing in English daily will help you make sure you’re getting regular practice writing in English.

Step 4: Record yourself speaking

To prepare yourself for the speaking component of your IELTS test, recording yourself speaking is an excellent tip.

Record yourself reading out loud. You can read your journal entries, or pages from your English language books.

After you’ve recorded yourself speaking, play back your recording and see how well you did with your pronunciation. Getting a native English speaker to help you do this is an excellent way for you to identify any areas of improvement.

Step 5: Provide Hull with your IELTS test results

Once you’ve taken your IELTS test, your test results should be available after 13 days. A copy of your Test Report Form (TRF) will be posted to you, but you’ll also be able to view your score online in the meantime.

Once you’ve received your TRF in the post, you can email a copy of it to Hull so they can verify your score. Alternatively, you can ask your nominated test centre to post a copy of your TRF to Hull directly.

If you’re submitting your IELTS test results to Hull at the same time as your course application, you can upload a scanned copy of your TRF during the online application process.

The University of Hull Online’s course advisers can answer any questions you might have about the IELTS requirements for your chosen course. Get in touch to find out more.