If English is not your first language, you must demonstrate your language proficiency by 1st May 2012.

The Academy will accept either of these two tests: International English Language Testing System (IELTS — academic tests) or the Pearson Academic Test.

You should take the examination for either IELTS or Pearson soon after accepting a place at the Academy. Your score must be at least:

If you are joining Postgraduate Vocal Studies or Opera, you must score at least IELTS 6.0 / Pearson 58 in the Listening and Speaking sections of the test. Information about test centres can be obtained from www.ielts.org and http://pearsonpte.com.

The Academy offers a short ‘acclimatisation’ course to selected international students before the beginning of the academic year, including a thorough introduction to the Academy and London life.

Language requirements for UK visas

For students joining a university study programme, the UK Border Agency requires an overall score of at least IELTS 5.5 or Pearson 51, and also each individual element of the test (reading, writing, listening, speaking) must have score no lower than IELTS 5.5 or Pearson 51. You are exempt from having to take a language test for your visa if you are a national of Antigua & Barbados, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, and the USA, or if you completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree which was taught in any of those countries excluding Canada and including the UK.