Admissions Qualifications

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The below international qualification equivalencies are recommended to be used as a guide, with subject-specific grades to be included where appropriate for undergraduate applicants. All content published for each country has been proposed by the University's qualification groups and approved by the Taught Student Recruitment and Portfolio Committee. If you require further context about a particular country's education system or need to verify an awarding institution, please refer to the information provided by the UK National Information Centre (UK ENIC), managed by Ecctis

China

Undergraduate

Qualification required for undergraduate entry: Gaokao (aka NCEE - National College Entrance Examination) and Huikao

Subject-specific requirements from Gaokao (where relevant):
A* = 85%
A = 80%
B = 75%

School of Maths and Engineering programmes do not accept Maths from the Gaokao as A Level equivalent and would require A Level Maths alongside.

Gaokao maximum scores by province

We also accept the three-year Maple Leaf World School Program (MLWSP) Diploma with these subject-specific requirements:
A* = 90%
A = 80%
B = 70%

Where an applicant taking the MLWSP Diploma presents Advanced Placements (APs) alongside it on their UCAS form, their offer must be based on the MLWSP requirements as outlined below and not on APs. An alternative offer conditional on AP grades may be made if possible.

Applicants not meeting these requirements (or those applying to the Schools of Medicine or Dentistry) will be required to complete a foundation programme, such as the University of Leeds International Foundation Year, or other level 3 qualifications.
A*AA: 82% in Gaokao
and
Applicants must achieve an overall average of 80% with at least 80% in relevant subject areas in senior high school Year 1 and Year 2 and obtain senior high school graduation certificate
OR
85% average overall grade from all Year 12 MLWSP Diploma subjects
AAA: 80% in Gaokao
and
Applicants must achieve an overall average of 80% with at least 80% in relevant subject areas in senior high school Year 1 and Year 2 and obtain senior high school graduation certificate
OR
80% average overall grade from all Year 12 MLWSP Diploma subjects
AAB: 78% in Gaokao
and
Applicants must achieve an overall average of 80% with at least 80% in relevant subject areas in senior high school Year 1 and Year 2 and obtain senior high school graduation certificate
OR
80% average overall grade from all Year 12 MLWSP Diploma subjects
ABB: 76.5% in Gaokao
and
Applicants must achieve an overall average of 80% with at least 80% in relevant subject areas in senior high school Year 1 and Year 2 and obtain senior high school graduation certificate
OR
75% average overall grade from all Year 12 MLWSP Diploma subjects
BBB: 75% in Gaokao
and
Applicants must achieve an overall average of 80% with at least 80% in relevant subject areas in senior high school Year 1 and Year 2 and obtain senior high school graduation certificate
OR
75% average overall grade from all Year 12 MLWSP Diploma subjects
English language minimum requirement: The MLWSP Diploma English 12 module at 65% or above (NB: the optional modules, English 12: Writing and English Literature, cannot be accepted in place of English 12), AP English Language and Communication or English Literature and Communication grade 3 or above, IELTS 6.0 overall, GCSE C/4 or an equivalent qualification is required: Acceptable Language Qualifications.

General info

Links: Ecctis (UK ENIC)
Last updated: 03/02/2025
Institutionally agreed: 20/03/2024

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION YEAR

Acceptable qualification minimum for International Foundation Year entry: See the International Foundation Year website. If no requirements are listed, contact the IFY Admissions team on IFYAdmissions@leeds.ac.uk.
English Language minimum requirement for International Foundation Year: See the International Foundation Year website.

Postgraduate

Qualification required for postgraduate entry: 4 year Bachelor’s degrees.

Acceptable institutions
Applications are accepted from specific Chinese institutions.
Applicants from China who have studied at an institution in the USA on a 3+1 or 2+2 TNE agreement must have studied at an institution on the acceptable institutions list linked above for the period of their studies taken in China.

Depending on the course applied for, applicants will need to meet either the standard entry requirement or the higher entry requirement.

For all taught postgraduate courses, applicants need to meet the standard requirement.

For all postgraduate research courses, applicants need to meet the higher requirement.

Documents
The University only requires the final transcript and graduation certificate (plus official translations into English) as proof of final grade and award and for registration. The bachelor certificate and official translation are not required.
For information on the differences between the graduation and bachelor certificates, see the Guide to checking Chinese certificates.
1st: Standard requirement:
80% (Tier 1A and 1B)
85% (Tier 2)
90% (Tier 3/Independent college)

Higher requirement:
85% (Tier 1A and 1B)
90% (Tier 2)
95% (Tier 3/Independent college)
2.1: Standard requirement:
75% (Tier 1A and 1B)
80% (Tier 2)
85% (Tier 3/Independent college)

Higher requirement:
80% (Tier 1A and 1B)
85% (Tier 2)
90% (Tier 3/Independent college)
2.2: Standard requirement:
70% (Tier 1A and 1B)
75% (Tier 2)
80% (Tier 3/Independent college)

Higher requirement:
75% (Tier 1A and 1B)
80% (Tier 2)
85% (Tier 3/Independent college)

If the requirement is a Pass/3rd, this equates to:
Standard requirement:
65% (Tier 1A and 1B)
70% (Tier 2)
75% (Tier 3/Independent college)

Higher requirement:
n/a
English language minimum requirement: IELTS 6.5 overall, GCSE C/4 or an equivalent qualification is required: Acceptable Language Qualifications.

Applicants from the Southwest Jiaotong–Leeds Joint School (SWJTU) are not required to undertake further English language tests.