Master's Degree Entry Requirements
Check if you meet the entry requirements for our business Master's degree courses.
Entry to our Master's courses is competitive and we look to admit highly talented students with great potential. Once you've checked that you meet our entry requirements you can read about how to apply for Master's courses at Alliance MBS.
Do I meet the entry requirements?
Many of our courses are open to applications from students from any subject backgrounds - not just business-related. Due to the competition for places, we give preference to students with grades above our minimum entry requirements.
A First or Upper Second class honours degree (2:1, with 60% average) from a UK university or the overseas equivalent is required. You must also be able to demonstrate academic progression by achieving a high standard of grades throughout each year of your undergraduate degree.
Some courses have specific academic entry requirements relating to the subjects that you have studied previously. Before submitting your application, check the information for the course you are applying for.
International requirements
If you are applying from overseas, take a look at the international entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you need to take an English language test to prove your level of ability. Meeting the minimum English language test requirements does not guarantee admission and we reserve the right to make the final decision on your English language ability based on your test scores, interview assessment and any other relevant information.
Please note: all students requiring a Tier 4 visa to study with us must send in a valid and up-to-date English language qualification before an offer can be made. See below for the tests accepted or if you are studying or have completed a degree in an English-speaking country.
Minimum requirements
We accept the following tests and minimum scores. We prefer you to take the IELTS test where possible. We don’t accept English test scores that are more than two years old at the start of the course (18 September 2023).
| Test | Required score |
|---|---|
| 7.0 overall and no other element below 6.5 | |
|
Pre-sessional English language course: |
Minimum 6.5 overall with no element below 6.0 |
|
100 overall with a minimum score of 22 in other elements. |
|
|
Minimum grade B. Note that the Cambridge First Certificate is not accepted. |
|
|
Minimum grade B. Note that the Cambridge First Certificate is not accepted. |
|
|
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) |
Overall grade A with minimum grade B in all components. |
|
Indian Standard XII English (CBSE, ISCE, West Bengal) |
Minimum 85% |
|
Indian Standard XII English (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat Boards) |
Minimum 90% |
|
Overall score of 76, with minimum 70 in other elements. |
How to submit your score
We accept scanned copies of score reports which are then verified by the Admissions team. You should also include your scores and the date of your test on your application form.
IELTS
The official score report should be sent to us directly by the examination centre. Alternatively, provide us with your TR number and we will retrieve your result from the IELTS website.
TOEFL
The official score report should be sent to us directly by the examination centre. The University designated institution code is 0757. Alternatively, provide us with your reference number and we will retrieve your result from the TOEFL website.
Pearson
Send your scores to The University of Manchester electronically by logging on to your Pearson Account.
Frequently asked questions
What if I have studied in the UK?
If you have completed a minimum of three years within the UK at undergraduate level, you are not required to submit an English Language test, except at the discretion of the Admissions Manager.
If you have completed one to two years in the UK you will need to submit an English Language Test score as part of the application process.
What if I have studied in an English speaking country?
If you have completed a minimum of three years of study within a majority English speaking country at undergraduate level and have graduated within the last two years, you are not required to submit an English language test. If you graduated more than two years ago and have remained in an English speaking country to work, or for further study, you may also be exempt from submitting an English language test.
Exemption from submitting an English language test is at the discretion of the Admissions Team.
A list of majority English speaking countries, as determined by the UK Home Office, can be found here >>
If you have completed one to two years of study within a majority English speaking country you will need to submit an English Language Test score as part of the application process.
What if I haven’t taken or arranged my English test?
If you submit your application without an English language test score, we will be able to process the application, but won't be able to make an offer until we see evidence of your English language ability. If you have a date set to take a test please note it on your application.
What if my score is slightly below the minimum requirements?
The minimum IELTS score required to consider your application is 6.5 overall with no element below 6.0.
On receiving an offer for an AMBS master's course, you will be given the option to re-take IELTS to achieve our minimum requirement (7.0 overall with no other element below 6.5) or you may be eligible to attend a pre-sessional English course at The University of Manchester. This formal recommendation is an alternative option to retaking an English Language test and only comes as a condition in your official offer letter.
What if I need to study a pre-sessional English course?
If your English language ability is slightly below our requirements, you may be eligible for a pre-sessional English language course in order to progress to the Masters degree.
You must achieve a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no element below 6.0 for entry to a pre-sessional course.
If you have already met our academic requirements and English language requirements, a single visa may be issued covering both the pre-sessional course and the Masters degree. If, however, you obtain a conditional offer for the Master degree and your academic results are pending you may still enrol in a pre-sessional course on a separate visa.
If a separate visa is required, only UKVI-IELTS taken at UKVI approved IELTS centres globally will be accepted for entry on to a Pre-sessional English course.
When applying for an Alliance MBS Masters course you have the following options:
- If you haven’t completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a Pre-sessional English course prior to a Masters degree, we strongly recommended that you take the UKVI IELTS test to ensure you are eligible for a separate visa for the language course.
- If you have completed your academic study and are interested in studying a Pre-sessional English programme, either the UKVI approved IELTS test or a Standard IELTS test are accepted as long as you achieve our minimum IELTS pre-sessional requirements.
Other qualifications equivalent to IELTS (such as TOEFL, Pearson Test of English, Cambridge English Advanced/Proficiency, and Trinity College London ISE) may also be acceptable.
How do I demonstrate academic progression?
We expect you to consistently achieve good grades throughout each year of your study and maintain a consistent level of academic performance. Particularly in your final year, we expect to see an improvement in your overall average.
If you achieve our minimum requirement overall but your final year grades fall slightly below your current average, the final decision made will be at the discretion of the Admissions Team and further consideration may be required by an academic member of staff.
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