International entry requirements

Find out what qualifications international students need to apply for any of our undergraduate biological or biomedical courses.

We require all international applicants to have obtained a suitable English Language qualification equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each component.

In addition to this you will also need to have the appropriate qualification for your country. See the list below for more details.

If you can’t see your qualification or country listed, or for any other query, please contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk.

Please note: Applications to Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Medical Biochemistry need to include Chemistry as one of the sciences.

The below entry requirements are for the current admissions cycle (September 2022 entry). Requirements may change for the next cycle.

Kenya

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education of grade B or above would normally be considered for entry on our Foundation Programme.

Libya

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with an overall average of 80% in the Secondary Education Certificate in the Scientific Branch would normally be considered for our Foundation Programme.

Nigeria

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with five high passes at Grade B3 or above in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination would normally be considered for our Foundation Programme.

South Africa

Applicants studying the South African National Senior Certificate would normally be considered for our undergraduate courses. They need 6 passes including grades 7,7,6,6,6 including a minimum of 7 and 6 in two science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths. Life Orientation would not be considered.

Syria

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants studying the Thanawiyah Scientific Stream with 85% overall would normally be considered for our Foundation Programme.

Uganda

Applicants studying the East African Advanced Certificate of Education or Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education would normally be considered for entry onto our undergraduate courses. They would normally need a minimum of grade 2 in two science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths.

Bangladesh

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants studying the HSC would normally need 80% to be considered for our Foundation Programme.

Brunei

For entry onto our undergraduate courses, applicants would normally need ABB - AAA in Brunei/Cambridge GCE A-levels including two sciences from Biology, Physics, Chemistry or Maths. One science must be a grade A.

China (mainland)

For entry onto our undergraduate courses, applicants would normally need to have successfully completed an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent. We would also consider applicants who have completed the first year of a relevant bachelor’s degree in a recognised Chinese university.
Applicants with a Senior High/ Middle School Graduation Diploma (Science Stream) with an average of 85% in the final year would normally be considered for entry onto our Foundation Programme.

Hong Kong

For entry onto our undergraduate courses, applicants with a Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education would normally need 555-554 with two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths.

India

For entry onto our undergraduate courses, applicants are normally expected to achieve 80-85% overall in central board Standard XII examinations (CBSE or CISCE) with a minimum of 80% in two sciences from Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Mathematics plus 80% in English (or IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each component).
For entry onto our Foundation Programme applicants would normally need 70% overall in central board Standard XII examinations (CBSE or CISCE) plus 80% in English (or IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each component).
Standard XII with state examination boards may also be considered. Please contact us by emailing ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk for more information.

Indonesia

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with a Secondary Leaving School Certificate (SMA) in Natural Sciences stream with an overall average of 85% will be considered for our Foundation Programme.

Iran

Applicants with 85% or 17/20 in the Iranian Pre-University Certificate in Experimental Science, Maths or Physics will be considered for entry onto our undergraduate courses.
Applicants with a cumulative grade point average of 16/20 in the High School diploma will be considered for entry onto our Foundation Programme.

Iraq

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with 80% in the Sixth Form Baccalaureate will be considered for our Foundation programme.

Japan

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with an Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho) with 5 subjects at Grade 4 or above will be considered for entry onto our Foundation Programme.

Kuwait

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants studying the Shahadat Al-Thanawaya Al Aama will need to attain 90% overall and 90% in science subjects to be considered for entry onto our Foundation Programme.

Malaysia

Applicants will need an STPM with a Grade Point Average of 3.2 including two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths to be considered for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Pakistan

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
To be considered for our foundation year programme applicants will need a HSC/Intermediate with an average of 75% in one of the following streams: Science, Pre-Medical, Pre-Engineering, and Medical Technology.

Philippines

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with a High School Diploma or High School Leaving certificate will need to achieve an average of 90% to be considered for our Foundation Programme.

Saudi Arabia

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants studying the Thanawiyah will be considered for our Foundation Programme. Applicants will need to achieve 91% overall with 91% in science subjects.

Singapore

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with a polytechnic diploma may be considered for second year entry of our undergraduate courses, please contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk.

South Korea

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with an average of 80% in their High School Diploma will be considered for our Foundation Programme.

Sri Lanka

Applicants studying the Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education (A-level) will need ABB-AAA with two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths with an A in one of the sciences.

Taiwan

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with 80% in the Senior High School Leaving Certificate will be considered for our Foundation programme.

Thailand

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with a Certificate of Secondary Education (Maw 6) with a CGPA of 3.5 or overall score of 75% will be considered for our Foundation Programme.

United Arab Emirates

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with 85% in the Science Stream of the Thanawiyah will be considered for our Foundation Programme.

Vietnam

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with an Upper Secondary School Graduation Certificate will need an overall average of 7.5, including two science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths to be considered for our Foundation Programme.

Austria

Applicants are required to achieve 2 overall in the Reifeprufung/Matura with no less than 1 in Sciences for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Bulgaria

Applicants with a Diploma za Zavarsheno Sredno Obrazovanie will need to attain 5.5 overall and 5.5 in Sciences for entry onto our undergraduate courses. State Maturity exams should include at least 5.5 in one science subject.

France

Applicants studying the French Baccalaureate will need 13-15 overall with a minimum of 14 in science subjects and 14 in English (or IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each component) for entry onto our undergraduate courses.
Applicants studying the Optional International du Baccalaureat (OIB) will need 12-14 overall with a minimum of 13 in science subjects and 12 in English (or IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each component) for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Germany

Applicants studying the Abitur will need less than 1.6 overall with a minimum of 13 in two science subjects or 12 in three science subjects for entry onto our undergraduate courses. For more information please contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk.
Applicants will need a 12 in English for the Abitur or an English Language qualification equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each component.

Greece

For most courses:

Applicants with 19/20 in the Apolytirion will be considered for entry to the Foundation Year course.
Applicants with an Award of Apolytirion of Lykeio including Pan-Hellenic National Level Examinations with an overall score of 19 and 19 in 3 subjects, two of which must be in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths will be considered for entry onto our undergraduate courses.
Applicants with 19/20 in the Apolytirion without Pan-Hellenic National level examinations plus 2 science A levels at grades AB or higher will be considered for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

For Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Medical Biochemistry:

Applicants with 19/20 in the Apolytirion will be considered for entry to our Foundation Year courses.
Applicants with an Award of Apolytirion of Lykeio including Pan-Hellenic National Level Examinations with an overall score of 19 and 19 in 3 subjects, two of which must be in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths will be considered for entry onto our undergraduate courses.
Applicants with 19/20 in the Apolytirion without Pan-Hellenic National level examinations plus 2 science A levels at grades AB or higher will be considered for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Ireland

Applicants with an Irish Leaving Certificate awarded before 2017 will need A2, A2, A2, A2, B1 to A2, A2, B2, B2, B2 with grades AA in Biology and Chemistry for entry onto our undergraduate courses.
Applicants with an Irish Leaving Certificate awarded in 2017 or after will need H1, H1, H1, H2, H2 to H1, H2, H2, H3, H3 including grades H1, H2, normally in Biology and Chemistry, for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Italy

Applicants will need 90 overall in the Diploma di Essame di Stato with 9 in sciences for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Netherlands

Applicants with the VWO with 7.5 overall and 8 in two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths will be considered for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Norway

Applicants are required to pass the VVO with 4.5 overall with scores of 5, 5, 5 including 5 in two science subjects for entry onto our undergraduate courses.
Applicants will need a score of 4 in English Language in VVO or a English Language qualification equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.5 in each component.

Poland

Applicants with a Matura will need to attain 85% overall including three subjects at Extended level, two of which must be in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Portugal

Applicants with a Certificado de fim de Estudos Secundarios with a score of 17 overall and 17 in science subjects will be considered for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Romania

For applicants studying the Romania Diploma de Baccalaureate we require 8.5 overall with 8.5 in science subjects for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Russia

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants studying the Attestat o Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii with an average of 4.5 will be considered for our Foundation Year.

Spain

Applicants with a Titulo de bachiller will need 8.5 overall and 8.5 in two of Biology, Chemistry Maths or Physics to be considered for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Switzerland

Applicants studying the federally recognised Cantonal Maturity Certificate will need to achieve a 5 overall with two science subjects at level 5 from Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths for entry onto our undergraduate courses.

Turkey

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with a Devlet Lise Diplomasi or Lise Bitirme Diplomasi may be considered for entry onto our undergraduate courses. For more information please contact ug.biosciences@manchester.ac.uk.

Ukraine

Applicants would need to have taken an acceptable qualification such as A-levels or International Baccalaureate for entry onto our undergraduate courses. Otherwise they would be expected to complete our Foundation programme or an acceptable UK equivalent.
Applicants with an average of 4.5 out of 5 or 9 out of 12 in the Attestat will be considered for entry onto our Foundation Programme.