If you're thinking about coming to study at the University of Plymouth from South Africa, this page has all the information you need.
If you have any other questions, you can contact our team at international.office@plymouth.ac.uk, or by phoning +44 1752 588049.
To reward outstanding achievement the University of Plymouth offers scholarship schemes to help towards funding your studies. You could get up to 50% off your tuition fees in your first year.
Undergraduate
We require applicants to have completed a Senior Certificate (with matriculation endorsement) with minimum grades BBBCC or a National Senior Certificate with minimum grades of 66655 or above.
If you have not achieved these results, you should supplement your Senior Certificate with an international foundation year or equivalent. Our partner college on campus, University of Plymouth International College (UPIC), offers a wide variety of foundation courses.
Postgraduate
We require applicants to have completed a Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised institution when awarded after four years of study with the following criteria:
| South African classification | South African classification – percentage | UK Degree equivalent | |
| First Class | 75% – 100% | 1st | |
| Second Class, Division One | 70% – 74% | 2:1 | |
| Second Class, Division Two | 60% – 69% | 2:2 |
To be accepted onto a degree course with us you must have a suitable English language qualification. The tables below show the minimum English language requirements for standard courses at RQF 6 (degree level) and above.
Some courses have English language requirements that are higher than those shown below, please check the relevant course for details.
What if I don't meet the requirements?
If you don't think you will be able to meet these requirements you may be able to join a pre-sessional English language course offered by our English Language Centre. Please note to study a pre-sessional English language course UKVI require Tier 4 visa holders to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at a UKVI approved test centre (details of approved SELTs).
University of Plymouth requirement – South Africa National Senior Certificate (English as a first additional language or home language)
| Undergraduate programmes | Postgraduate programmes | |
| Grade 3 or above | Grade 4 or above |
UPIC requirement – South Africa National Senior Certificate (English as a first additional language or home language)
| Undergraduate programmes | Postgraduate programmes | |
| Grade 3 or above | Grade 4 or above |
Further guidance on English language requirements
"I am a Conservation Biology student at the University of Plymouth, one of the most eco-conscious universities in the UK.
The fact that you have Dartmoor and the ocean so close was important to me as I am from South Africa. This is such a diverse country in both wildlife and culture. Finding a city that valued this was vital. The University of Plymouth is modern and constantly adapting to promote diversity and meet its students' needs, something my close friends and I all love about it."
Need more information? Our teams will help get the answers you need.
