SELT is an abbreviation of the phrase Secure English Language Test, a term used by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) to describe the small number of English language tests they will accept as evidence of a visa applicant's English Language proficiency. Recently new immigration rules came into effect which means that prospective students from outside the European Union who are not from Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago or the United States of America must provide a SELT certificate when they apply for a UK study visa. The level of English required depends on the level of course they intend to study. Ironically the standard required to satisfy UKBA regulations for some courses, i.e. IELTS 4.0, is much lower than the standard required for admission to West London College, which is IELTS 5.5 for our lowest level courses.

IELTS is only one of the exam boards recognised by UKBA as a SELT. A full list can be found here indicating the scores required for each test.

Below is a list of the West London College courses giving the SELT grade that the UKBA requires for the visa application and the level the College requires for admission. They are not always the same.

If you take the test and score less than the required score, please send your SELT test scores to us so we can advise you. We may still be able to accept you.

Your questions about SELTs answered...