Entry Requirements
Information on entry requirements for courses offered by the Abbey DLD Group of Colleges.
The standard entry requirements listed below consist of English language requirements, academic requirements, and age requirements.
In addition to the entry requirements given below, students will be asked to sit an admissions interview.
Year 9 Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements for Year 9 at each of our colleges are listed below.
| Course Duration | Abbey College Cambridge | DLD College London | Abbey College Manchester |
| 1 Year Year 9 Programme (September 2024 Start) | IELTS 5.5 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 8 in the UK Age 13+ years | IELTS 4.5 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 8 in the UK Age 13+ years | Programme not available |
GCSE (Year 10 & 11) Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements for GCSE programmes at each of our colleges are listed below.
| Course Duration | Abbey College Cambridge | DLD College London | Abbey College Manchester |
| 2 Year GCSE Programme (September 2024 Start) | IELTS 4.5 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 9 in the UK Age 13-15 years | IELTS 4.0 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 9 in the UK Age 14-15 years | IELTS 4.5 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 9 in the UK Age 13-15 years |
| 18-Month GCSE Programme (January 2024 & 2025 Start) | IELTS 4.5 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 9 in the UK Age 13-15 years | IELTS 4.5 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 9 in the UK Age 14-16 years | IELTS 4.5 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 9 in the UK Age 13-15 years |
| 1 Year GCSE Programme (September 2025 Start) | IELTS 5.0 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 10 in the UK Age 15-16 years | IELTS 5.0 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 10 in the UK Age 15-17 years | IELTS 5.0 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 10 in the UK Age 15-16 years |
A-Level Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements for A-Level programmes at each of our colleges are listed below.
| Course Duration | Abbey College Cambridge | DLD College London | Abbey College Manchester |
| 3 Year A-Level Progamme (September 2024 Start) | Programme not available | Programme not available | IELTS 4.5 or equivalent 5 GCSE passes at Grade 4 or equivalent. Age 15-16 years |
| 2 Year A-Level Programme (September 2024 Start) | IELTS 5.5 or equivalent 5 GCSE passes at Grade 4 or equivalent. Age 16 -19 years | IELTS 5.5 or equivalent 5 GCSE passes at Grade 4 or equivalent. Age 16-19 years | IELTS 5.5 or equivalent 5 GCSE passes at Grade 4 or equivalent. Age 16-20 years |
| 18-Month A-Level Programme (January 2024 & 2025 Start) | IELTS 5.5 or equivalent 5 GCSE passes at Grade 4 or equivalent. Age 16-19 years | IELTS 5.5 or equivalent 5 GCSE passes at Grade 4 or equivalent. Age 16-19 years | Programme not available |
| 1 Year A-Level Programme (September 2025 Start) | IELTS 6.5 or equivalent Age 18 years Only applicable if students have either done A-Levels before or wish to re-sit a subject | IELTS 6.5 or equivalent Age 18 years Only applicable if students have either done A-Levels before or wish to re-sit a subject | Programme not available |
International Foundation Programme Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements for the International Foundation Programmes at each of our colleges are listed below.
| Course Duration | Abbey College Cambridge | DLD College London | Abbey College Manchester |
| 2 Year International Foundation Programme (September 2024 Start) | Programme not available | Programme not available | IELTS 4.0 or equivalent (Sport pathway requires IELTS 4.5 or equivalent) Good high school grades equivalent to Year 11 in the UK Age 16-18 years |
| 18-Month International Foundation Programme (January 2024 & 2025 Start) | Programme not available | Programme not available | IELTS 4.5 or equivalent (Medicine pathway requires IELTS 6.0 or equivalent, Sport pathway requires IELTS 5.0 or equivalent ). 5 GCSE passes at Grade 4 or equivalent. Age 16-18 |
| 1 Year International Foundation Programme (September 2025 Start) | IELTS 5.0 or equivalent. (Medicine pathway requires IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) 5 GCSE passes at Grade 4 or equivalent (Medicine students need to have previously completed one year of Level 3 study in Biology) Age 17-21 years | IELTS 5.0 or equivalent. (Medicine pathway requires IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, Sport pathway requires IELTS 6.0 or equivalent) 5 GCSE passes at Grade 4 or equivalent (Medicine students need to have previously completed one year of Level 3 study in Biology) Age 17-21 years | IELTS 5.0 or equivalent. (Medicine pathway requires IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) 5 GCSE passes at Grade 4 or equivalent. (Medicine students need to have previously completed one year of Level 3 study in Biology) Age 17-21 years |
BTEC Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements for the BTEC programme are listed below.
| Course Duration | Abbey College Cambridge | DLD College London | Abbey College Manchester |
| 2 Year BTEC Programme (September 2024 Start) | Programme not available | IELTS 5.5 or equivalent 5 GCSE passes at Grade 4 or equivalent. Age 16-19 years | Programme not available |
Preparation Programme Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements for Preparation Programmes at each of our colleges are listed below.
| Course Duration | Abbey College Cambridge | DLD College London | Abbey College Manchester |
| Academic Preparation Programme January, April, September Starts
| Programme not available | IELTS 4.5 or equivalent Good high school grades equivalent to Year 7 in the UK Age 14+ years | Programme not available |
| Pre-Sessional Programme January, April, September Starts | IELTS 4.0 or equivalent Age 13+ years Age and academic requirements match progression course | IELTS 4.0 or equivalent Age 13+ years Age and academic requirements match progression course |
