Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
The approved SELT providers
Gov.uk's SELT guidance says you can only take a SELT with the providers below, and the test must be on the approved list, sat at an approved location and awarded in the two years before your application. Cambridge English qualifications are not among them.
| Provider | Approved test names | Where |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS SELT Consortium | IELTS for UKVI, IELTS Life Skills | In and outside the UK |
| LanguageCert | International ESOL SELT, Academic SELT, General SELT | In and outside the UK |
| Pearson | PTE Academic UKVI, PTE Home | In and outside the UK |
| Trinity College London | ISE, GESE | In the UK |
| PSI Services (UK) Ltd | Skills for English UKVI | Outside the UK |
When a university can still accept C1 Advanced
For a Student visa at degree level or above, gov.uk says your Higher Education Provider can assess your English itself, so it may accept a different test, as long as the level is equivalent to CEFR B2. Below degree level you need B1 and, without a qualifying qualification, a SELT (gov.uk).
So a C1 Advanced result can work for a degree course if the university says it accepts it. It does not work for Skilled Worker, family, settlement or citizenship applications, which rely on a SELT or another listed route.
Need a SELT for a UK visa?
Where the Home Office asks for a Secure English Language Test, IELTS for UKVI and PTE Academic UKVI are approved. Practise the format free.
Free IELTS for UKVI practice →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
Alternatives
If you need a SELT, compare the options in the UK SELT list. Cambridge says its certificates do not expire (Cambridge), but SELT results are valid for two years from the date awarded (gov.uk). Rules and fees change. Check the test owner's own page for your country before you book or pay. This guide is general information, not official advice from the test owner.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cambridge C1 Advanced a UKVI-approved SELT?+
No. Cambridge is not on gov.uk's list of approved SELT providers.
Can a UK university accept C1 Advanced for my Student visa?+
For degree-level study, yes if it chooses to, because the university can assess your English itself at CEFR B2 or above.
Can I use C1 Advanced for a Skilled Worker visa?+
Not as a SELT. Use an approved SELT such as IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI or LanguageCert SELT.
Which tests are SELTs outside the UK?+
Tests from PSI Services, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert and Pearson.
How long are UK SELT results valid?+
Two years from the date the test is awarded.
Keep reading
Related
- UK SELT list 2026
- Do Cambridge certificates expire?
- IELTS UKVI vs IELTS Academic
- Skills for English SELT
- All 3112 guides
Guide updated on 30 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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