Study English in the UK and Ireland

Why study English in the UK and Ireland?

The UK is the world’s most popular destination for English language study. Being surrounded by the language is one of the best ways to improve your language skills in the shortest time.

It is also an exciting place to live and study. You can experience a different culture and make English-speaking friends while you learn and use English every day. 

Where can I study?

There are hundreds of centres in the UK and Ireland. Many are located in famous cities such as London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cambridge so you can experience what it’s really like to live in the UK. There are two types of centre:

Preparation centres

Schools and other institutions in the UK and Ireland offer preparation courses for Cambridge English exams. Many of these are registered as Cambridge English preparation centres and have the quality of their courses checked by an external accreditation scheme such as Accreditation UK (run by the British Council and English UK). 

If you want to book a preparation course, speak to one of our authorised exam centres. They will tell you about the preparation centres in their area. 

Exam centres

An exam centre is where you register for and take your exam. When you contact an authorised exam centre they can give you more information about which exam you should take and where you can prepare for it.

Why take a Cambridge English exam?

After studying in the UK and Ireland we recommend that you take an exam at the end of your course so you can prove your level of English. This is important when applying for jobs, higher education, or for immigration purposes.

Taking an exam preparation course means you are well prepared and have the best chance of success. Here are some of the reasons why learners choose Cambridge English exams:

• Prove that you have the skills: English language exams are required around the world by universities, employers, professional bodies and immigration departments.
• Endless opportunities: as part of the University of Cambridge, our exams are recognised by 25,000 organisations worldwide. They include UK universities and colleges such as the prestigious Russell Group.
• Take your learning to the next level: with our exams you can see how you are improving, build your self-confidence and keep progressing. Our exams help you develop the language skills you need for success.
• Lots of support: we provide everything you need to successfully prepare for your exam. Our wide range of resources includes online courses, practice tests, learning resources, videos, social media and games.

Which exam is right for me?

We have a wide range of English language exams for you to choose from. To get an idea of your English language level, take our quick and free multiple-choice English test. At the end of the test, you will find out which Cambridge English exam may be right for you.

See our full list of English language exams for more detailed information about the exams available at each level.

An authorised exam centre will also be able to help you choose the right exam for you.

How to book

You can decide when and how you want to take your exam. There are exam dates throughout the year and you can take many of our exams on a computer or on paper.

For more details, contact your exam centre.