Studying and working abroad

Making your ambitions and dreams a reality

Cambridge English exams give you the language skills you need to succeed in an English-speaking environment. They are widely accepted as high-quality proof of language ability, opening doors for you to live, work and study in English-speaking countries and almost anywhere in the world.

• Study
  Many people want to learn English so that they can study in an English-speaking country or complete a course taught in English or using English materials. If English is not your first language, most reputable educational institutions will require proof of your ability to use the language well enough to complete your chosen course. Cambridge English certificates give them the proof they need.


• Work
  Having an internationally recognised qualification in English is an important step towards a successful career in today's increasingly globalised world of work. Thousands of employers – many of them leading names in their industries – use Cambridge English exams because they know them to be a high-quality and reliable indicator of a person's language ability.

Check with your chosen institution or employer to see whether you need to have a particular level of English before going to study or work abroad. Or, if you haven’t already made up your mind, start by checking our recognition database to see which organisations will recognise your Cambridge English certificate.

CEFR Level C1 – the ideal level for life abroad

We offer a range of exams at different levels to prepare you for life abroad. The level most employers and educational institutions will expect you to have for academic and professional success is Level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), the international framework used to describe language ability. This is the level of Cambridge English: Advanced and Cambridge English: Business Higher.

However, to be sure of the level you need, check the English language requirements of your chosen college, university or employer. Alternatively, search our online database of educational institutions and businesses.

Taking you where you want to go

Find out more about how Cambridge English exams can help you emigrate to the main English-speaking countries of the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. Choose ‘International’ to find out about going to non-English speaking countries (e.g. where a course may be taught in English, or where English is used as the language of communication in your chosen industry or business sector).