Towards TEEUS: a test of English for European University Students

European universities now demand a minimum level of competence in English for all incoming students. But which competences, and which English? This paper reports on ongoing research at the University of Venice, sponsored by Trinity College London, suggests that the time is ripe for an entrance test based on the emerging reality of English in a non-native speaker environment (otherwise known as ELF), and implications for teachers who may feel increasingly under threat by drifting standards.