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Minimum IELTS score requirements for UK universities

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    Now that you have made up your mind to study in the UK, it is time to ensure you have all you need for a successful application to a university!

    As an international student, you must demonstrate a satisfactory standard of spoken and written English to support your application. This can be done by taking the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic test.

    University language requirements vary according to the university and programme. To study in the UK, you will need a Tier 4 Visa, which can only be obtained if you meet the English proficiency standard set by your institution.

    To Study In The UK, The Minimum Requirements Are As Follows:

    Level (Courses)

    English Requirement

    University Foundation

    IELTS 4.5 (4.0+ in all skills)

    Bachelor’s Degree

    IELTS 6.5 (6.0+ in all skills)

    Pre-Master’s

    IELTS 5.0 (5.0+ in all skills)

    Master’s Degree

    IELTS 6.5 (6.0+ in all skills)

    However, to study in the world’s top 200 universities in the UK score requirements are much more stringent.

    Complete University Guide (CUG) Rankings in 2022

    The CUG university rankings is an independent rankings provider for universities in the UK. It also provides course and expert advice for students who wish to find out more about studying in the country.

    Rank

    University

    IELTS minimum requirement (undergraduate programmes)

    IELTS minimum requirement (postgraduate programmes)

    1

    University of Oxford

    7.0

    7.5

    2

    University of Cambridge

    7.5

    7.0

    3

    London School of Economics and Political Science

    7.0

    7.0

    4

    University of St Andrews

    6.5

    6.5

    5

    Imperial College London

    6.5

    6.5

    6

    Durham University

    6.5

    6.5

    7

    Loughborough University

    6.5

    6.5

    8

    UCL (University College London)

    6.5

    6.5

    9

    University of Warwick

    6..0

    6.5

    10

    University of Bath

    7.0

    6.5

    11

    Lancaster University

    6.5

    6.5

    12

    University of Edinburgh

    6.5

    6.5

    13

    University of Manchester

    6.0

    6.0

    14

    University of Exeter

    6.5

    6.5

    15

    University of Southampton

    Contact institution

    Contact institution

    16

    University of Glasgow

    6.5

    6.5

    17

    University of Bristol

    6.5

    6.5

    18

    University of York

    6.5

    6.5

    19

    University of Birmingham

    6.0

    6.0

    20

    University of Leeds

    6.0

    6.0

    Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2022

    The Times Higher Education World Rankings is one of the world’s most established metrics. It judges universities based on 5 key performance indicators- teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income.

    Rank

    University

    Global Rank

    IELTS minimum requirement (undergraduate programmes)

    IELTS minimum requirement (postgraduate programmes)

    1

    University of Oxford

    1

    7.0

    7.5

    2

    University of Cambridge

    5

    7.5

    7.0

    3

    Imperial College London

    12

    6.5

    6.5

    4

    UCL

    18

    6.5

    6.5

    5

    London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

    27

    7.0

    7.0

    6

    University of Edinburgh

    30

    6.5

    6.5

    7

    King’s College London

    35

    7.5

    7.5

    8

    University of Manchester

    50

    6.0

    6.0

    9

    University of Warwick

    78

    6.0

    6.5

    10

    University of Glasgow

    86

    6.5

    6.5

    11

    University of Bristol

    92

    6.5

    6.5

    12

    University of Birmingham

    105

    6.0

    6.0

    13

    University of Sheffield

    110

    6.0

    6.0

    14

    Queen Mary University of London

    117

    6.0

    6.5

    15

    Lancaster University

    122

    6.5

    6.5

    16

    University of Southampton

    124

    Contact institution

    Contact institution

    17

    University of Leeds

    127

    6.0

    6.0

    18

    University of Nottingham

    141

    6.0

    6.0

    19

    University of Exeter

    143

    6.5

    6.5

    20

    Newcastle University

    146

    6.5

    6.5

    QS World University Rankings in 2022

    Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World Rankings, another of the world’s premier ranking systems, rates the world’s universities by institution and subject through academic, student, employer and international indicators.

    Rank

    University

    Global Rank

    IELTS minimum requirement (undergraduate programmes)

    IELTS minimum requirement (postgraduate programmes)

    1

    University of Oxford

    2

    7.0

    7.5

    2

    University of Cambridge

    3

    7.5

    7.0

    3

    Imperial College London

    7

    6.5

    6.5

    4

    UCL

    8

    6.5

    6.5

    5

    The University of Edinburgh

    16

    6.5

    6.5

    6

    The University of Manchester

    27

    6.0

    6.0

    7

    King’s College London

    35

    7.5

    7.5

    8

    The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

    49

    7.0

    7.0

    9

    The University of Warwick

    61

    6.0

    6.5

    10

    University of Bristol

    62

    6.5

    6.5

    11

    University of Glasgow

    73

    6.5

    6.5

    12

    University of Southampton

    77

    Contact institution

    Contact institution

    13

    Durham University

    82

    6.5

    6.5

    14

    University of Birmingham

    90

    6.0

    6.0

    15

    University of St Andrews

    91

    6.5

    6.5

    16

    University of Leeds

    92

    6.0

    6.0

    17

    The University of Sheffield

    95

    6.0

    6.0

    18

    University of Nottingham

    103

    6.0

    6.0

    19

    Queen Mary University of London

    117

    6.0

    6.5

    20

    Lancaster University

    132

    6.5

    6.5

    Do note that scores are subject to change. For the latest information, please refer to each institution’s website and/or contact the Admissions Office directly.

    If you have not achieved these scores in your first university IELTS Academic test, fret not!

    You can still apply to your preferred universities and receive a conditional offer contingent on meeting the language requirements. Then, you can confirm with your offer with the successful results of your second test.

    The universities’ language requirements can also be met through other English tests such as TOEFL and A Level English.

    IELTS and Equivalent Scores

    Exam

    IELTS 5.0

    5.5

    6.0

    6.5

    7.0

    7.5

    A Level English

    D

    D

    C

    C

    B

    B

    GCSE English

    D

    D

    C

    C

    B

    B

    IB**

    grade 3& in A or B HL or SL

    grade 4 in A or B HL or SL

    IB B SL grade 6

    IB B HL -grade 4

    IB A1/A2 HL/ SL grade 4

    IB B SL grade 6

    IB B HL -grade 5

    IB A1/A2 HL/ SL- grade 5

    IB B SL grade 7

    IB B HL -grade 5

    IB A1/A2 HL/ SL grade 5

    IB B HL -grade 6

    IB A1/A2 HL/ SL grade 6

    TOEFL ibt

    60(10, 10, 13, 16)

    70(13, 13, 13, 16)

    80(17, 18, 17, 20)

    90(17, 18, 17, 20)

    100(20, 20, 20, 20)

    110(22, 22, 22, 22

    While understanding the IELTS requirements for your University of entry is key, it is much better to focus get fully prepared for the test itself to score your very best!

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