The minimum IELTS band score requirements for studying in the UK is 6.0-7.0. Most undergraduate programs in UK require a minimum score of 6.0, while postgraduate courses generally ask for at least 6.5. Some UK universities accept scores as low as 5.5, but top universities in the UK often demand higher scores for admission.
International students planning to study in UK should know that the IELTS requirement is important. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) serves as a crucial requirement for both university admissions and visa applications. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) accept IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training and IELTS Life Skills as proof of English proficiency for candidates who want to study in UK. Now, the queries among candidates must occur related to UK IELTS band requirements.
The IELTS score for UK will vary on various factors, such as the UK university or degree level. However, generally most UK universities accept a IELTS band score of 6.0 to 7. Candidates looking for IELTS score for UK, should check the article below, where we have listed the minimum IELTS score for top universities in UK, popular courses, how to score good marks, alternative tests to study and more.
- Why is the IELTS Important for the UK?
- Minimum IELTS Score for UK Study
- IELTS Minimum Score for Top UK Universities
- IELTS Score Required in UK for Different Programs
- Alternatives to IELTS in UK for UK Admissions
- How to get the required IELTS Score for UK?
Why is the IELTS Important for the UK?
Almost all UK universities accept IELTS score to ensure students possess a good English proficiency. Getting a required IELTS score for UK will help students in getting admission in a good UK university and even meeting visa eligibility criteria. If you want to study in UK, you can take IELTS Academic to pursue higher education at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. On the other hand, if you plan to work, you can take IELTS General Training Test
More than 1,000 UK universities and colleges accept IELTS Academic results. The IELTS test comprises four major sections to assess the skill of candidates. The four sections of IELTS test are:
Every candidate who takes the IELTS score, will receive a band score between 0-9 on the basis of their performance in the exam. If the university's IELTS score requirement for UK meets, one can apply for any UK universities of their choice.
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Minimum IELTS Score for UK Study
As aforementioned, IELTS score requirement to study in UK will differ for various courses, degrees, universities or colleges. The top universities in UK requires an IELTS score of 7.0 and above for undergraduate courses. On the other hand, IELTS score for top universities in UK for Master requires 6.5 and above. Check the IELTS requirements in UK for degree levels below:
| Degree level |
IELTS band score requirement |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate |
6.5 or above, Top Universities in UK requires 7.0 or above |
| Pre-Masters |
5.0 or above |
| Master's diploma |
6.0 or above, Top universities in UK requires 6.5 or above |
IELTS Minimum Score for Top UK Universities
The IELTS score to study in UK universities will depend majorly on which tier university you are applying for, which courses you want to pursue and various other factors. IELTS score to UK might be similar for one or more courses in the same university but majorly they differ. The details on IELTS requirements in UK are easily available on the university official website as their admission prerequisite. One can check the IELTS score for top universities in UK from the table below.
| University |
QS Ranking 2025 |
IELTS score requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial College London |
2 |
7.0 overall (minimum 6.5 in all elements). |
| University of Oxford |
3 |
7.5 overall (minimum 7.0 in all elements) |
| University of Cambridge |
5 |
7.0 overall (minimum 7.0 in all elements) |
| UCL |
9 |
6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all elements) |
| The University of Edinburgh |
27 |
6.5 overall (minimum 5.5 in all elements) |
| The University of Manchester |
34 |
6.5 overall |
| King's College London |
40 |
6.5 overall |
| The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) |
50 |
7.0 overall (6.0 in speaking and writing and 6.5 in listening and reading) |
| University of Bristol |
54 |
6.0 overall, 6.0 in Writing, 5.5 in other skills |
| The University of Warwick |
69 |
7.0 overall |
IELTS Score for UK: IELTS 6.0 Band Score UK Universities
One can check the list of top 5 UK universities which accept IELTS 6.0 band score from below,
- The University of Liverpool
- University of Birmingham
- University of Sheffield
- University of Chester
- University of Aston
5.5 IELTS score university in UK
If you are searching for which university accept 5 band in UK, you can check below.
- Bangor University
- University of Nottingham
- Queen Mary University of London
- University of Aberdeen
- Swansea University
IELTS Score Required in UK for Different Programs
Business management, Engineering and technology, Medicine, Law are popular courses to study in UK. One can check the IELTS requirement in UK for top courses from below.
IELTS requirements for MBA in UK
| University |
IELTS score requirement for MBA |
|---|---|
| 7.5 & Above |
|
| University of Oxford |
7.5 & Above |
| 6.5 - 7 |
|
| 6.5 - 7 |
|
| 6.5 - 7 |
IELTS requirements for MS in UK
| MS Colleges in UK |
IELTS score requirement |
|---|---|
| Imperial College London |
6.5 - 7 |
| 7 - 7.5 |
|
| University of Cambridge |
7 & Above |
| 6.5 - 7.5 |
|
| 6.5 - 7 |
Alternatives to IELTS in UK for UK Admissions
Students looking for best alternatives to IELTS to study in UK can check below. The UK accepts top standardized tests other than IELTS also. Several other English proficiency tests are accepted by UK universities, including:
- TOEFL - Widely accepted, minimum 80–100
- PTE (Pearson Test of English) - Accepted by 98% of UK universities
- Duolingo - Convenient, minimum 105–120 for most universities
How to get the required IELTS Score for UK?
Getting a good IELTS score will make your path easy to study in top universities in UK. So, one should aim for a good IELTS score for UK. To get a good IELTS score, one should start focusing on better preparation. One can check the below mentioned IELTS preparation tips to get a good band score.
- Understanding the IELTS exam pattern and knowing the IELTS syllabus will be better for students who are starting their preparation for the IELTS test.
- The IELTS test assesses key skills of the candidates - Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking, so one needs to focus on each skill.
- Candidates should refer to the IELTS books, IELTS preparation material PDFs.
- Practicing sets of passages, audios, writing tasks and topics for speaking, will prepare you for the IELTS exam.
- Once you are well versed and confident about their preparation, you can give a full IELTS mock test and assess your performance. Some IELTS sample papers for practice free are also available, you can use that.
- Candidates should work on building their vocabulary, since this is an English proficiency test and learn new words everyday.
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IELTS IDP has not set any 12th score requirements for taking the IELTS. You can take the IELTS irrespective of the marks you scored in the 12th standard. So, one can attempt the IELTS exam without worrying about their class 12th score.
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The minimum IELTS score for UK study is mostly 6.0 to 6.5. Undergraduate courses need about 6.0 and postgraduate courses need 6.5. Some schools take 5.5 for foundation or pre-master. You should always check the IELTS score needed for your course.