What IELTS score do you need? Real requirements for master’s and bachelor’s

There is no single answer to “What IELTS score do I need?” — the requirement depends on the university, the programme and the country. But knowing the general picture helps you set a target.

The most common requirements

• 6.0–6.5: most English-taught master’s programmes in Europe (Italy, Hungary, Poland, the Baltic states, many programmes in Germany).
• 6.5–7.0: the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden and most programmes at highly ranked universities.
• 7.0 and above: language-heavy programmes such as law, journalism and international relations, and the most competitive universities.

Pay attention to band scores

Many universities ask for a minimum in each section as well as the overall score — for example, “overall 6.5, no band below 6.0”. Even if your overall score is enough, the condition is not met if your Writing or Speaking is lower.

What do B2 and C1 mean?

Some universities state a CEFR level instead of an IELTS score. In our database, for filtering, B2 is taken as roughly 5.5 and C1 as roughly 7.0. Always check the exact equivalence in the university’s own table.

What if your score falls short?

1. Look at other tests the university accepts: TOEFL iBT, Duolingo English Test, PTE.
2. Some universities waive the test for applicants whose bachelor’s was taught in English.
3. Ask about a conditional offer and the university’s pre-sessional language courses.
4. Plan time to retake the test before the deadline — results usually come out within a few days to two weeks.

Detailed information on all tests is in our Exams section. You can find programmes that match your score in our university database using the language requirement filter.