IELTS Score Requirements for the United Kingdom
Sources checked 2 September 2026
Quick answer
There is no single UK IELTS score. For a Student visa the Home Office sets a CEFR level rather than a band — B2 for degree-level study and B1 below it — while universities set their own entry requirements, typically 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component, rising to 7.5 overall at Cambridge. Nurses registering with the NMC need 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking with 6.5 in writing. Confirm the figure on the official page for your route, as these change.
What IELTS score do you need for the UK?
The band you need depends entirely on why you are taking the test. Each row below links to the authority that publishes the figure, because requirements change and the source page is always more current than any summary of it.
| Purpose | Typical requirement | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student visa | CEFR B2 for degree-level courses; CEFR B1 below degree level | The Home Office sets the requirement as a CEFR level, not an IELTS band; the equivalent IELTS score depends on the approved SELT provider. | |
| Skilled migration / work visa | CEFR B2 | Skilled Worker applicants must read, write, speak and understand English to at least CEFR B2; those extending a visa obtained before 8 January 2026 need only B1. | |
| Undergraduate study | Typically 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component | Set by each university, not nationally — 6.5/6.0 is the lowest institution-wide level published by UCL, Imperial and King's, while Cambridge asks for 7.5 overall. | |
| Postgraduate study | Typically 6.5–7.0 overall with 6.0–6.5 in each component | Programme-specific: UCL and Imperial both publish a 6.5/6.0 standard level and a 7.0/6.5 higher level for taught postgraduate entry. | |
| Nursing / medical registration | IELTS Academic: at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking, and at least 6.5 in writing | Nursing and Midwifery Council requirement; no overall band is specified, and scores may be combined across two sittings under NMC rules. |
What do the UK universities ask for?
These are the minimums each university published on its own admissions pages when we checked on 2 September 2026. They are institution-wide floors: individual courses frequently ask for more, so confirm the figure on the page for your exact programme before you book a test.
| University | Undergraduate | Postgraduate | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Cambridge | 7.5 overall, usually with 7.0 or above in each element | Not published as a single institution-wide figure | Cambridge also recommends at least 6.5 overall with no element below 6.0 at the point of application; postgraduate scores are set per course and were not published on a single page. | |
| University College London (UCL) | Level 1: 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component (rising to Level 5: 8.0 overall with 8.0 in each) | Level 1: 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component (rising to Level 5: 8.0 overall with 8.0 in each) | UCL uses five levels; the level that applies is programme-specific — Level 2 is 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each component, Level 3 is 7.0 with 7.0, Level 4 is 7.5 with 7.0. | |
| Imperial College London | Standard: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all elements); Higher: 7.0 overall (minimum 6.5 in all elements) | Standard: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all elements); Higher: 7.0 overall (minimum 6.5 in all elements) | The same two levels apply to undergraduate and postgraduate courses; which level applies is programme-specific. Scores must be from a single sitting. | |
| King's College London | Band D: 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each skill; Band B: 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each skill; Band A: 7.5 overall with 7.0 in each skill | Not published as a single institution-wide figure | King's sets a band per course, so these are programme-specific tiers rather than one institution-wide minimum; Band C does not apply to undergraduate courses. The postgraduate band table was on a separate page that was not fetched. |
How should you plan for a target score?
Work backwards from the per-skill minimum rather than the overall band. Almost every requirement above includes a floor for each of the four skills, so a strong average with one weak skill still fails. Establish where you are per skill, then target the gap — and remember that the overall band is the rounded mean of the four, so 6.25 rounds up to 6.5 and a single half-band improvement can clear a threshold outright.
To see what the examiners are actually looking for at your target band, read the IELTS band descriptors.
IELTS requirements for the UK: FAQ
What IELTS score do I need for a UK Student visa?
The Home Office states the requirement as a CEFR level rather than an IELTS band: B2 for degree-level courses and B1 for study below degree level. The equivalent band depends on the approved Secure English Language Test provider, and universities almost always ask for more than the visa minimum, so treat your university’s own requirement as the number to hit. Check gov.uk for your specific route.
What IELTS score do UK universities ask for?
Typically 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component, which was the lowest institution-wide level published by UCL, Imperial and King’s College London when we checked on 2 September 2026. Cambridge asks for 7.5 overall, usually with 7.0 or above in each element. Many universities band their courses, so the level that applies depends on your programme — verify it on the course page.
What IELTS score do nurses need for the UK?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council requires IELTS Academic with at least 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and at least 6.5 in writing. No overall band is specified, and the NMC allows scores to be combined across two sittings under its own rules. Confirm the current requirement with the NMC before booking a test.
Do I need IELTS for a Skilled Worker visa?
Skilled Worker applicants must show English to at least CEFR B2, which the Home Office states as a level rather than a band; applicants extending a visa first granted before 8 January 2026 need only B1. An approved Secure English Language Test is one accepted route. Check gov.uk, as the level for this route changed recently.
Other destinations
For the Canada PR CLB conversion table and UK visa levels side by side, see the main IELTS score requirements guide.