Most universities worldwide require international students to demonstrate proficiency in
English to ensure they can succeed academically in lectures, seminars, coursework, and
assessments.
English language requirements vary by:
• Country
• University
• Course level (foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate)
• Subject (e.g. Medicine, Law, Education often have higher requirements)
Universities typically accept recognised English language tests, with the most common
being IELTS, TOEFL, and Duolingo English Test.
While exact requirements vary, most universities fall within these typical ranges:
Undergraduate programmes
IELTS: 6.0–6.5 overall
TOEFL iBT: 75–90
Duolingo: 95–120
Postgraduate programmes
IELTS: 6.5–7.0+
TOEFL iBT: 85–100+
Duolingo: 105–125
Competitive courses (Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Education, Nursing, Journalism) often
require:
Higher overall scores
Minimum scores in each component (reading, writing, listening, speaking)
Some universities may:
Accept students with slightly lower scores via pre-sessional English courses
Waive English tests if previous education was taught fully in English (subject to strict
criteria)
At UniFutures, our mission is to empower students to thrive academically, emotionally and personally throughout their university journey.
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