Top Universities IELTS & TOEFL Requirements (2026)

Top Universities IELTS & TOEFL Requirements (2026)

English proficiency scores are one of the few hard thresholds in university admission: you either meet them or you don’t. This article compiles the current IELTS and TOEFL requirements for top universities worldwide, organised by region, to help you benchmark your target score against your target universities. Always verify current requirements on each university’s official admissions page, as policies can change.

Updated 28 October 2026

Key facts and figures

• TOEFL iBT moved to a 1-6 banded score scale on 21 January 2026, and universities have not reacted the same way (Imperial College London, English language requirements, read 28 October 2026).
• For two years after January 2026 your TOEFL report carries both scales, the 1-6 bands and a comparable total on the former 0 to 120 scale, so you can answer a university whichever one it publishes (ets.org, read 28 October 2026).
• Oxford does not accept TOEFL tests taken from 21 January 2026. Tests taken up to and including 20 January 2026 are accepted at 110 overall, with Listening 22, Reading 24, Speaking 25 and Writing 24 (ox.ac.uk, read 28 October 2026).
• Oxford IELTS: 7.5 overall, minimum 7.0 per component, IELTS Academic only, and IELTS Online is not accepted (ox.ac.uk, read 28 October 2026).
• Cambridge IELTS: normally 7.5 overall, usually 7.0 or above in each element, and the undergraduate entry requirements page publishes no TOEFL requirement at all (undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk, read 28 October 2026).
• Imperial still accepts TOEFL: 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all elements at standard level and 5.0 with 5.0 at higher level on the updated scale, 92 with 20 and 100 with 22 on the former one (imperial.ac.uk, read 28 October 2026).
• LSE IELTS: 7.0 overall and 7.0 in every component, in one sitting. TOEFL: 5.5 overall with 5 in each component on the updated scale, or 100 with Writing 27, Reading 25, Listening 24 and Speaking 24 on the former one (lse.ac.uk, read 28 October 2026).
• Scores expire. Imperial and LSE both accept a test taken within two years of the course start date, and Oxford asks for evidence of proficiency by 31 July of the year you receive your offer (official pages, read 28 October 2026).

Attribution: the Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and LSE figures on this page were read on each university’s own English language page on 28 October 2026. Every other university below is quoted from its published 2025-2026 policy and was not reopened on that date, so treat those rows as a benchmark and confirm them on the university’s page before you apply.

Important note

TOEFL iBT changed on 21 January 2026 and now reports on a 1-6 banded scale in 0.5 point increments. Universities have split over it: Imperial College London and the LSE publish a threshold on both the former and the updated scale, while Oxford has stopped accepting TOEFL tests taken from that date. If you are choosing a test now, check that your target universities still accept TOEFL at all.

Requirements shown below are typical undergraduate minimums. Graduate programs and specific courses, medicine and law above all, often ask for more. Always check each university’s current policy before applying.

On the same topic, see our article: IELTS Cost 2026: Test Fees by Country (US, UK & More).

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What changed in 2026: the new TOEFL iBT score scale

This is the single most important thing to understand before you book a test. Imperial College London’s English language page states that TOEFL iBT “has introduced a new 1-6 banded score system with 0.5-point increments on 21 January 2026” (read 28 October 2026). Three consequences follow, and they are not the same at every university.

• Some universities publish two thresholds. Imperial says it “will continue to accept the TOEFL iBT after 21 January 2026” and asks 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all elements at standard level, 5.0 with 5.0 at higher level. A test taken before that date is still read against the former requirement, 92 or 100, as long as it falls within two years of your course start date. The LSE prints the same pair: 5.5 overall with 5 in each component on the updated scale, 100 overall with Writing 27, Reading 25, Listening 24 and Speaking 24 on the former one.
• One has stopped accepting it. Oxford’s page says tests taken up to and including 20 January 2026 are accepted, and that tests taken from 21 January 2026 “are not accepted and do not meet the English language condition” because the changes are “currently under review by the University” (read 28 October 2026). If Oxford is on your list, IELTS Academic is the safe choice, and our Oxbridge admissions pack builds the English language condition into the timeline from the start.
• One never mentions it. Cambridge’s undergraduate entry requirements page publishes no TOEFL requirement at all. It sets out IELTS Academic, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, and leaves the exact condition to the College that makes your offer.

ETS, which owns the test, confirms the mechanics on its own score page (read 28 October 2026). The new scale runs from 1 to 6 in “half point increments”; you receive “four section scores, as well as an overall score”; and the overall is “the average of all four sections, rounded to the nearest half band”. The part that matters most if you are applying this year: “For a two-year transition period after January 2026, you will also receive a comparable overall score” on the former 0 to 120 scale, so one report answers both a university that has updated its page and one that has not.

ETS also publishes the comparison for tests taken before 21 January 2026: band 6 matches a former total of 114 or more, band 5.5 matches 107 or more, band 5 matches 95 or more, band 4.5 matches 86 or more, band 4 matches 72 or more and band 3.5 matches 58 or more (ets.org, read 28 October 2026). That is how to read Imperial’s 4.5 and 5.0, or the LSE’s 5.5, against a number you may already have.

The practical conclusion: if your list includes Oxford, take IELTS Academic. If it does not, TOEFL remains widely accepted, but read which scale your university is quoting before you compare your own score to it. Our bachelor admissions counselling sets this target per university at the start of an application, not after the test.

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1. UK universities

The UK is one of the main destinations for international students, and most universities accept both IELTS and TOEFL.

Oxford:

• IELTS Academic: 7.5 overall, minimum 7.0 per component. The page now publishes a single level, and IELTS General, IELTS UKVI General, IELTS Life Skills and IELTS Online are not accepted
• TOEFL iBT: 110 overall, with Listening 22, Reading 24, Speaking 25 and Writing 24, but only for tests taken up to and including 20 January 2026. Tests taken from 21 January 2026 are not accepted
• Other accepted routes: Oxford Test of English (Advanced) 165 with 155 per component, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency 191 with 185 per component, Pearson PTE Academic 76 with 66 in each skill
• Proficiency must be evidenced by 31 July of the year you receive your offer

Cambridge:

• IELTS Academic: normally a minimum overall grade of 7.5, usually with 7.0 or above in each element
• TOEFL: not published on the undergraduate entry requirements page, so do not assume a TOEFL score will be read at all
• C2 Proficiency: 200 overall, no element below 185. C1 Advanced: 193 overall, no element below 185, alongside other evidence of competence in English
• The College that makes your offer decides what the English condition is, and it may rest on a school-leaving qualification rather than a test
• For the interview itself, Cambridge asks for at least IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no element below 6.0

Imperial College London:

• Two attainment levels, standard and higher. The course page tells you which one applies: Imperial no longer publishes a department by department mapping
• IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in all elements (standard), 7.0 with 6.5 (higher), achieved in a single sitting, as single score retakes are not accepted
• TOEFL iBT, updated scale: 4.5 with 4.5 in all elements (standard), 5.0 with 5.0 (higher)
• TOEFL iBT, former scale, for tests taken before 21 January 2026: 92 with 20 in all elements (standard), 100 with 22 (higher)
• Scores count only if the test was taken within two years of your course start date, and TOEFL “My Best Scores” composites are not considered

LSE (London School of Economics):

• IELTS Academic: 7.0 overall and 7.0 in each component, in one exam sitting only. The page publishes a single level, not a standard and a higher one
• TOEFL iBT, updated scale for tests from January 2026: 5.5 overall, with 5 in Writing, Reading, Listening and Speaking
• TOEFL iBT, former scale: 100 overall, with Writing 27, Reading 25, Listening 24 and Speaking 24
• Valid for two years before the 1 September start of your programme, and you are asked for proof only once the LSE has made you an offer

The four universities above were read on their official English language pages on 28 October 2026. The universities that follow are quoted from their published 2025-2026 policies and were not reopened on that date.

UCL (University College London):

• IELTS: 6.5-7.5 depending on course (Good, Advanced, or Extra level)
• TOEFL iBT: 92-109 depending on course
• Most courses: 7.0 overall

King’s College London:

• IELTS: 6.5-7.5 overall depending on course
• TOEFL iBT: 92-109 depending on course

Edinburgh:

• IELTS: 6.5 (with 6.0 in each section) for most undergraduate courses
• TOEFL iBT: 92 (with 20+ in each section)

Manchester:

• IELTS: 6.0-7.0 depending on course
• TOEFL iBT: 80-100 depending on course

Bristol:

• IELTS: 6.5-7.5 overall depending on course
• TOEFL iBT: 88-109

Warwick:

• IELTS: 6.0-7.5 depending on course
• TOEFL iBT: 87-109

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2. Top US universities

US universities accept both IELTS and TOEFL, though TOEFL has historically been more common. Most top universities require balanced section scores.

Harvard:

• IELTS: 7.0+ (no official minimum listed but 7.0+ expected)
• TOEFL iBT: 100+ (25+ in each section recommended)

Stanford:

• IELTS: 7.0+
• TOEFL iBT: 100+ for undergraduate admission
• Graduate: generally 100+

MIT:

• IELTS: 7.0 minimum (7.5+ recommended)
• TOEFL iBT: 100+ (25+ in each section)
• For some programs, higher

Princeton:

• Does not require a minimum IELTS or TOEFL but expects strong proficiency
• TOEFL 100+ is typical for admitted students

Yale:

• Does not publish a strict minimum
• TOEFL 100+ expected for competitive applicants

Columbia:

• IELTS: 7.0+ (some programs)
• TOEFL iBT: 100+

UPenn:

• IELTS: 7.0+
• TOEFL iBT: 100+

Cornell:

• IELTS: 7.0+
• TOEFL iBT: 100+ (25+ in each section)

Dartmouth:

• Does not publish strict minimum
• TOEFL 100+ expected

Brown:

• IELTS: 8.0 recommended
• TOEFL iBT: 100+ for undergraduate

UCLA:

• IELTS: 7.0 overall for undergraduate
• TOEFL iBT: 100+

UC Berkeley:

• IELTS: 6.5-7.0 minimum
• TOEFL iBT: 80 minimum, 100+ recommended

University of Michigan:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum
• TOEFL iBT: 88 minimum, 100+ for competitive

NYU:

• IELTS: 7.5 for most undergraduate
• TOEFL iBT: 100+ for undergraduate

Northwestern:

• IELTS: 7.0+
• TOEFL iBT: 100+

Johns Hopkins:

• TOEFL iBT: 100+
• IELTS: 7.0+

Duke:

• TOEFL iBT: 100+
• IELTS: 7.0+

Georgetown:

• TOEFL iBT: 100+
• IELTS: 7.5+

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3. Top European universities (non-UK)

European universities teaching in English have varied requirements.

Bocconi University (Italy):

• IELTS: 6.5 overall
• TOEFL iBT: 88 minimum
• Some programs (BEMACS, BAI) may expect higher

IE University (Spain):

• IELTS: 6.5+
• TOEFL iBT: 80+
• Some programs expect 7.0/100

IE Business School (MBA):

• IELTS: 7.0+
• TOEFL iBT: 100+

HEC Paris BBA:

• IELTS: 6.5-7.0
• TOEFL iBT: 90-100

Sciences Po:

• IELTS: 7.0+
• TOEFL iBT: 100+

ESSEC BBA:

• IELTS: 6.5+
• TOEFL iBT: 90+

ESADE:

• IELTS: 6.5+
• TOEFL iBT: 90+

Erasmus University Rotterdam:

• IELTS: 7.0 for some programs
• TOEFL iBT: 100 for some programs

University of Amsterdam:

• IELTS: 6.5+
• TOEFL iBT: 92+

TU Delft:

• IELTS: 6.5 for most programs
• TOEFL iBT: 90+

Wageningen:

• IELTS: 6.0-6.5+
• TOEFL iBT: 80-90+

KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden):

• IELTS: 6.5+
• TOEFL iBT: 90+

Lund University:

• IELTS: 6.5+
• TOEFL iBT: 90+

Copenhagen Business School:

• IELTS: 6.5-7.0+
• TOEFL iBT: 83-100+

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4. Canadian universities

Most Canadian universities accept both IELTS and TOEFL.

University of Toronto:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum (7.0 recommended)
• TOEFL iBT: 100 minimum, 22+ Writing

McGill University:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum, 6.0 in each section
• TOEFL iBT: 90 minimum, 21+ in each section

University of British Columbia:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum, 6.0 in each section
• TOEFL iBT: 90 minimum, 22+ in each section

Queen’s University:

• IELTS: 6.5
• TOEFL iBT: 88

University of Waterloo:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum
• TOEFL iBT: 90 minimum

McMaster University:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum
• TOEFL iBT: 86 minimum

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5. Australian and New Zealand universities

University of Melbourne:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum, 6.0 in each section
• TOEFL iBT: 79, with 21+ in Writing

Australian National University (ANU):

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum
• TOEFL iBT: 80+

University of Sydney:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum, 6.0 in each section
• TOEFL iBT: 85, with 17+ in Writing

Monash University:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum
• TOEFL iBT: 79+

University of Queensland:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum
• TOEFL iBT: 87+

University of Auckland:

• IELTS: 6.5 minimum
• TOEFL iBT: 90+

University of Otago:

• IELTS: 6.0 minimum
• TOEFL iBT: 80+

For more detail, see also: Everything you need to know about taking IELTS.

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6. Section minimums: the hidden trap

Many universities require not just an overall score but minimum scores in individual sections. This is where students often trip up.

Example:

Imperial College London requires IELTS 7.0 overall at its higher level, with at least 6.5 in every element. A student with 7.5 Reading, 7.5 Writing, 7.0 Speaking, and 6.0 Listening has an overall of 7.0, which meets the overall requirement but fails the 6.5 Listening requirement.

Why this matters:

• You can’t rely on strong sections to compensate for weak ones
• Your weakest section determines whether you qualify
• Some universities list different sectional minima by program

What to do:

• Check both overall and sectional requirements
• Train your weakest section specifically
• Aim for a band above the minimum as a buffer

On the same topic, see our article: How do you register for the IELTS test?

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7. Graduate vs undergraduate requirements

Graduate programs (Master’s and PhD) typically require higher English scores than undergraduate programs.

Typical differences:

• Undergraduate at Oxford: 7.0 or 7.5 overall

• Graduate at Oxford: 7.0 or 7.5 overall (similar but with stricter sectional minima for some courses)

• Undergraduate at Stanford: 100 TOEFL

• Graduate at Stanford: 100 TOEFL (required) with higher expected for competitive applicants

• Research programs: Often expect 7.5+/100+ because of the writing demands

  To go further, read our guide: The price of TOEFL in 2024.

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8. Program-specific variations

Within a single university, different programs may have different English requirements.

Medicine:

• Often the highest requirements (7.5+/100+ with strict sectional minima)
• Patient communication demands strong speaking and listening

Law:

• High requirements, especially for Writing (7.0+/25+)
• Complex legal texts demand strong reading

Business:

• Typically 6.5-7.0/90-100
• Speaking weighted for group work and presentations

Engineering and sciences:

• Often lower overall requirements (6.5-7.0/88-100)
• Section minima may be more flexible

Humanities:

• Higher writing expectations (7.0+ in Writing)
• Reading-intensive

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9. How to verify current requirements

Requirements change. Before applying, always:

1. Visit the university’s official admissions page (not third-party sites)
2. Find the international students section or English language requirements page
3. Check the specific program (general university requirements may not reflect program-specific minimums)
4. Note both overall and sectional minima
5. Check when requirements were last updated
6. Email admissions if anything is unclear

Never assume requirements based on friends’ experiences or forum posts. Official sources only.

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10. FAQ

How do I read my old TOEFL total against the new bands?

ETS publishes the comparison for tests taken before 21 January 2026: band 6 matches a former total of 114 or more, band 5.5 matches 107 or more, band 5 matches 95 or more, band 4.5 matches 86 or more, band 4 matches 72 or more and band 3.5 matches 58 or more. For two years after January 2026 your report shows both figures anyway, so you rarely need to convert anything yourself.

Is TOEFL still accepted after the January 2026 change?

It depends on the university. Imperial College London and the LSE both publish a threshold on the updated scale, so a recent TOEFL works there. Oxford does not accept TOEFL tests taken from 21 January 2026. Cambridge publishes no TOEFL requirement at all on its undergraduate entry requirements page. Check each university before you book a test.

Are IELTS and TOEFL interchangeable?

At most universities, yes, both are accepted. But always check the specific policy.

Can I submit both IELTS and TOEFL?

Usually yes, but universities typically consider your highest score.

Do universities prefer one test over the other?

Most accept both equally. Historical preferences (UK → IELTS, US → TOEFL) are weaker than they used to be.

What if my score is just below the minimum?

Some universities consider applications with scores slightly below but with strong compensating factors. Others strictly enforce minimums. Check each university’s policy.

Do I need to send scores through the official test provider?

Yes. Universities don’t accept score reports sent by the applicant, they must come directly from IELTS or ETS.

How far in advance should I take the test?

At least 2 months before your application deadline to allow for a retake if needed.

What if my English is stronger than my test score?

Test scores are the objective measure universities use. Your perceived English ability doesn’t change the required score.

Are home editions accepted?

TOEFL Home Edition is widely accepted. IELTS Online is accepted by fewer universities.

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11. Your action plan

1. Build your university target list (6-10 universities)
2. Visit each university’s official admissions page
3. Note the overall and sectional IELTS/TOEFL requirements
4. Identify the highest requirement, this is your target
5. Add a 0.5 band (IELTS) or 5-point (TOEFL) buffer for safety
6. Plan your test preparation accordingly
7. Register for the test with enough buffer for a retake
8. Send scores directly from the test provider to universities

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Need help decoding a specific university’s English requirements? Book a free strategy call and we’ll help you set realistic test targets based on your application list.

Related articles:

• English Language Tests for University: IELTS & TOEFL
• IELTS Band Scores Explained: University Requirements
• How to Score 100+ on the TOEFL
• English Test Scores & University Admissions Impact