What IELTS score do I need to study abroad?

It depends on the programme: 5.0–5.5 for bachelor's places in Malaysia and North Cyprus, 6.0 at UK branch campuses in Dubai, 6.5 at Istanbul Medipol and Bocconi. Medical programmes ask for more than general ones.

Can I get in without IELTS?

Yes, more often than people expect. Some universities run their own English exam, Budapest Metropolitan admits on an online interview, graduates of English-medium schools are usually exempt, and a low score can be handled by a preparatory language year.

How long is an IELTS certificate valid?

Two years, counted to the date you apply rather than the date the programme starts — so sitting the exam a year ahead of the application is a risk.

IELTS score for university admission

Checked thresholds at 20 universities, accepted alternatives, and the universities that run their own English exam instead.

Half the language question is answered by one number: the score your programme asks for. The other half is that many universities let you skip the certificate altogether.

Admission almost always means the Academic module, not General Training. Some universities accept both — Politecnico di Milano and NABA in Italy, for instance. The certificate is valid for two years; the same applies to TOEFL and PTE, while Cambridge certificates do not expire.

What the thresholds look like

5.0–5.5 — most bachelor's programmes in Malaysia, North Cyprus and several Italian universities.
6.0 — the usual bar at UK branch campuses in Dubai and on medical programmes in Malaysia and North Cyprus.
6.5 — Istanbul Medipol, Bocconi, McDaniel, master's programmes in Cyprus.
A special case — METU in Türkiye has not accepted IELTS since December 2022; you need TOEFL iBT or PTE.

The overall band is not everything: Bocconi asks 6.5 with at least 6.0 in every part, Middlesex Dubai 6.0 with at least 5.5.

What IELTS score you need

Typical minimum overall IELTS Academic band

Bachelor's in Malaysia and North Cyprus5.0–5.5
UK branch campuses in Dubai6.0
Medicine in Malaysia and North Cyprus6.0
Istanbul Medipol, Bocconi, McDaniel6.5
Master's programmes in Cyprus6.5

5.0–5.5 also applies at several Italian universities. Bocconi asks 6.5 with at least 6.0 in every part, Middlesex Dubai 6.0 with at least 5.5. METU in Türkiye has not accepted IELTS since December 2022.

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When you do not need the certificate

The university's own exam. CIU and NEU in North Cyprus run their own English test.
An online interview. Budapest Metropolitan in Hungary admits without a certificate.
School or a degree in English. Many universities exempt graduates of English-medium programmes; Malaysia also counts school English and the MUET exam.

IELTS: the score you need and where you can skip it

Checked thresholds at universities across nine destinations, accepted alternatives, and the cases where no certificate is needed.

A table of thresholds at 20 universities: bachelor's, master's, medicine
Where the university's own English exam replaces IELTS
TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, MUET: what counts
Five mistakes that force a retake

Mistakes that force a retake

Sitting General instead of Academic.
Hitting the overall band but missing the minimum in one part.
Sitting online where only a test centre counts: Medipol accepts neither IELTS Online nor TOEFL Home Edition.

Send us your shortlist — we will check the requirement for each programme, work out how long you need to prepare and tell you where no certificate is needed. The first consultation is free. AcademGo office: Warsaw, ul. Złota 7/28.