Yes, PTE Academic is accepted for the ten UK master's courses below, but their required scores differ. The examples range from 59 to 76 overall, with separate minimums for Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. These are requirements for named courses and entry years, not a score that applies to an entire university.
Official sources checked on 19 September 2026. This is a starting list of ten courses at four universities, not a ranking or a complete UK directory. The links identify the exact course and intake reviewed. Academic qualifications, available places and any other offer conditions still matter.
Try the worked score check before choosing a target, or explore PTE Academic practice if your course has already confirmed the test you need.
How to read the requirements
“Each skill” means every one of Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing must meet the stated minimum. A high overall score does not cancel a low individual score. Compare your official report with both requirements; do not calculate an overall score by averaging the four skills.
The list covers direct degree entry. A lower score advertised for a pre-sessional English course is a different admission route. Any waiver based on nationality, previous study or another qualification needs confirmation against your circumstances; we have not assumed a waiver for any entry.
Ten course-specific PTE requirements
1. Sussex: MSc Data Science
Intake: January 2027, full time.
PTE Academic: 59 overall; at least 59 in each of the four skills.
The course page excludes PTE Academic Online and combining scores from separate sittings. It requires a result valid when the course begins. Check Sussex's Data Science entry requirements and admissions information.
2. Sussex: MSc Management
Intake: January 2027, full time.
PTE Academic: 59 overall; at least 59 in each skill.
The same test-format and single-sitting restrictions appear on this course page. Sussex also notes that the course is subject to validation, so review the latest course details before applying. Check Sussex's Management requirements and admissions information.
3. Sheffield: MSc Data Science
Intake: September 2027.
PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI: 61 overall; at least 56 in each skill.
The course specifies IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each component or the university equivalent. We matched that exact profile to Sheffield's postgraduate PTE table, rather than using an external IELTS-to-PTE conversion. Sources: Data Science course and Sheffield postgraduate English requirements.
4. Sheffield: MSc Management
Intake: September 2027.
PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI: 61 overall; at least 56 in each skill.
This course uses the same published IELTS profile and corresponding university PTE requirement. Sheffield excludes PTE Academic Online and specifies tests taken no more than two years before the course starts. Confirm your individual offer. Sources: Management course and enquiries and Sheffield postgraduate English requirements.
5. Bath: MSc Biotechnology (Healthcare Technologies) with professional placement
Intake: September 2027, two years.
PTE Academic: 62 overall; at least 59 in each skill.
Bath states that the English qualification must be obtained within the 24 months before the course starts. This entry refers specifically to the placement version. Check the course's requirements and application information.
6. Bath: MSc Artificial Intelligence for Engineering and Design with professional placement
Intake: September 2027, two years.
PTE Academic: 62 overall; at least 59 in each skill.
The course also specifies the 24-month English-qualification window. Use this named course's requirements instead of assuming that every engineering programme has the same conditions. Check the course's requirements and application information.
7. Manchester: MSc Pollution and Environmental Control
Entry year: 2027.
PTE: 70 overall; at least 64 in each skill.
The degree-level university policy accepts PTE Academic and its UKVI version, excluding Online and Home versions. The course separately describes pre-sessional options; their lower entry thresholds are not the direct-entry requirement above. Check the course requirements and contact details.
8. Manchester: MSc Pure Mathematics
Entry year: 2027.
PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI: 70 overall; at least 64 in each skill.
Use the course's own entry requirements and Manchester's test-format policy linked below. Meeting the English condition alone does not establish that you meet the academic selection criteria. Check Pure Mathematics requirements and admissions contacts.
9. Manchester: MSc Machine Learning
Entry year: 2027.
PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI: 76 overall; at least 70 in each skill.
The course says your English test report must remain valid at the course start. Notice the higher target than the two Manchester courses above. Check Machine Learning requirements and admissions contacts.
10. Manchester: MSc Economics and Data Science
Entry year: 2027.
PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI: 76 overall; Writing at least 76; Listening, Reading and Speaking at least 70 each.
The higher Writing requirement is easy to miss if you look only at the overall score. Check Economics and Data Science requirements and admissions contacts. Test versions for all four Manchester entries were cross-checked against Manchester's official English-language policy.
Try a score check: which requirement is still missing?
This fictional PTE report is an exercise, not a learner testimonial: overall 76, Listening 74, Reading 72, Speaking 73, Writing 70. Compare it with the two Manchester courses requiring 76 overall.
- Does it meet the listed English-score minimums for MSc Machine Learning?
- Does it meet those for MSc Economics and Data Science?
- Which skill should the learner prioritise for the second course, and how large is the numerical gap?
Show the answers and explanation
1. Yes: overall 76 and every skill at least 70 meet the listed Machine Learning score minimums. Test version, validity and all other admission conditions still need checking.
2. No: Economics and Data Science needs Writing 76. Writing 70 does not meet that condition even though the overall score is sufficient.
3. Writing: the numerical gap is six points. This calculation does not predict how many lessons or weeks improvement will take.
For another check, a report with 62 overall and Writing 58 misses Bath's listed Writing minimum of 59, even if the other three skills exceed 59. The useful next step is to inspect the weaker skill, not merely chase a higher overall number.
Turn the requirement into a practice plan
Write down five targets: overall, Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. Beside each, record your current official score or label a practice estimate clearly. Keep a separate note for the accepted test version and the date your evidence must remain valid.
If Writing is your gap, start with the PTE essay guide and worked examples. Identify whether your own response misses the task, lacks development or repeats language errors. Revise one paragraph and explain what you changed before doing another full task.
If listening accuracy is your gap, use the Write From Dictation guide to review word omissions and spelling. These are practice starting points, not claims that one question type determines your full skill score.
Ready to practise towards your course requirement? Create a BandLadder account and continue to PTE Academic Writing. See the PTE Academic overview for other skills and available practice access. BandLadder practice feedback is not an official PTE result or an admission decision.
PTE Academic or UKVI: check admission and visa evidence separately
The UK government's Student visa English guidance says degree-level study requires English equivalent to CEFR B2. A Higher Education Provider can assess English itself for degree-level study or above and may request a different test. That does not mean every applicant should book the same PTE version.
Ask your university which test and evidence it requires for your exact course and sponsorship route, especially if you are taking a separate pre-sessional course. The course examples here concern PTE Academic or the explicitly accepted UKVI version; do not substitute a PTE Core result.
A five-minute checklist before you book
- Open the official page for your exact course, campus, study mode and entry year.
- Copy the overall and all four skill minimums, including any higher Writing condition.
- Confirm the accepted test version, delivery format and validity window.
- Check whether your offer requires direct entry or a separate English preparation route. Ask admissions to resolve conflicting information.
- Record the English-evidence deadline from your offer or admissions team. A course application deadline is not automatically the deadline for satisfying every condition.
Recheck the linked official sources before paying for a test or submitting an application. The original score-check exercise and practice plan above help you interpret a requirement; the university remains the authority on your offer.
