BME minimums
From BME's admission page. Each proof is an alternative; you need one.
| Test | BSc and MSc (B2) | Preparatory (B1) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS or IELTS Online | 5.5 | 4.5 |
| PTE Academic | 50 | 43 |
| TOEFL iBT (and Home Edition) | 72 | 42 |
| Duolingo English Test | 100 | 60 |
| Cambridge | B2 First 160 | B1 Preliminary 140 |
| Trinity ISE | ISE II | ISE I |
| TOEIC | L 400 / R 385, S 160 / W 150 | L+R 275, S+W 120 |
| Medium of Instruction Certificate | Accepted | Accepted |
Faculty rules, the admission exam and deadlines
BME says individual units may set extra admission criteria, including minimum test scores higher than the general BME minimum, so check your programme page. Applicants complete an electronic e-admission exam or placement test; preparatory courses need no admission test. Preparatory applicants can also qualify with a successful English skills entrance exam in the e-admission system.
In special cases, for example when sanctions or unavailable services stop you sitting a test, you must ask in advance for permission to take an internal BME English test. For PhD programmes, BME sends you to the doctoral school's own requirements.
The application fee is EUR 150. On 14 October 2026 BME listed the next fee-paying application period, for programmes starting in February 2027, as 15 October to 15 November 2026. Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your BME programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Free test: are you at BME's score yet?
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill, so you know how far you are from the requirement before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
Free test: take an IELTS mock →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score does BME require?+
IELTS 5.5 (IELTS Online accepted) for BSc and MSc programmes, and 4.5 for preparatory programmes. Some faculties ask more.
Does BME accept PTE Academic?+
Yes: 50 for BSc and MSc, 43 for preparatory programmes.
Does BME accept Duolingo?+
Yes: 100 for BSc and MSc, 60 for preparatory programmes.
Can I apply to BME without IELTS?+
Yes, with a Medium of Instruction Certificate, which BME lists as an alternative to a test score.
Keep reading
Related
- Óbuda University IELTS requirement
- Czech Technical University IELTS requirement
- PTE to IELTS converter
- IELTS for Hungary: scholarships and university scores
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- All 1433 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 14 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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