Cardiff Met's levels by test
From Cardiff Met's accepted SELTs page, which says all SELTs "must be taken from a UKVI approved secure test centre and be dated within 2 years of the course start date". It lists IELTS Academic and accepts One Skill Retake. Its English requirements page says courses needing higher IELTS scores require a SELT and will not have English waived.
| Test | IELTS 6.0 courses | IELTS 6.5 courses |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (One Skill Retake accepted) | 6.0, no component below 5.5 | 6.5; reading and writing 6.5, others 6.0 |
| PTE Academic | 59, 59 in each skill | 62; reading and writing 62, speaking and listening 59 |
| TOEFL iBT after 21 January 2026 (no Home Edition; MyBest accepted) | 4, 4 in all skills | 4.5; reading and writing 4.5, listening and speaking 4 |
| TOEFL iBT before 21 January 2026 | 72; reading 18, listening 17, writing 17, speaking 20 | 83; reading 19, listening 20, writing 24, speaking 20 |
| LanguageCert Academic SELT (online not accepted) | 65, none below 60 | 70; reading and writing 70, others 65 |
| PSI Skills for English SELT (not Global) | B2 Pass with Merit, pass in each sub-test | Pass with Merit in all sub-tests |
Cardiff Met IELTS on course pages
These course pages were read on 9 October 2026. The MA TESOL page says the course "is paused for recruitment and not running for September 2027 entry", with the next intake in September 2028.
| Course | Level | IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science BSc | Undergraduate | 6.0, at least 5.5 in all elements |
| Speech and Language Therapy BSc | Undergraduate | 7.5, at least 7.0 in all elements |
| Data Science and Analytics MSc | Postgraduate | 6.0 standard |
| International Business Management MSc | Postgraduate | 6.0 standard |
| Doctorate in Sport Coaching | Research | 6.5 standard |
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Take a free scored IELTS mock →Indian, Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Nigerian applicants
Cardiff Met's qualifications by country page exempts listed school qualifications from the 6.0 requirement only. Indian applicants need 60% in CBSE or ISC Standard XII English, or 80% for postgraduate courses it labels CSSHS. Thirteen state boards are also listed, without a separate percentage; other boards need a SELT. Postgraduates must also send a letter confirming their degree was taught in English, and those with an HND or ACCA instead of a bachelor's need a SELT.
Undergraduates from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka use their school English plus an English interview; postgraduates use it plus a medium-of-instruction letter from a listed university. For Pakistan only the Lahore, Federal and Karachi boards count, at 70% in HSSC English.
| Qualification | Cardiff Met requirement (IELTS 6.0 courses) |
|---|---|
| CBSE or ISC Standard XII English (India) | 60%; 80% for postgraduate CSSHS courses |
| Indian state boards accepted | Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal |
| Pakistan HSSC English | 70%, Lahore, Federal or Karachi board only, plus interview or MOI letter |
| Nepal HSC | Grade B+ or intermediate 70%, plus interview or MOI letter |
| Bangladesh HSC | Grade A, plus interview or MOI letter from a listed university |
| WAEC or NECO (Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia) | Grade C6 |
January 2027 deadlines and the Student visa
Cardiff Met's important dates page sets January 2027 applications by 20 November 2026, conditions by 27 November and deposit by 4 December, by which date you must also finish the CAS Shield questionnaire, the compulsory webinar and any interview. A visa application must be uploaded by 18 December. Teaching starts on 18 January 2027 for undergraduates and 25 January for postgraduates. A Cardiff Met pre-sessional was not described on the pages read.
For a Student visa, UK Visas and Immigration asks for English at CEFR B2 for degree-level study and B1 below degree level, per gov.uk. At degree level, gov.uk adds, your university can assess your English itself and may ask you to take a different test.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Cardiff Met programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cardiff Met accept PTE?+
Yes: 59 with 59 in each skill for IELTS 6.0 courses, and 62 with 62 in reading and writing and 59 in speaking and listening for 6.5 courses.
Does Cardiff Met accept Duolingo?+
Duolingo is not among the tests on Cardiff Met's accepted SELT page. It lists IELTS, PTE, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge, Trinity, LanguageCert Academic SELT and PSI Skills for English.
Can Indian students study at Cardiff Met without IELTS?+
Yes, for IELTS 6.0 courses, with 60% in CBSE or ISC Standard XII English or a listed state board. Courses needing 6.5 or more require a SELT.
Does Cardiff Met accept TOEFL Home Edition?+
No. Its SELT page says TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not accepted, though it does accept TOEFL MyBest scores.
What is the Cardiff Met deadline for January 2027?+
Applications by 20 November 2026, conditions by 27 November and the deposit, CAS Shield steps and any interview by 4 December 2026.
Keep reading
Related
- Cardiff University IELTS requirement
- University of South Wales IELTS requirement
- IELTS for UKVI vs IELTS Academic
- IELTS band score calculator
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 9 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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