Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
EMU English exemption scores
From EMU's exemption criteria for English. Certificates are valid for 2 years unless the test provider says otherwise.
| Test | Most programmes: direct exemption | Medicine, Translation: direct exemption |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.5 | 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 65 | 72 |
| PTE Academic | 42 | 50 |
| WAEC / WASSCE / NECO / NABTEB English | C6 | C5 |
| GCE / IGCSE English | C / 5 | B / 6 |
| Cambridge FCE, CAE or CPE | C | B |
| SAT Reading and Writing | 430 | 440 |
Just below the line
Slightly lower scores make you eligible to sit Stage 2 of EMU's English Proficiency Exam instead of the full placement route: IELTS 5.0 (5.5 for Medicine), TOEFL iBT 60 (65) or PTE 35 to 41 (42 to 49). To pass the EMU exam itself you need 60 out of 100, or 70 for Medicine and Translation and Interpreting.
Students who graduated from secondary school in a country where English is the native and official language are exempt. Students who finished another university's English preparatory school are also exempt, unless they then interrupted study for two years.
Free test: are you at EMU's score yet?
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The English Preparatory School
If you have no valid certificate, you sit EMU's placement exam at the start of the semester and are placed in the right preparatory level. Exempt students still take the ENGL academic English courses in their degree curriculum. Exemption decisions are given within 5 working days of applying.
Requirements vary by programme and change between intakes. The score that binds you is the one on your EMU programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) 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 does Eastern Mediterranean University need?+
IELTS 5.5 to be exempt from the English Preparatory School for most programmes, and 6.0 for Medicine and Translation and Interpreting.
Does EMU accept WAEC English instead of IELTS?+
Yes. WAEC, WASSCE, NECO or NABTEB English at C6 or better gives direct exemption for most programmes; Medicine needs C5.
Does EMU accept PTE?+
Yes. PTE Academic 42 for most programmes and 50 for Medicine.
What happens if I have no IELTS for EMU?+
You take EMU's placement and proficiency exams on arrival and join the English Preparatory School if you do not pass.
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Guide updated on 29 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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