Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
Henley MSc English requirement
From the MSc Management course page, which asks for IELTS 6.5 with no component below 5.5 in any sub-skill and says Henley accepts the non-SELT version of LanguageCert (including online) and Duolingo. Equivalents are from the University of Reading's IELTS 6.5 (5.5) equivalence page. Other Henley master's courses may set a different level, so check your course page.
| Test | Equivalent of IELTS 6.5 (5.5) |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 overall, no component below 5.5 |
| PTE Academic | 69 overall, no part below 59 |
| TOEFL iBT (older scale) | 88 overall (L17, W17, R18, S20) |
| TOEFL iBT (new score results) | 4.5 overall, no part below 4 |
| Duolingo English Test | 125 overall, no sub-score below 100 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 overall, no part below 60 |
| Cambridge C1 / C2 / Business Higher | 176 overall, no part below 162 |
| Oxford ELLT | 7 overall, no part below 5 |
Validity, WAEC and other routes
Reading's acceptable English tests page says tests must be no more than two years old at the start of your course and that only verified WAEC results are accepted. It lists Indian Standard XII English as acceptable for undergraduate entry but gives no percentage on that page, and it does not state an English-medium degree waiver.
Reading publishes similar equivalence tables for every IELTS level from 5.0 to 7.5, so if your Henley course asks for a different IELTS level, use the matching table rather than the 6.5 one above.
Free test: are you at Henley Business School's score yet?
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If your score is short
The MSc Management page says Henley may ask you to attend an English language course if you are below the minimum, and that Reading's pre-sessional English is BALEAP-accredited.
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, but the level must still be equivalent to B2.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Henley programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Henley Business School 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 Henley Business School need for the MSc Management?+
IELTS 6.5 with no component below 5.5 in any sub-skill.
Does Henley accept Duolingo?+
Yes. Reading lists Duolingo 125 overall with no sub-score below 100 as the equivalent of IELTS 6.5 (5.5).
What PTE score does Henley need?+
For the IELTS 6.5 (5.5) level, PTE Academic 69 overall with no part below 59.
How old can my test be for Henley?+
No more than two years old at the start of your course.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in the UK accepting IELTS 6.5
- University of Reading IELTS requirement
- Loughborough University London IELTS requirement
- London Business School IELTS requirement
- Duolingo vs IELTS for universities
- All 2279 guides
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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