What IELTS score do you need for Heriot-Watt University?

Heriot-Watt accepts these school results if taken within five years of your start date. Taught postgraduates whose school English is 5 to 10 years old may use a letter from their university confirming English as the language of study and assessment, if they graduated within the last two academic years; Heriot-Watt does not accept such letters from all universities.

Indian postgraduates who met the Grade XII criteria within 10 years and graduated from an English-taught degree at a recognised Indian university within five years can provide a medium of instruction letter. For Nigerian postgraduates there is no time limit on WAEC, WASSCE or NECO, and a degree from a recognised Nigerian university is sufficient evidence.

Heriot-Watt's country information page says applicants with a Pakistan Higher Secondary Certificate must provide an English language test, and that it does not accept medium of instruction letters from universities in Pakistan, so postgraduates also need a test. It also lists eight Khyber Pakhtunkhwa boards whose Higher Secondary Certificates it does not accept for undergraduate entry. A school route for Nepal is not stated by Heriot-Watt.

Heriot-Watt's requirements page adds that the university has the right to call students for a pre-CAS interview at its discretion.

Heriot-Watt's BALEAP-accredited Pre-sessional English runs online or on campus for 6, 10 or 14 weeks. In 2026 the 14-week course from 4 May cost £6,344, the 10-week from 8 June £4,528, and the 6-week £2,728 in July or £2,840 from 19 October. Entry needs a valid IELTS or equivalent four-skills test at 5.0 or 5.5 depending on the pathway. One-year Foundation entry needs a UKVI SELT such as IELTS 5.0 (4.5).

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 Heriot-Watt programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.