Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
Inholland English scores
From Inholland's English language requirements page.
| Test | Minimum |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall |
| TOEFL iBT | 80 (4.5 on the new scoring scale) |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 61 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 65 |
| Cambridge CAE, CPE or FCE | 169–175 |
| TOEIC | Listening and reading 865; speaking and writing 335 |
Who is exempt
You are exempt if you are a native speaker who completed secondary education in the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand; hold a South African National Senior Certificate with at least 5 for English; hold a European Baccalaureate (English medium, at least 6 for English) or IB (English medium, at least 4 for English); or have a GCE or GCSE with A, B or C in English from a British board such as Edexcel, Cambridge or OCR.
Duolingo is not on Inholland's list.
Free test: are you at Inholland University of Applied Sciences'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.
Take a free mock →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
Online tests, retakes and validity
Inholland says the online versions of IELTS, TOEIC, Cambridge, LanguageCert and PTE are not included in the Code of Conduct for international students, so it cannot accept them. It also does not accept IELTS certificates from a retake, so a One Skill Retake result will not count.
Your certificate must be less than two years old on 1 September, unless you completed education in English within the past two years.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Inholland programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Inholland University of Applied Sciences 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 Inholland need?+
IELTS Academic 6.0 overall for its English-taught bachelor's programmes.
Does Inholland accept IELTS One Skill Retake?+
No. Inholland says it does not accept IELTS certificates provided from a retake.
Does Inholland accept PTE?+
Yes, PTE Academic 61, taken at a test centre rather than online.
Do I need IELTS for Inholland with GCSE English?+
No, if you have a GCE or GCSE with A, B or C in English from a British examining board.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in the Netherlands accepting IELTS 6.0
- IELTS for the Netherlands
- IELTS One Skill Retake explained
- Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences IELTS requirement
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- 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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