KCL undergraduate English bands
From KCL's undergraduate English language entry requirements, which it says are correct as of September 2026 for 2027/28 entry. No undergraduate course currently uses Band E, and the undergraduate page has no Band C.
| Band | Example courses (as listed) | IELTS Academic or Online | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT (from 21 Jan 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Dentistry Entry Programme for Medical Graduates BDS | 7.5, 7.0 each | 75, 69 each | 5.5, 5 each |
| B | Arts & Humanities, Social Science & Public Policy, Business, Law, Medicine/Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Electronic/General Engineering | 7.0, 6.5 each | 69, 62 each | 5, 4.5 each |
| D | Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences; Biochemistry, Biomedical Science, Neuroscience, Pharmacology | 6.5, 6.0 each | 62, 59 each | 4.5, 4 each |
| E | No undergraduate courses currently | — | — | — |
KCL postgraduate English bands
From KCL's postgraduate English language entry requirements. Unless a course says otherwise, taught and research programmes share these bands. No postgraduate programme currently uses Band A or Band E.
| Band | Example programmes (as listed) | IELTS Academic or Online | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | Social Science & Public Policy, Business School, Law, Informatics (PGT), Health Psychology MSc, Public Health MSc (Distance) | 7.0, 6.5 each | 69, 62 each |
| C | Arts & Humanities (except two PGT departments in Band B) | 7.0, 6.5 R&W, 6.0 L&S | 69, 62 R&W, 59 L&S |
| D | Dentistry, Life Sciences & Medicine, Natural Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, Nursing | 6.5, 6.0 each | 62, 59 each |
Know your target? Check where you stand
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock and see your score per skill before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
Take a free scored IELTS mock →Test rules: online, retakes, UKVI and validity
KCL accepts IELTS Academic and IELTS Online at identical scores. It also accepts PTE Academic for UKVI, but not PTE Academic Online. All scores must come from one test: KCL cannot use TOEFL MyBest scores or IELTS One Skill scores. Duolingo is not on KCL's list.
Tests must be within two years of the 1st of the month your course starts. TOEFL iBT and Home Edition are accepted on both scales. On the old scale, Band B is 100 overall (25 writing, 23 in the others) and Band D is 92 (23 writing, 20 in the others).
KCL's pre-sessional English is an alternative to an external test. You must pass it at the band your course needs, such as 7 for Band B or 6.5 for Band D.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your King's programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Frequently asked questions
Does King's College London accept PTE?+
Yes, PTE Academic and PTE Academic for UKVI: 69 with 62 in each skill for Band B, 62 with 59 for Band D. PTE Academic Online is not accepted.
Is One Skill Retake accepted at KCL?+
No. KCL says it cannot take IELTS One Skill scores or combine scores across two tests.
Does KCL accept IELTS Online?+
Yes. IELTS (Online) is listed at the same scores as IELTS Academic in every band.
What IELTS do I need for a master's at KCL?+
7.0 with 6.5 in each skill for Band B programmes, 7.0 with 6.5 in reading and writing and 6.0 in listening and speaking for Band C, or 6.5 with 6.0 for Band D.
Does KCL accept Duolingo?+
Duolingo is not on KCL's undergraduate or postgraduate list of accepted tests.
Keep reading
Related
- UCL IELTS requirement
- LSE IELTS requirement
- PTE to IELTS score converter
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 4 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy