What IELTS score do you need for Lancaster University?

Lancaster accepts IELTS Academic from UKVI and other centres, IELTS Online and IELTS One Skill Retake. PTE Academic and PTE UKVI count only when taken in person at a test centre. Certificates are valid for two years from the test date and scores cannot be combined across sittings. Duolingo does not appear on either list. Medicine and Surgery needs IELTS 7.0 in every component or PTE 70 in each skill.

Lancaster accepts these school results instead of a test. For postgraduate entry, school English awarded more than 10 years ago also needs a test or an English interview. Lancaster does not accept a medium of instruction letter unless the degree was completed in the UK or a listed majority English-speaking country. School routes for Pakistan and Nepal are not stated by Lancaster.

Lancaster's CAS and visa advice page says it may hold a mandatory online interview before issuing a CAS. It typically interviews nationals of countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria and Pakistan, and Indian nationals living in Haryana, Punjab or Uttar Pradesh. If you do not pass, Lancaster says it cannot issue a CAS.

Lancaster's pre-sessional courses run for 30, 20, 10 or 4 weeks (5 weeks online), for an IELTS uplift of 2.0, 1.5, 1.0 or 0.5. For a master's needing 6.5, the 4- or 5-week course takes 6.0 with 5.5, the 10-week 5.5 with 5.0, the 20-week 5.0 with 4.5 and the 30-week 4.5 with 4.0. In-person courses with an academic condition need a UKVI test.

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