Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
PSU IELTS by programme
From PSU's undergraduate admission page, graduate requirements, PhD admission page and Medicine admissions.
| Programme | IELTS | Other tests |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (Preparatory Year entry) | Academic 4 | TOEFL iBT 25 (or 2 on 1-6 scale), Duolingo 60, Qiyas EPT or STEP 50 |
| Medicine (MBBS) entry | Academic 5.0 | TOEFL iBT 50 |
| Medicine: progress to MBBS | 6.5 | TOEFL iBT 90, or GPA 3.25 in Preparatory Year English |
| Master's (MBA, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Commercial Law, Engineering Management) | 6.0 (General or Academic) | TOEFL iBT 70 (or 4), PBT 520 |
| PhD | 6.5, Writing 5.0 | TOEFL iBT 90, Writing 20 |
| PhD with full scholarship | 7.0, Writing 6.5 | TOEFL iBT 95, Writing 22 |
Online tests and exemptions
For undergraduates, PSU accepts Duolingo, TOEFL iBT Home Edition and IELTS Online, and tests are valid for two years. A high-school diploma from an international school in Saudi Arabia, or from an English-medium school abroad equalised by the Ministry of Education, also counts.
Graduate admission is stricter: online tests are not accepted, scores must be from the last two years, and graduating from an English-medium institution does not exempt you. Only holders of a degree from a native English-speaking country are exempt.
Free test: are you at PSU'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.
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Waiving Preparatory Year English
PSU's Preparatory Year waiver page lets higher scores skip English courses: for example, IELTS 4.5 with Reading and Writing 5 waives ENG010, and IELTS 5 with Reading and Writing 5.5 waives ENG030. Waiver requests are due two weeks before the semester starts. In Medicine, IELTS 6.5 or iBT 90 exempts you from Preparatory Year English.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your PSU programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Prince Sultan University (PSU) 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 Prince Sultan University need?+
Academic IELTS 4 for undergraduate entry, 5.0 for Medicine, 6.0 for master's and 6.5 (Writing 5.0) for a PhD.
Does PSU accept Duolingo?+
For undergraduate entry, yes: Duolingo 60. Online tests are not accepted for graduate programmes.
Does an English-medium degree exempt me from IELTS for a PSU master's?+
No. PSU says graduating from an English-medium institution does not exempt you; only a degree from a native English-speaking country does.
Does PSU accept IELTS General Training for a master's?+
Yes. The graduate page asks for IELTS 6.0 in General or Academic.
Keep reading
Related
- Alfaisal University IELTS requirement
- KFUPM IELTS requirement
- KAUST IELTS requirement
- Duolingo vs IELTS for universities
- All 3112 guides
Guide updated on 30 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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