RCSI English scores by route
Undergraduate medicine rules are on RCSI's medicine entry requirements page; postgraduate rules on its postgraduate English language requirements page, whose table gives a B2/C1 score range for each test. We show the bottom of each range as the minimum.
| Test | Undergraduate medicine | Postgraduate (B2/C1 range) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5, no band below 6.0, single sitting | 6.5–7.0 (minimum 6.5, no band below 6.0) |
| TOEFL iBT | Equivalent scores accepted | 79–93 |
| PTE Academic | Not stated | 67–84 (not accepted for research courses) |
| Cambridge | Not stated | CAE grade A, B or C; CPE at C1 (180–199) |
| TOEIC | Not stated | 605–780 |
Who is exempt
For postgraduate study the exemption is broad: you do not need a test if you completed your undergraduate or postgraduate studies full-time in English for three or more years, cumulatively. RCSI does not limit this to particular countries, so a three-year English-medium degree from India or Pakistan should qualify; get a medium-of-instruction letter from your university.
For undergraduate medicine, applicants presenting programmes delivered entirely in English, such as the International Baccalaureate or A Levels, do not need an IELTS certificate with their first application, though A Level applicants must hold GCSE English at grade 4/C or above.
Free test: are you at RCSI's score yet?
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Tests RCSI does not accept
RCSI's postgraduate page lists tests it does not accept because they test below C1 or do not test academic English, including Cambridge FCE, PTE General levels 1 to 3 and Trinity ISE I and II. Its IELTS row says the online IELTS Indicator was included. Duolingo is not listed, and the medicine page does not mention IELTS One Skill Retake.
Non-EU places for undergraduate medicine are set separately: RCSI lists 90 EU and 220 non-EU places for the five- and six-year MB BCh BAO starting September 2027.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your RCSI programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) 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 RCSI need for medicine?+
IELTS 6.5 overall with no band (reading, writing, listening or speaking) below 6.0, taken in a single sitting and less than two years old at admission.
Does RCSI accept PTE?+
For taught postgraduate courses, yes: its table puts PTE Academic at 67–84 for B2/C1. PTE is not accepted for postgraduate research courses.
Do Indian students need IELTS for an RCSI master's?+
Not if they completed three or more years of full-time study in English. RCSI's postgraduate exemption is not limited to particular countries.
Does RCSI accept Duolingo?+
Duolingo is not listed among RCSI's accepted English tests.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for Ireland
- IELTS for doctors in Ireland
- Trinity College Dublin IELTS requirement
- How long is IELTS valid?
- All 1288 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 13 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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