RAU minimum scores by level
From RAU's English language requirements page, which calls IELTS Academic its preferred test and IELTS for UKVI the version for visa students. Duolingo results must be from a test taken after 1 July 2024.
| Test | Undergraduate | Taught postgraduate (MSc, MBA, PgDip) | Research (MScR, PhD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0, no element below 5.5 | 6.5, no element below 5.5 | 6.5; writing 6.0, others 5.5 |
| PTE Academic | 60, 59 in each | 70, 59 in each | 70; writing 65, others 60 |
| Duolingo | 115, 100 in each subscore | 125, 100 in each subscore | 125; writing 115, others 100 |
| TOEFL iBT (from 1 January 2026) | 4.5, 4 in each | 5, 4 in each | 5, 4 in each |
| TOEFL iBT (old scale) | 80; L17 R18 S20 W17 | 88; L17 R18 S20 W17 | 88; L17 R18 S20 W19 |
| LanguageCert Academic (including online) | 65, 60 in each | 70, 60 in each | 70; writing 65, others 60 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 161 | 169 | 185 |
Foundation degrees need a UKVI test
Visa students from outside the majority English-speaking countries who apply for a foundation degree need a SELT: UKVI IELTS Academic 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in each component, LanguageCert Academic UKVI SELT 65 with 60, PTE Academic UKVI 60 with 59, or Trinity ISE II (SELT variant).
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Degree exemptions and Indian applicants
RAU accepts a bachelor's degree from a majority English-speaking country (Canada excluded) for undergraduate entry and a master's from one for postgraduate entry, with a UK ENIC statement of comparability. The page lists no Indian Class 12 or Indian degree waiver, so plan on a test. If your test is not on its list, RAU asks you to email admissions@rau.ac.uk.
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 RAU programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where the Royal Agricultural University 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 the Royal Agricultural University need?+
IELTS Academic 6.0 with no element below 5.5 for undergraduate degrees and 6.5 with no element below 5.5 for taught postgraduate programmes.
Does RAU accept Duolingo?+
Yes, from tests taken after 1 July 2024: 115 with 100 in each subscore for undergraduate entry and 125 with 100 for taught postgraduate entry.
Does RAU accept PTE?+
Yes. PTE Academic 60 with 59 in each element for undergraduate study and 70 with 59 for taught postgraduate study.
Does RAU accept the new TOEFL scale?+
Yes. For TOEFL iBT taken after 1 January 2026 it asks 4.5 (4 in each) for undergraduate and 5 (4 in each) for postgraduate study.
Keep reading
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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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