Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 5 November 2026
RUW English scores
All figures are from RUW's admission requirements page, which does not list PTE Academic or Duolingo.
| Programme | IELTS | Other tests |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 5.5 overall | TOEFL 513 paper, 183 computer, 65 internet; RUW placement test 5.5 |
| Art & Design postgraduate, Master of Design Management, MFA Drawing & Painting | 6.0 overall | TOEFL 550 paper, 210 computer, 78 internet; RUW placement test 6.0 |
| Master of Business Administration | 6.0 | TOEFL 550 paper, 210 computer, 78 internet; or an equivalent RUW English test score |
| Master of International Business Law (LLM) | 6.5, no component below 6.0, given as an example | Another approved English test to the required standard |
Foundation English courses and LLM waiver
Art and design postgraduates with IELTS between 5 and 5.5 take PMAD 504 English Composition. Below 5, they take PMAD 500 English for Academic Purposes and PMAD 504. At 4 or below, they take both and are advised to take advanced English outside the university or join English for Academic Success Level 2.
MBA applicants follow the same bands with EPM 501 English Composition, then EPM 500 English for Academic Purposes plus EPM 501.
For the LLM, the English test is generally waived if your first degree or secondary education was at an institution using English as the language of instruction. If you meet the academic requirements but not the language one, you can complete a pre-sessional English course at the University of Liverpool or RUW.
Free test: are you at Royal University for Women's score yet?
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Other entry conditions and how to check
Business programmes in the College of Business & Law look for at least 60% in grade 12 mathematics. The BSc in Digital Media and Interactive Technology and the BSc in Information Technology ask for the science track and 60% in mathematics. The BSc in Architecture asks for the science track and 60% in mathematics and physics. Applicants who miss these figures take a compulsory mathematics course in their first semester.
International applicants need documents ratified by the issuing country's foreign ministry, that country's embassy in Bahrain and Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your RUW programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Royal University for Women 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 Royal University for Women need for a bachelor's?+
An overall IELTS band score of 5.5, or TOEFL internet-based 65, or 5.5 in the RUW English Placement Test.
What IELTS does RUW need for the MBA?+
IELTS 6.0. Applicants below this take English Foundation courses at RUW, depending on their score.
What if I am below IELTS 5.5 for RUW?+
You must join the RUW Orientation programme, English for Academic Success, before starting your chosen major.
Does RUW waive IELTS for the LLM?+
The test is generally waived if your first degree or secondary education was at an institution using English as the language of instruction.
Keep reading
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Guide updated on 5 November 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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