Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
Sorbonne Abu Dhabi language requirements
From the admissions FAQs of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD). The bachelor's English score is not printed there.
| Programme | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate programmes taught in English | IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 79 (PBT 550) | Interview with the programme director |
| BSc Physics, Mathematics, Records Management and Archival Science, COAST | English certificate required | Exempt with an English-medium curriculum or 80% English (MOE) |
| Bachelor in Business and Foreign Languages | English proof if from a non-English-speaking system | - |
| Bachelor's taught in French | French proof instead | DELF B2, DALF, TCF, SELFEE or SUAD's French diploma |
Entry averages and other tests
For direct bachelor's entry SUAD lists minimum averages such as 80% for the UAE Ministry of Education general stream, 28 out of 42 for the IB, 70% for SABIS, and 80% or a GPA of 2.8 for an American high school diploma. The SAT is not required, though a qualifying SAT Mathematics score can meet the mathematics requirement for Law, Economics and Management, Mathematics and Physics.
SUAD does not name PTE or Duolingo. There is no application fee.
Free test: are you at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi's score yet?
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How to check
Because several bachelor's degrees are taught in French, check the language of your programme first: the English rule only applies to the programmes above and to English-taught postgraduate study.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi 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 Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi need for a master's?+
IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 79 for postgraduate programmes taught in English.
Do I need IELTS for a bachelor's at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi?+
Only for Physics, Mathematics, Records Management and Archival Science and COAST, and for Business and Foreign Languages if you come from a non-English system, unless you are exempt.
Do French-taught programmes at SUAD need IELTS?+
They need French proof instead, such as DELF B2, DALF, TCF or SELFEE, unless you hold a French Baccalaureate or studied in French.
Is there an application fee at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi?+
No. SUAD says there is no application fee.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for UAE universities
- Khalifa University IELTS requirement
- Zayed University IELTS requirement
- IELTS band score calculator
- All 2279 guides
Guide updated on 29 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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