TOEFL is not on the UK's SELT list
For visa and citizenship applications that need a SELT, you can only take a test with an approved provider. Outside the UK these are PSI Services (UK) Ltd, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT and Pearson; inside the UK, Trinity College London replaces PSI (gov.uk). The approved tests are IELTS for UKVI or IELTS Life Skills, LANGUAGECERT SELT tests, PTE Academic UKVI or PTE Home, Skills for English UKVI and Trinity's SELT. ETS and TOEFL are not on the list; the page was last updated on 12 October 2026.
A SELT result must be on the approved list, taken at an approved centre and awarded in the two years before you apply, and you quote its unique reference number in your application (gov.uk).
| Route | Can TOEFL iBT be used? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa | No. Unless you have a qualifying qualification or exemption, you need a SELT at CEFR B2 | gov.uk |
| Student visa, below degree level | No. Unless exempt, you need a SELT at CEFR B1 | gov.uk |
| Student visa, degree level or above | Possibly. Your university (HEP) can assess your English itself at B2 and may ask for a different test | gov.uk |
How TOEFL works for a UK Student visa
gov.uk says that if you are studying at degree level or above with a Higher Education Provider, the provider can assess your level of English themselves, which means they may ask you to do a different test; it must still be equivalent to CEFR B2 (gov.uk). This is the route through which a university can accept TOEFL iBT for a degree course. Nationals of countries such as Australia, the USA, Ireland and New Zealand, and Canadian nationals, do not need to prove their English for this visa.
So check that your university lists TOEFL iBT for your specific course and meet its score. A course below degree level, such as a foundation course, needs a SELT at B1 instead, unless you are exempt.
Know your target? Check where you stand
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock and see your score per skill before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
Take a free scored IELTS mock →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
Example UK university TOEFL scores
Both universities below publish separate minimums for tests taken before and after ETS's 1–6 scale arrived on 21 January 2026, and neither accepts MyBest scores. Read on 14 October 2026.
| University | Tests from 21 January 2026 | Tests before 21 January 2026 | Home Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial College London, Standard | 4.5, minimum 4.5 in all elements | 92 overall, minimum 20 in all elements | Accepted |
| Imperial College London, Higher | 5.0, minimum 5.0 in all elements | 100 overall, minimum 22 in all elements | Accepted |
| King's College London PGT, Band B | 5 overall, minimum 4.5 in each skill | 100 overall, 25 writing, 23 in each other skill | Accepted |
| King's College London PGT, Band D | 4.5 overall, minimum 4 in each skill | 92 overall, 23 writing, 20 in each other skill | Accepted |
If you need a SELT instead
For work, family or settlement routes, or a pre-degree Student visa, book one of the approved SELTs on gov.uk's list (gov.uk). Practise for them with an IELTS for UKVI practice test or a PTE Academic UKVI practice test, and compare options in LANGUAGECERT vs IELTS for UK visas.
Frequently asked questions
Is TOEFL a UKVI-approved SELT?+
No. On 14 October 2026 gov.uk's SELT list named IELTS SELT Consortium, LANGUAGECERT, Pearson, PSI and Trinity College London tests only.
Can I get a UK Student visa with TOEFL?+
For degree-level study, yes if your university accepts it: gov.uk lets a Higher Education Provider assess your English itself at CEFR B2. Below degree level you need a SELT.
Can I use TOEFL for a UK Skilled Worker visa?+
No. Without an English-taught degree or UK qualification, you need a SELT from an approved provider at CEFR B2.
What TOEFL score does Imperial College London need?+
4.5 with 4.5 in every element at Standard level, or 5.0 with 5.0 in every element at Higher level, for tests from 21 January 2026.
Do UK universities accept TOEFL Home Edition?+
Many do. Imperial and King's College London both accept it on their English requirement pages; check your own university.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for the UK Student visa
- IELTS for the UK Skilled Worker visa
- King's College London IELTS requirement
- Imperial College London IELTS requirement
- IELTS to TOEFL converter
- All 1712 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 14 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy