Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
UKM postgraduate IELTS by faculty
From UKM's Faculty of Medicine postgraduate English page, the IKMAS entry requirements and the Faculty of Education master's page. UKM did not publish a university-wide undergraduate IELTS figure that we could find.
| Programme | IELTS | Other tests |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine: most clinical and non-clinical master's, PhD Public Health and Medical Education | 6.5 | TOEFL iBT 79, PTE 63, OET 300, MUET 4.5 |
| Medicine: Master of Nursing, MMedSc and PhD (research), Doctor of Paediatric Surgery | 6.0 | TOEFL iBT 60, PTE 59, OET 250, MUET 4.0 |
| IKMAS (Institute of Malaysian and International Studies) | 6.0 | TOEFL iBT 80, PBT 550, MUET Band 4 |
| Education master's (general) | 6.0 | TOEFL iBT 60 |
| Education: TESL | 6.5 | TOEFL iBT 80, HEET Level 8 |
| Education: PhD and research mode | 6.5 | TOEFL iBT 80 |
Other tests UKM accepts
The Faculty of Medicine accepts IELTS Online alongside IELTS, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, PTE Academic and PTE Online, TOEFL Essentials, Cambridge English (176 for the higher tier, 169 for the lower), Linguaskill, CIEP Level 109, OET, HEET Level 8 and MUET.
In Education, applicants using TOEFL ITP or IELTS Indicator must also sit an interview. Arabic and Islamic Education asks for IELTS 5.5 if you write your thesis in Arabic and 6.0 if you write it in English. IKMAS says UKM postgraduate graduates may be exempted.
Free test: are you at UKM's score yet?
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill, so you know how far you are from the requirement before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
Take a free mock →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
HEET training if you fall short
UKM offers HEET training through UKMSHAPE, in Levels 1 to 7 aligned to the CEFR. HEET Level 8 is itself accepted as proof in Medicine and for TESL.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your UKM programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) 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 UKM need for a master's?+
IELTS 6.0 for most programmes, and 6.5 for most Faculty of Medicine master's, TESL and Education research degrees.
Does UKM accept PTE?+
The Faculty of Medicine accepts PTE Academic or PTE Online: 63 for the 6.5 tier and 59 for the 6.0 tier.
Does UKM accept IELTS Online?+
The Faculty of Medicine page lists IELTS and IELTS Online with the same minimum.
Does UKM accept MUET?+
Yes. Medicine asks for MUET 4.5 or 4.0 by tier, and IKMAS asks for MUET Band 4.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in Malaysia accepting IELTS 6.0
- IELTS for Malaysia
- Universiti Putra Malaysia IELTS requirement
- Universiti Sains Malaysia IELTS requirement
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- All 3112 guides
Guide updated on 30 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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