Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
UTB English requirements by level
From UTB's programme and graduate studies pages, linked in each row:
| Level | IELTS | Other routes |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Business and BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering | 6.0 | TOEFL iBT 80 or PBT 550; GCE O Level English credit six |
| Master's degrees | 6.0 | TOEFL 550; O Level English credit; waiver for English-medium degree |
| PhD | 6.0 | TOEFL 550; O Level English credit; waiver for English-medium degree |
Waivers and score age
For master's and PhD study, IELTS or TOEFL must be taken within two years of the programme start date. UTB may waive the English requirement where your higher education was taught in English, which covers many applicants from India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Bangladesh. If you finished that study more than two years ago, you must show you have continued to study or work.
Duolingo and PTE are not listed on the pages read.
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Mature applicants
Mature master's applicants need three years of relevant work experience and PhD applicants five years, plus IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 550, an O Level English credit or IGCSE English as a Second Language grade C, and an interview. Engineering degrees also set A Level subject requirements, such as 220 A Level points for Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your UTB programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) 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 Universiti Teknologi Brunei need?+
IELTS 6.0 for bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes.
What TOEFL does UTB accept?+
TOEFL iBT 80 or PBT 550 for bachelor's degrees, and TOEFL 550 for graduate study.
Can UTB waive IELTS for a master's?+
Yes, it may be waived if your qualifying higher education was taught in English.
How old can my IELTS be for UTB?+
For graduate study it must be taken within two years of the programme start date.
Keep reading
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- 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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