What IELTS score do you need for the University of Birmingham?

Birmingham's postgraduate international entry requirements use three levels. Some programmes ask for higher or lower grades, and Birmingham says it will tell you if your programme is above these.

Business School undergraduate programmes need IELTS 6.5 with 6.5 in writing and speaking, or PTE 67 with 67 in writing and speaking. Some postgraduate Business programmes also require higher grades.

For 2026 entry, Birmingham accepts IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online and IELTS for UKVI, and states that it accepts IELTS One Skill Retakes. PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online are both accepted, as are TOEFL iBT and iBT Home Edition. IELTS General Training is not accepted.

Birmingham only accepts your most recent English test score, and the test should normally be taken within two years of your programme start date.

Birmingham lists IELTS for UKVI as one accepted option but does not say it is required for degree entry: not stated by Birmingham.

Duolingo is not in the accepted list for degree entry. It appears only for the four-year Bachelor's with Integrated Foundation Year, at 105 in all skills (115 overall with 105 in each for Law and English Literature routes).

The four-year Bachelor's with Integrated Foundation Year needs IELTS 5.5 with 5.5 in each band, or PTE 59 in all skills. Students aiming for Law or English Literature need IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each band, or PTE 64 with 59 in all skills.

For postgraduate study, a pass on Birmingham's own presessional English course is accepted in place of a test. Course lengths and entry scores for the presessional are not stated on the entry requirements pages.

Requirements change between intakes. Check the University of Birmingham English language page and your course page before you book a test. Read on 4 October 2026.