What IELTS score do you need for the University of Cape Town (UCT)?

On the university-wide page, TOEFL iBT must be 88 or above with at least 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading and 22 in Speaking. PTE Academic must be 67 or above with at least 59 in each communicative skill. All three reports must be no more than two years old.

UCT also accepts a National Benchmark Test (NBT) Academic Literacy Plus score in the Intermediate Upper range or above, valid for up to three years, or successful completion of the UCT Academic English course.

The requirement applies to international students for whom English is not a first or home language, or who have not passed English at NSC Grade 12, AS-level, IGCSE, NSSC level or an equivalent school-leaving qualification from an English-medium institution. If you have one of those, you do not need an English test.

UCT's study abroad application page says applicants who cannot show a standardised test can submit other evidence of equivalence from an accredited testing or assessing body, such as school transcripts. A letter from your home university is not enough on its own because it cannot be verified externally.

The UCT International Pathway Programme and the UCT English Language Centre are linked from the language requirements page for applicants who need to build their English first.

The central page says its figures are the minimum for consideration and that programme-specific requirements are in the relevant faculty handbook. The Science document is from 2025 and the central page lists a lower IELTS figure, so confirm the current number with your faculty.

Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your UCT programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.