How UDE sets English requirements
UDE's admissions page for non-EU applicants says teaching is in German apart from English-taught courses. For its International Studies in Engineering (ISE) programmes it expects English at B1 for bachelor's and B2 for master's, shown by TOEFL, IELTS or a medium-of-instruction certificate. Some master's programmes go through uni-assist and others through UDE's own portal.
Programme examples and their scores
Figures below are from the Water Science, Medical Informatics, Development and Governance and Business Information Systems pages.
| Programme | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | Other routes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M.Sc. Water Science | 6.5 | 100 | Comparable certificate | Not stated |
| M.Sc. Medical Informatics (with FH Dortmund) | 6.5 | 90 (ITP 550) | Other C1-equivalent certificates, decided by a committee | Under 2 years |
| M.A. Development and Governance | 6.0 | 80 (code 1703) | Bachelor's or higher from an English-language university | "Recent" |
| M.Sc. Business Information Systems | 5.5, with Reading and Writing 5.5 | Not listed | Cambridge 160; bachelor's completed entirely in English | Under 3 years |
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German, ISE and exemptions
UDE's ISE admission page asks German and English at B1 to enrol in an ISE bachelor's and B2 in both to graduate; ISE master's need German and English at B2 for enrolment, with English certificates due with the application. Business Information Systems also asks DSH-2 German from applicants without a German school qualification. Water Science, Medical Informatics and Development and Governance are taught in English.
UDE's general page accepts a medium-of-instruction certificate for ISE, and Development and Governance exempts a degree from an English-language institution if you prove that teaching and examinations were in English. Neither page names a country restriction.
Your German student visa is handled by the German embassy or consulate where you apply, not by the University of Duisburg-Essen. This guide covers the University of Duisburg-Essen's admission rule only. Our IELTS for Germany guide covers the visa side and test fees.
English requirements in Germany are written into each programme's admission or examination regulations and can change between intakes. The score that binds you is the one on your University of Duisburg-Essen programme page and in your admission letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where the University of Duisburg-Essen 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 score does the University of Duisburg-Essen need?+
6.5 for Water Science and Medical Informatics, 6.0 for Development and Governance and 5.5 (Reading and Writing 5.5) for Business Information Systems.
Does UDE accept PTE?+
PTE Academic is not named on the programme pages we read. Ask your programme first.
Does UDE accept a medium-of-instruction certificate?+
For ISE programmes, yes: UDE lists a medium-of-instruction certificate as proof. Development and Governance accepts proof that your degree was taught and examined in English.
Do I need German for UDE's English-taught master's?+
Not for Water Science, Medical Informatics or Development and Governance. ISE master's need German B2, and Business Information Systems asks DSH-2.
How old can my IELTS be for UDE?+
Medical Informatics asks for certificates under two years old and Business Information Systems under three years.
Keep reading
Related
- University of Cologne IELTS requirement
- IELTS for Germany: visa, universities and fees
- IELTS band score calculator
- Free IELTS mock test with AI band score
- All 1783 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 15 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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