University English requirements

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

The University of Greenwich asks for IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each skill for bachelor's degrees, and 6.5 with 5.5 in each for master's, MBA, LLB and LLM courses. PTE Academic, taken in person only, is 59 or 63 with no skill below 51. Greenwich accepts IELTS One Skill Retake, Duolingo and, for most Indian boards, 65% in Standard XII English.
  • Checked against official sources · 4 October 2026
  • 3 sections
  • IELTS

Greenwich IELTS by degree

From Greenwich's English language requirements page, which lists requirements by degree with named exceptions.

DegreeIELTS
BA, BSc and BEng6.0, minimum 5.5 in each skill
MPharm (with or without Foundation Year)6.0, minimum 5.5 in each skill
LLB6.5, minimum 5.5 in each skill
MA, MSc and MBA6.5, minimum 5.5 in each skill
LLM6.5, minimum 5.5 in each skill
BA Architecture, named criminology and sociology degrees, BA English Language and ELT6.5, minimum 5.5 in each skill
MPhil and PhD, Faculty of Engineering and Science6.5, minimum 6.0 in each skill
MPhil and PhD, all other faculties6.5, minimum 6.5 in each skill
BSc Nursing (all) and MSc Nursing (all)7.0, minimum 6.5 in each skill
BSc Midwifery and BA Social Work7.0, minimum 7.0 in each skill
MA Social Work7.0, minimum 6.5 in each skill
BSc Speech and Language Therapy8.0, minimum 7.5 in each skill

PTE, Duolingo and other test equivalents

Greenwich publishes equivalents for each IELTS level. PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT are accepted in person only. Duolingo results must be dated 1 July 2024 onwards and are verified with Duolingo directly.

TestIELTS 5.5 levelIELTS 6.0 levelIELTS 6.5 levelIELTS 7.0 level
PTE Academic (in person only)51, no skill below 5159, no skill below 5163, no skill below 5167, no skill below 51
Duolingo English Test95, no skill below 95105, no skill below 95120, no skill below 95130, no skill below 95
TOEFL iBT, 1–6 scale (in person only)4.0, no skill below 4.04.5, no skill below 4.04.5, no skill below 4.05.0, no skill below 4.0
Oxford ELLT5, no skill below 56, no skill below 57, no skill below 58, no skill below 5

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Waivers, retakes and pre-sessional

Greenwich accepts IELTS One Skill Retake; the expiry date is based on the original test, not the retake. Its India page offers a Standard XII waiver at 65% in English for undergraduate and master's applicants. It is not available to applicants from the Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh or Uttarakhand boards. Its Nigeria page says SSCE (WAEC or NECO) English at C6 or above can exempt you from IELTS. A school or degree waiver for Pakistani applicants is not stated by Greenwich.

You are also exempt if you are a national of, or completed a full bachelor's or master's degree entirely in English in, a majority English-speaking country as UKVI defines it, or if you hold a UK degree. Offer holders can take the online Oxford ELLT instead of IELTS, except nationals of Bangladesh. IELTS Online is not stated by Greenwich.

Pre-sessional English courses are open only to students with a UKVI IELTS. If any IELTS skill is below 5.5, the test must be a UKVI-approved IELTS.

For a Student visa, UK Visas and Immigration asks for English at CEFR B2 for degree-level study and B1 below degree level, per gov.uk. At degree level, gov.uk adds, your university can assess your English itself and may ask you to take a different test.

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

Frequently asked questions

Does the University of Greenwich accept PTE?+

Yes, PTE Academic taken in person: 59 with no skill below 51 for IELTS 6.0 courses, and 63 with no skill below 51 for IELTS 6.5 courses.

Does Greenwich accept IELTS One Skill Retake?+

Yes. The result's expiry date is based on the original test, not the retake.

Can Indian students study at Greenwich without IELTS?+

Yes, with 65% in Standard XII English, except applicants from the Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh or Uttarakhand boards.

What IELTS do I need for a master's at Greenwich?+

6.5 with at least 5.5 in each skill for MA, MSc, MBA and LLM degrees. MSc Nursing and MA Social Work need 7.0 with 6.5 in each skill.

Does Greenwich accept Duolingo?+

Yes, for tests dated 1 July 2024 onwards: 105 for IELTS 6.0 courses and 120 for IELTS 6.5 courses, with no skill below 95.

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Verified against the linked official sources on 4 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.

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