Lincoln's levels by test
From Lincoln's English language requirements page, which says the scores are minimums and some courses ask for more. Results are valid for two years from the test date, and Lincoln verifies them before issuing a CAS. It does not accept PTE Academic Online, LanguageCert IESOL or Duolingo from applicants who need a Student visa. IELTS for UKVI is needed only for the on-campus pre-sessional. Medicine asks for IELTS 7.5 (7.0) or PTE 79 (76).
| Test | IELTS 6.0 courses | IELTS 6.5 courses | IELTS 7.0 courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic, IELTS Online or One Skill Retake | 6.0, 5.5 in each element | 6.5, 6.0 in each element | 7.0, 6.5 in each element |
| PTE Academic (not PTE Academic Online for visa applicants) | 65, no score below 59 | 70, no score below 65 | 76, no score below 70 |
| TOEFL iBT or Home Edition | 79; reading 18, listening 17, speaking 20, writing 20 | 90 | 100 |
| LanguageCert Academic | 65, no component below 60 | 70, no component below 65 | 75, no component below 70 |
| Oxford ELLT Global or Digital | 6, no component below 5 | 7, no component below 6 | 8, no component below 7 |
Lincoln IELTS on course pages
These course pages were read on 8 October 2026; none of them states a PTE score. Lincoln's full-time MBA page redirected to the main study page when checked, so it is not listed.
| Course | Level | IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science BSc | Undergraduate | 6.0, minimum 5.5 in each element |
| Nursing (Registered Nurse, Adult) BSc | Undergraduate | 6.5, no less than 6.0 in each element |
| Computer Science MSc | Postgraduate | 6.0, minimum 5.5 in each element |
| Data Science and Applied Analytics MSc | Postgraduate | 6.0, minimum 5.5 in each element |
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Take a free scored IELTS mock →Indian, Nigerian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi applicants
Lincoln's Pakistan and Bangladesh pages say it is closed for applications from students from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Its India page accepts 70% in Standard XII English as an alternative to IELTS 6.0, usually completed no more than five years before enrolling; that limit is usually waived after an English-taught degree at home. No Indian board is named as excluded. The Nepal page lists no school-English route.
For Nigeria, Lincoln's main page lists WAEC at A1 to C6, while the Nigeria page says "grades 6", both for IELTS 6.0 programmes. The India page also says "CBSE Core English" where the main page says CBSE.
| Qualification | Lincoln requirement |
|---|---|
| Standard XII English: CBSE Core English or CISCE | 70%, for IELTS 6.0 courses |
| Standard XII English: Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal boards | 70%, for IELTS 6.0 courses |
| WAEC or NECO English (Nigeria) | C6, for IELTS 6.0 programmes |
| Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan | Closed for applications |
Pre-CAS interviews, deposit, pre-sessional and the Student visa
Lincoln's pre-CAS interview page says students from Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Syria must take a 30 to 40 minute Zoom interview before a CAS, and that students from Nigeria were also asked for September 2026. Its fees page instead names Bangladesh, India and Pakistan for the interview and asks for an £8,000 deposit after an unconditional offer and before a CAS.
Lincoln's on-campus pre-sessional ran 10 weeks (£3,600) or 5 weeks (£1,800) in summer 2026; for a 6.0 course, entry was from IELTS for UKVI 5.0 (4.5) or 5.5 (5.0), and a SELT is required. The online 5-week course (£1,800) needs no SELT and accepts the IELTS Indicator, but not PTE Academic Online. Dates for 2027 are not yet published.
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 Lincoln programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Frequently asked questions
Does the University of Lincoln accept PTE?+
Yes: 65 with no score below 59 for IELTS 6.0 courses, 70 (65) for 6.5 and 76 (70) for 7.0. PTE Academic Online is not accepted from Student visa applicants.
Does Lincoln accept Duolingo?+
Not from applicants who need a Student visa. Lincoln's English page lists Duolingo among the tests it does not accept from them and publishes no Duolingo score.
Is Lincoln accepting students from Pakistan?+
No. Lincoln's Pakistan and Bangladesh pages say it is closed for applications from students from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Can Indian students study at Lincoln without IELTS?+
Yes, for IELTS 6.0 courses, with 70% in Standard XII English from CBSE, CISCE or eight named state boards, usually from the last five years.
Does Lincoln interview students before the CAS?+
Yes, students from Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Syria, plus Nigeria for September 2026. The deposit before a CAS is £8,000.
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Verified against the linked official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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