SDU minimum scores for master's
From SDU's language requirements page. Tests must be taken within the last two years, and SDU must be able to verify the result with the test organisation by the application deadline.
| Test | Most English-taught master's | English Studies |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (Online accepted) | 6.5, no section below 6.5 | 7.0, no section below 6.5 |
| TOEFL iBT or Home Edition | 83; no section below 20 (new scale: 4 in Reading, Writing, Speaking, 4.5 in Listening) | 100, no section below 20 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 180 | 185 |
| Cambridge C2 Proficiency | Accepted | Accepted |
What SDU does not accept
SDU does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake, TOEFL MyBest scores or TOEFL Essentials. PTE Academic and Duolingo are not on its list. Unless your bachelor's is from SDU, you need proof of English at the time you apply.
Apart from tests, the other routes are the IB (English B at standard level, score 3 or more), the European Baccalaureate, Danish English B, or an EU or EEA high school diploma documented with SDU's statement of hours. SDU's page lists no medium-of-instruction route, so applicants with an English-taught degree from India, Pakistan or Nigeria should plan on a test.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your SDU programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Free test: are you at SDU's score yet?
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill, so you know how far you are from the requirement before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
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Minimum vs competitive score
Where the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) 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 does the University of Southern Denmark need?+
From the September 2026 intake, IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no section below 6.5 for most English-taught master's. English Studies needs 7.0 with no section below 6.5.
Does SDU accept IELTS One Skill Retake?+
No. SDU accepts IELTS Academic Online but not One Skill Retake.
Does SDU accept PTE or Duolingo?+
Neither is on SDU's list. It accepts TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic and Cambridge C1 or C2, plus certain school-leaving qualifications.
Can a 6.5 overall with a 6.0 in Writing get into SDU?+
No. From September 2026 SDU asks for at least 6.5 in every IELTS section, not just overall.
Keep reading
Related
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- University of Copenhagen IELTS requirement
- Aalborg University IELTS requirement
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Verified against the linked official sources on 14 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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