Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 29 October 2026
HSG master's English rules
From HSG's admission pages for Strategy and International Management, Computer Science and General Management, and the CEMS MIM application page.
| Programme | IELTS | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy and International Management (taught in English) | No proof needed at application | C1 recommended at the start of studies |
| Computer Science (taught in English) | No proof needed at application | C1 recommended |
| General Management (German and English) | No proof needed at application | C1 recommended; a third of the core is in German |
| CEMS MIM (applied for during an HSG master's) | 7.0 (paper, computer or IELTS Online) | TOEFL iBT 5 (100 with 20 per section before 21 Jan 2026); PTE 68; Cambridge CAE grade B or CPE grade C; BEC Higher grade B |
CEMS test rules
For CEMS the test may be no more than two years old at the CEMS application deadline. A bachelor's taught fully in English in an English-speaking country, or at a CEMS or EQUIS/AACSB-accredited institution, also counts if the language of instruction is on the diploma or confirmed by the university. An HSG bachelor's does not count, and TOEFL MyBestScores are not accepted.
Free test: are you at HSG'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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Selection instead of a score
Because there is no English cut-off at application, admission depends on selection. Places for foreign applicants to General Management are limited by law, and the selection weighs criteria including your grade average and an optional GMAT, GRE, LSAT or GTEBS result; Strategy and International Management runs a selection process for all applicants and asks for a CV written in English.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your HSG programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where University of St. Gallen (HSG) 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
Does the University of St. Gallen require IELTS?+
Not when you apply to its master's. HSG says you do not need to prove your language level at application, but recommends C1 by the start of studies.
What IELTS do I need for CEMS at St. Gallen?+
IELTS 7.0 or higher, including IELTS Online, or PTE Academic 68 or TOEFL iBT 5.
Is the HSG Master in General Management taught in English?+
It is bilingual: a third of the core studies must be taken in German and a third in English.
Does St. Gallen accept Duolingo for CEMS?+
Duolingo is not on the CEMS list of accepted English certificates.
Keep reading
Related
- Universities in Switzerland accepting IELTS 7.0
- IELTS for Switzerland
- University of Zurich IELTS requirement
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- All 2279 guides
Guide updated on 29 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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