Tartu's accepted tests
From Tartu's English language requirements page, which says these are the only tests and exemptions accepted.
| Test | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0, no part below 5.5 | IELTS Online accepted; General Training not |
| TOEFL iBT, before 21 Jan 2026 | 75 | Home Edition and Paper Edition accepted; code 0133 |
| TOEFL iBT, from 21 Jan 2026 | 4 (S 4; R, L, W 3.5) | — |
| PTE Academic | 59 | PTE Academic Online accepted; send via Pearson |
| Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency | 169 | Results sent through Candidate Results Online |
Validity and deadlines
Tests must have been taken no more than 2 years before you apply, and must stay valid for at least one month after you submit your application. Final results must reach the university by 15 March for master's programmes and 15 April for bachelor's programmes, and you need the required level by the application deadline.
Duolingo is not accepted. Applicants already in Estonia can take the university's own English test, once per academic year, before applying, and some state school-leaving exams from Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania count at B2.
Free test: are you at the University of Tartu'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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Exemptions: Indian degrees do not count
The only exemptions are secondary education in English, or at least one academic year of full-time English-taught higher education, in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Online and offshore-campus study does not count. An English-medium degree from India, Pakistan or Nepal therefore does not replace a test at Tartu.
An IB or European Baccalaureate diploma completed in English, or a GCE from an official UK awarding body, can also serve as proof.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Tartu programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where the University of Tartu 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 Tartu need?+
IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no part below 5.5, for both bachelor's and master's programmes.
Does the University of Tartu accept PTE?+
Yes. PTE Academic, including PTE Academic Online, with a minimum of 59.
Does Tartu accept IELTS Online?+
Yes. Upload a scan of the IELTS Academic result certificate for online verification. General Training is not accepted.
Does the University of Tartu accept Duolingo?+
No. Tartu lists TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Cambridge English and PTE Academic as the only accepted tests.
Do Indian students need IELTS for Tartu?+
Yes. Tartu's exemptions cover English-taught study only in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Keep reading
Related
- University of Helsinki IELTS requirement
- University of Turku IELTS requirement
- The new TOEFL 1-6 score scale
- IELTS scores by university
- All 1288 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 13 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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