Which Countries and Universities accept IELTS ?
IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, holds recognition in over 140 countries. It serves as a prerequisite for various purposes, including work, study, and immigration, in English-speaking nations such as Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Ireland. This standardized English language proficiency exam is widely accepted worldwide, specifically designed for non-native English speakers.
Each country sets its own IELTS band score requirements, which can vary depending on the type of visa one is applying for. The administration of the IELTS test is carried out by three reputable organizations: the British Council, IDP IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. Notably, the IELTS exam is recognized by a vast network of 11,000 institutions and entities in countries that acknowledge IELTS scores, including universities, corporations, government agencies, and immigration authorities. The test assesses your listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills, providing a score on a scale ranging from 1 to 9.
Top 7 countries that accept IELTS -
- Australia
- Canada
- France
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- UK
- US
Australia
Candidates seeking an Australian visa for immigration must demonstrate their English proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs. All professional agencies recognize the IELTS score. The validity of the IELTS test is two years. A minimum score of 5.5 in each module - reading, listening, speaking, and writing is a must. This test is part of Australia's point-based immigration system and is approved by the government for visa and immigration purposes. The required IELTS score may vary depending on the visa's purpose.
To study in Australia, the IELTS score requirement varies depending on the course you are enrolling in. For undergraduate courses, a minimum overall score of 6.0 is required, while for postgraduate courses, a minimum overall score of 6.5 is necessary, with no band lower than 6.0. However, for medical courses, a band score of 7.0 is necessary. Top universities in Australia have their own minimum IELTS score requirements, which can be found in the table below.
| Name of the University | IELTS Requirement |
| University of Melbourne | 6.5 |
| Australian National University | 6.5 |
| Monash University | 7.0 |
| University of Sydney | 6.0 |
| University of Adelaide | 6.5 |
| UNSW Sydney | 6.5 |
Canada
To get a Canadian visa, applicants are required to demonstrate their English language proficiency to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is accepted by all organizations and educational institutions in Canada, including Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). A minimum IELTS score is required to work in Canada. To pass the IELTS exam, a score of at least 6 is required, with no band below 5.0 in all four modules, and a total score of 6.5 is recommended for travelling to Canada. The IDP IELTS is also accepted for Canadian PR (Permanent Residency).
When applying to study in Canada for graduate programs, a minimum IELTS score of 5.5 in each section and an overall score of 6.0 is required. For postgraduate courses, a minimum score of 6.0 in all sections and an overall score of 6.5 is necessary. In Canada, a minimum IELTS score of 5.0 in all modules is required to study. The top universities in Canada have varying minimum IELTS requirements, but a minimum score of 5.5 in each section and an overall score of 6.0 is needed.
| Name of the University | IELTS Requirement |
| University of Alberta | 6.0 |
| University of British Columbia | 6.0 |
| University of Toronto | 6.5 |
| McGill University | 6.5 |
| University of Alberta | 6.0 |
| University of Waterloo | 6.0 |
Check Minimum IELTS Band Score Required for Canada student visa.
France
In France, universities have comparatively lenient IELTS requirements. The majority of universities expect a band score between 6 and 6.5. There are exceptions such as ISC Paris which don't require applicants to submit IELTS marks in order to enrol. Thus, prospective students seeking to study in France may find that the IELTS requirements vary depending on the university to which they are applying.
| Name of the University | IELTS Requirement |
| University of Montpellier | 5.5 |
| Paris Institute of Political Studies | 7.5 |
| Sorbonne University | 5.5 |
| Sciences Po | 7 |
Ireland
The minimum IELTS score to study in Ireland for undergraduate courses in Irish universities ranges from 5.5 to 6.0. For postgraduate courses, it ranges from 6.0 to 6.5. To meet the IELTS band requirement, a minimum overall score of 6.5 with a score of 6.0 in each module is necessary.
| Name of the University | IELTS Requirement |
| University College Cork | 6.5 |
| Waterford Institute of Technology | 6.0 |
| Trinity College Dublin | 6.5 |
| College Limerick | 6.5 |
New Zealand
To get a New Zealand visa, you have to submit your IELTS score to Immigration New Zealand. The minimum score varies depending on the type of course or organization you are applying to. For skilled migrants, an overall IELTS band score of 6.5 for either the Academic or General Training is required, with scores not less than 5.5 in each module.
The IELTS score requirement for New Zealand varies depending on the type of course and level of study. For diploma courses, top universities in New Zealand require a minimum overall score of 5.5. For undergraduate programs, the minimum score required is 6.0 overall with no band lower than 5.5 in each module. For postgraduate degrees, a total score of 6.5 is mandatory. For teaching or engineering courses, the minimum IELTS score allowed is 7.0.
| Name of the University | IELTS Requirement |
| University of Otago | 6.5 |
| University of Auckland | 6.0 |
| Victoria University of Wellington | 6.5 |
| University of Canterbury | 6.5 |
| Lincoln University | 6.0 |
| Auckland University of Technology | 6.0 |
UK
IELTS Academic and General is recognized by UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) as proof of English proficiency. Individuals seeking to work, immigrate or settle permanently in the UK through the 'leave to remain' or 'long residence' routes, can take IELTS. For UK immigration, an individual must score at least 6.5 in each module and achieve an overall score of 7 on their IELTS test.
To study in the UK, an overall band score of 6.5 in IELTS is required for a bachelor's or postgraduate degree, with some top universities like Oxford and Cambridge requiring a score of 7-7.5. The minimum IELTS requirement varies across universities, with most universities in the UK requiring a minimum score of 6.
| Name of the University | IELTS Requirement |
| University of Cambridge | 6.5 |
| University of Oxford | 6.5 |
| University College London | 6.5 |
| Imperial College London | 6.0 |
| University of Edinburgh | 6.0 |
Check Minimum IELTS Score for UK Universities and Student Visa
US
IELTS is widely accepted as proof of English language proficiency by over 3,000 institutions in the United States of America. The minimum IELTS score to study in the USA varies depending on each university. While the minimum band requirement in the US ranges from 6.0 to 7.0, top universities in the USA expect a score of at least 7.0, while less competitive institutions accept scores of 6.0 or above.
| Name of the University | IELTS Requirement |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 7.0 |
| Stanford University | 7.0 |
| Yale University | 7.0 |
| Harvard University | 6.5 |
| Princeton University | 7.0 |
| University of California, Berkeley | 6.5 |
| Columbia University | 7.5 |
Check IELTS Score for US Universities.
Which Other Universities and Countries Accept IELTS?
Aside from the countries mentioned above, a lot of other countries worldwide require IELTS too in order for a student to be admitted.
While the minimum band score required varies from one university to another, bear in mind that most of these universities and colleges require you to have a band score of at least 6.
However, to make sure, exert an effort in enquiring from the universities so that your effort will not be wasted.
Argentina
- Universidad Austral
Armenia
- American University of Armenia
Austria
- Universitat Klagenfurt
- Diplomatische Akademie Wien
- Webster Vienna Private University
Azerbaijan
- Baku Higher Oil School
Bahrain
- RCSI Bahrain
- Arabian Gulf University
- Saudi Cultural Mission Bahrain
Belgium
- UC Leuven-Limburg
- Universiteit Antwerpen
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Odisee University College
- Thomas More University College
Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Bulgaria
- Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria
Chile
- English UC – Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
China
- Beijing Normal University
- Kaplan International Pathways
- Baoji University of Arts and Sciences
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
- Xiamen University – International College
- International College of Xiamen University
- Hong Kong Baptist University – Graduate School
- Heilongjiang University – Electronic Engineering College
- Hong Kong Baptist University United International College
Colombia
- CESA
- Universidad EAFIT
- Universidad El Bosque
- Politecnico Grancolombiano
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali
- Universidad Externado de Colombia
Costa Rica
- University for Peace
Cyprus
- Internapa College
- University of Nicosia
Czech Republic
- The University of New York in Prague
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Arts
Denmark
- Aalborg University
- International Business Academy
Ecuador
- UDLA – Ecuador
Egypt
- Nile University
- Ain Shams University
- New Giza university
- University of Hertfordshire
Estonia
- Tallinn University
- University of Tartu
- Estonian Academy of Arts
Finland
- Aalto University
- University of Oulu
- University of Turku
- University of Helsinki
- University of Tampere
- Åbo Akademi University
- Hanken School of Economics
- University of Jyvaskyla – Admission Services
- Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT
France
- Sup Biotech
- Centrale Supelec
- ESCP Business School – Paris
- Grenoble Ecole de Management
- INSEAD Global Business School
- Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble
- IMT Atlantique – Language Centre
- IMT Atlantique – Graduate Admissions
- International Fashion Academy – IFA Paris
- ESCP Business School Europe – International Admissions
Germany
- Hertie School
- University of Bonn
- Universität Bayreuth
- Bucerius Law School
- University of Freiburg
- University of Heidelberg
- University of Hohenheim
- Munich Business School
- RWTH Aachen University
- Brandenburg Tech University
- Technische Universität München
- CODE University of Applied Sciences
- Georg-August-Universitaat Gottingen
- ESCP Business School – Berlin Campus
- University of Europe for Applied Sciences
- EBS Universitat fur Wirtschaft und Recht
- Accadis Business School Bad Homburg
- Otto-von-Guericke-Universitaat Magdeburg
- Hochschule – University of Applied Sciences
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
- Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
- European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
- WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management
- Freie Universitaat – History and Cultural Studies
- Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences
- Leipzig University – International SEPT Program
- Ludwig Maximilians University Munich – Geophysics
- Macromedia University of Applied Sciences Germany
- Georg-August-Universitaat Gottingen – English Philology
- Fachhochschule Sudwestfalen – University of Applied Sciences
Hong Kong
- Lingnan University
- APEC Business School
- City University of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Baptist University
- Hong Kong Shue Yan University
- Chu Hai College of Higher Education
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
- The University of Hong Kong for Business Analytics
- The University of Hong Kong for Graduate School
Hungary
- University of Pecs
- Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) Faculty of Humanities
India
- The Dataflow Group
- International School of Management Studies
Indonesia
- Institut Teknologi Bandung
- University of Muhammadiyah Malang
- Universitas Muhammadiyah Kalimantan Timur
Ireland
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Cork
- Dublin Business School
- University College Dublin
- National College of Ireland
- Technological University Dublin
- Waterford Institute of Technology
- The Lir Academy – Trinity College Dublin
Italy
- University of Pisa
- Bocconi University
- University of Camerino
- Politecnico di Torino
- Università degli Studi di Parma
- Università degli Studi di Padova
- Higher Education Institute of Lonigo
- SDA Bocconi School of Management
- University of Bologna – Campus of Rimini
Japan
- Meiji University
- Chuo University
- Keio University
- Hosei University
- Osaka University
- Kyushu University
- Ritsumeikan University
- Hitotsubashi University
- The University of Tokyo
- Tokyo International University
- Tokyo Metropolitan University
- NUCB Undergraduate School
- Yokohama National University
- Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
- Nagoya University of Foreign Studies
- Kyoto University of Advanced Science
- University of Tokyo, Department of Economics
- Waseda University – Faculty of Social Sciences
- National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
- Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program
- Waseda University Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Waseda University School of International Liberal Studies
Kazakhstan
- KIMEP University
- Narxoz University
- Toraighyrov University
- The University of Malaya
- NJSC -Astana Medical University
- Kazakh National Agrarian University
- A.Baitursynov Kostanay State University
- L.N.Gumilyev Eurasian National University
- S.Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University
- S.Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University
- Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University
Kuwait
- American University of Kuwait
- Gulf University for Science and Technology
Latvia
- Baltic International Academy
- BA School of Business and Finance
Lebanon
- Canadian Lebanese Group
Liechtenstein
- University of Liechtenstein
Malaysia
- Nilai University
- UCSI University
- SEGi University
- Tong Ming Crane
- Sunway University
- Taylor’s University
- UOW Malaysia KDU
- EMS Language Centre
- Limkokwing University
- University of Cyberjaya
- The University of Malaya
- Universiti Utara Malaysia
- City University of Malaysia
- Universiti Teknologi MARA
- Harmony Language Center
- Awesome Language Center
- First City University College
- Southern University College
- New Era University College
- Xiamen University Malaysia
- INTI International University
- Geomatika University College
- University of Reading Malaysia
- University of Science, Malaysia
- Smart Chrome Academy Sdn Bhd
- Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN)
- Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR)
- INTI International College Subang Jaya
- Tunku Abdul Rahman University College
- Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS)
- Management and Science University (MSU)
- UKM Centre for educational extension (PKP)
- Limkokwing University Of Creative Technology
- Malaysia University of Science and Technology
- Infrastructure University of Kuala Lumpur (IUKL)
- DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia
- Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed)
- University Malaysia of Computer Science and Engineering
- Berjaya University College
- Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)
Maldives
- Maldive Nursing Council
Myanmar
- Strategy First University
- Fauna and Flora International, Myanmar
Netherlands
- Webster Leiden Campus
- Erasmus School of Law
- University of Humanistic Studies
- Maastricht School of Management
- Aeres University of Applied Sciences
- Global School for Entrepreneurship
- Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht
Norway
- University of Bergen
- BI Norwegian Business School
- Noroff School of Technology and Digital Media
Oman
- Dhofar University
- Middle East College
Peru
- St. Ignatius of Loyola University
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru
- Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru
Philippines
- University of San Carlos
Poland
- University of Wroclaw (Uniwersytet Wroclawski)
Qatar
- Lusail University
- Northwestern University in Qatar
- Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
- College of the North Atlantic – Qatar
- Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
- Al Rayyan International University College
Republic of South Korea
- Woosong University
- Korea Nazarene University
- Kyungpook National University
- Kumoh National Institute of Technology
- SolBridge International School of Business
Saudi Arabia
- Taif University
- Alfaisal University
- Hail Health Cluster
- King Saud University
- Majmaah University
- Inaya Medical College
- King Khalid University
- Al Qussaim University
- Al Yamamah University
- Umm Al-Qura University
- University of Almareefa
- Yanbu Industrial College
- King Saud Medical City
- Al-Anjal National School
- Faqeeh Medical College
- Dar Al-Hekma University
- University of Prince Mugrin
- King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah
- BAE Saudi Development and Training
- Imam Muhammed Ibn Saud Islamic University
- King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
- AlGhad Colleges for Applied Medical Sciences
- Saudi Standards – Metrology and Quality Organization
- Technical and Vocational Training Corporation Saudi Arabia
Singapore
- PSB Academy
- SHRM College
- Stanford Academy
- Nanyang Polytechnic
- Duke-NUS Medical School
- Nanyang Institute of Fine Arts
- Nanyang Technology University
- National University of Singapore
- Singapore Institute of Technology
- Singapore Management University
- East Asia Institute of Management
- Emeritus Institute of Management
- Singapore Institute of Management
- Singapore University of Technology and Design
- Nanyang Technological University – School of Humanities
- Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Business School
Somalia
- Simad University
- Somali Civil aviation Authority
South Africa
- Nelson Mandela University
Spain
- Les Roches Marbella
- IESE Business School
- ESADE Business School
- Institute of the Arts Barcelona
- Barcelona School of Economics
- ESCP Business School – Madrid
Sweden
- World Maritime University
- Swedish HealthCare Academy
- Stockholm School of Economics
Switzerland
- ETH Zurich
- Cesar Ritz Colleges Switzerland
- Les Roches Global Hospitality Education
- Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
- IMI International Management Institute Switzerland
Syria
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – Syria
Taiwan
- Taipei Medical University
- National Taiwan University, Department of Chinese Literature
Thailand
- Mahidol University
- Chulalongkorn University
- Mahidol Language Centre
- Southeast Asia University
- Prince of Songkla University
- Stamford International University
- Prem Tinsulanonsa International School
Tunisia
- The Space of Wisdom
Turkey
- Final International University
- Turkey Fulbright Commission
- Freya Technical Education Development Scholarship
United Arab Emirates
- Al-Ain University
- Khalifa University
- Sharjah University
- Khawarizmi College
- University of Fujairah
- University of Sharjah
- Abu Dhabi University
- Al Dar University College
- Emirates National Schools
- Al Ghurair University Dubai
- Higher College of Technology
- American University of Sharjah
- The British University in Dubai
- Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi
- United Arab Emirates University
- Sharjah Police Science Academy
- Khawarizmi International College
- Abu Dhabi School of Management
- American University in the Emirates
- Fatima College of Health Sciences
- Institute of Management Technology
- Khalifa University of Science and Technology
- Rochester Institute of Technology- Dubai Campus
Uzbekistan
- Akfa University
- Innovative Centre
- Inha University Tashkent
- Bucheon University – Tashkent
- Cambridge International College
- British Council Uzbekistan – Exams
- British Management University in Tashkent
- Silk Road International University of Tourism
- International Management Institute in Central Asia
- Westminster International University in Tashkent
Vietnam
- Hoa Sen University
- Nguyen Sieu School
- Hanoi Medical University
- Eastern International University
- University of Science – Vietnam National University
