Poole, UK
Arts University Bournemouth: English test requirements
AUB publishes one English requirements page with a separate list of accepted tests and scores for each study level: Foundation Diploma (split by whether a Student visa is needed), bachelor's degrees, online postgraduate courses by intake, on-campus master's and MPhil/PhD. Duolingo is not on the list, and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not accepted.
Checked on 2 Nov 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
IELTS
Foundation from 5.0
UG 6.0
PG from 6.0
PhD 7.0
TOEFL iBT
Foundation 3.5 / 59
UG 4.5 / 80
PG from 4.5 / 80
PhD 5.5 / 100
PTE Academic
Foundation from 43
UG 64
PG from 64
PhD 74
Duolingo English Test
Foundation Not on the list
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
PhD Not on the list
Foundation Diploma
Applicants who need a Student visa must give a UKVI Secure English Language Test (SELT) taken within two years of the start of the Foundation Diploma; others may use the ordinary academic versions of the listed tests. Under-18 British applicants need GCSE-level English or equivalent.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation Diploma - I need a Student Route VisaSource for this group | 5.0at least 4.5 in each band | Not on the listNot in the list of SELTs for visa applicants. | 43at least 43 in each section | Not on the list |
| Foundation Diploma - I don't require a Student Route VisaSource for this group | 5.0at least 4.5 in each band | 3.5 (new scale from January 2026) / 59 (0-120)0-120: Reading 7, Listening 6, Speaking 15, Writing 20; new scale: at least 3 in each sectionHome edition not accepted. | 43at least 43 in each section | Not on the list |
Foundation Diploma - I need a Student Route Visa, other tests: LanguageCert Academic SELT 54; Trinity College London SELT ISE II or III; PSI Skills for English SELT B2 Pass
Foundation Diploma - I don't require a Student Route Visa, other tests: LanguageCert Academic SELT 54; Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency Grade C; OIDI ELLT Digital/Global 5; Trinity College London ISE 80
“AUB won't be able to issue a CAS in support of a Student Route Visa without the appropriate SELT result.”
English Language Requirements (all levels)
Bachelor's degree
One set of scores for all bachelor's degrees. IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic Online and UKVI IELTS are all accepted, and IELTS One Skill Retake scores count if they meet the minimum. Tests must normally be within three years of application; for a Student visa, external tests must be taken in the three years before the course starts.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic / IELTS Academic Online / UKVI IELTS | 6.0 | at least 5.5 in each band | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 (new scale from January 2026) / 80 (0-120) | 0-120: Writing 18, Listening 18, Reading 18, Speaking 19; new scale: at least 4 in each section | AcceptedHome edition not accepted. |
| PTE Academic / PTE Academic UKVI | 64 | at least 59 in each section | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not on the list | |
| LanguageCert Academic SELT | 65 | 60 or above in each section | Accepted |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | Grade C | Accepted | |
| OIDI ELLT Digital/Global | 6 | 5 or above in each section | Accepted |
| Trinity College London ISE | 90 | at least 80 in each skill | Accepted |
“Please note: we do accept IELTS One Skill Retake scores that meet our minimum stated entry requirements.”
English Language Requirements (all levels)
Postgraduate taught (MA, M.Arch, PGCert)
The page lists postgraduate scores by course type and intake. Online postgraduate courses starting January/February 2027 ask for more than those starting September 2027 onwards. No on-campus master's list is shown for intakes before September 2027. A bachelor's degree completed onshore in a majority English-speaking country is also accepted.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Postgraduate (MA, PGCert) - January/February 2027Source for this group | 6.5at least 5.5 in each band | 5 (new scale from January 2026) / 92 (0-120)0-120: Speaking 20, Listening 19, Reading 19, Writing 19; new scale: at least 4.5 in each sectionHome edition not accepted. | 70at least 59 in each section | Not on the list |
| Online Postgraduate (MA, PGCert) - September 2027 onwardsSource for this group | 6.0at least 5.5 in each band | 4.5 (new scale from January 2026) / 80 (0-120)0-120: Writing 18, Listening 18, Reading 18, Speaking 19; new scale: at least 4 in each sectionHome edition not accepted. | 64at least 59 in each section | Not on the list |
| Master's Degree (MA and Master of Architecture) - September 2027 onwardsSource for this group | 6.0at least 5.5 in each band | 4.5 (new scale from January 2026) / 80 (0-120)0-120: Writing 18, Listening 18, Reading 18, Speaking 19; new scale: at least 4 in each sectionHome edition not accepted. | 64at least 59 in each section | Not on the list |
Online Postgraduate (MA, PGCert) - January/February 2027, other tests: LanguageCert Academic SELT 70; Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency Grade C; OIDI ELLT Digital/Global 7; Trinity College London ISE 97
Online Postgraduate (MA, PGCert) - September 2027 onwards, other tests: LanguageCert Academic SELT 65; Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency Grade C; OIDI ELLT Digital/Global 6; Trinity College London ISE 90
Master's Degree (MA and Master of Architecture) - September 2027 onwards, other tests: LanguageCert Academic SELT 65; Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency Grade C; OIDI ELLT Digital/Global 6; Trinity College London ISE 90
“All qualifications that are accepted for MA or M.Arch. study will need to have been completed within three years”
English Language Requirements (all levels)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and PhD
Research degrees ask for higher scores, with a higher writing score for IELTS and LanguageCert.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic / IELTS Academic Online / UKVI IELTS | 7.0 | Writing 7.0, other bands 6.5 | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT | 5.5 (new scale from January 2026) / 100 (0-120) | 0-120: Writing 27, Listening 22, Reading 22, Speaking 22; new scale: at least 5 in each section | AcceptedHome edition not accepted. |
| PTE Academic / PTE Academic UKVI | 74 | at least 64 in each section | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not on the list | |
| LanguageCert Academic SELT | 75 | Writing 75, 70 or above in Listening, Reading and Speaking | Accepted |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | C1 Advanced grade A; C2 Proficiency grade C | Accepted | |
| OIDI ELLT Digital/Global | 8 | 7 or above in each section | Accepted |
| Trinity College London ISE Level III or IV; PSI Skills for English SELT C1 | Pass | PSI: Pass in each section | Accepted |
“Academic IELTS, Academic IELTS online version, or UKVI IELTS with a 7.0 overall 7.0 in writing band and 6.5 in other bands.”
English Language Requirements (all levels)
Other tests the university lists
- LanguageCert Academic SELT
- Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency
- Trinity College London ISE
- PSI Skills for English SELT (B2, or C1 for research degrees)
- OIDI ELLT Digital/Global
- IELTS One Skill Retake
- Selected national curricula and international qualifications (e.g. IB English, European Baccalaureate, India Standard XII from named boards), not for Student visa CAS purposes
The page says these are not accepted
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- Letters from schools confirming English proficiency
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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