Birmingham, UK
Birmingham City University: English test requirements
Birmingham City states most courses at IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5 and says some courses need more; the course page decides. One accepted-tests page converts IELTS levels from 4.0 to 7.0 into other tests, and applies to undergraduate and postgraduate courses alike. On the accepted-tests page Duolingo is accepted for online pre-sessional courses only and is marked Direct Entry: No.
Checked on 31 Oct 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.
Applicants from India
Indian Standard XII English can replace a test: 65% matches IELTS 6.0, 70% matches 6.5 and 80% matches 7.0. Some state boards may also need an extra speaking and listening assessment. The page says: “Some state boards may also require an additional speaking and listening assessment.”
Applicants from Nigeria
WAEC/WASSCE or NECO English at grade C6 or above is typically treated as equal to IELTS 6.0. The page says: “Grade C6 or above in English - equivalent to IELTS 6.0”
Applicants from Pakistan
The Pakistan page repeats the general rule (IELTS 6.0, no band below 5.5) and lists IELTS, PTE, TOEFL iBT, Duolingo, Cambridge, LanguageCert and Oxford ELLT as accepted; no pause or Pakistan-specific rule was found. The page says: “Most courses require IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band.”
IELTS
UG from 6.0
PG from 6.0
TOEFL iBT
UG from 4 / 72
PG from 4 / 72
PTE Academic
UG from 59
PG from 59
Duolingo English Test
UG Set by course
PG Set by course
Undergraduate
The page gives no course lists. The three bands are the IELTS levels the page converts for direct entry: 6.0 (the usual level), 6.5 and 7.0. English Literature BA asks for 6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in the other three skills. Test results are valid for two years. All results, overall and each skill, must meet the course requirement.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5)e.g. English Literature BA (6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing)Source for this group | 6.0no band below 5.5IELTS Academic online also accepted for direct entry. | 4 (taken from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 72 (before, 0-120)Reading 18, Listening 17, Speaking 20, Writing 17 (0-30 each)TOEFL iBT Home Edition not accepted for direct entry. | 5959 in each skillPTE Academic Online is not accepted. | Only in some casesAccepted-tests page: Online Pre-sessional: Yes; On-Campus Pre-sessional: No; Direct Entry: No. For pre-sessional use it lists 105 overall (Speaking 110, Writing 110, Reading 110, Listening 105) at the IELTS 6.0 level. |
| IELTS 6.5Source for this group | 6.5the tests page states no component minimum for this level; the course page decides | 4.5 (taken from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 86 (before, 0-120)Reading 22, Listening 20, Speaking 23, Writing 21 (0-30 each) | 5959 in each skill (page prints 6.5 as '59 (59)') | Only in some casesAccepted-tests page: Direct Entry: No (online pre-sessional: Yes). |
| IELTS 7.0Source for this group | 7.0the page states IELTS 7.0 with no band below 6.5 only for initial teacher training applicants without GCSE English grade C/4 or an approved Level 2 equivalent | 5 (taken from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 95 (before, 0-120)Reading 24, Listening 22, Speaking 25, Writing 24 (0-30 each) | 7659 in each skill (page prints 7.0 as '76 (59)') | Only in some casesAccepted-tests page: Direct Entry: No (online pre-sessional: Yes). |
“For the majority of our courses, an IELTS of 6.0 overall (with no band below 5.5) is required”
Accepted qualifications and English tests
Postgraduate
The same accepted-tests page serves postgraduate courses. Examples from course pages read today: the International MBA and International Education MA ask for IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5; the International Law LLM asks for 6.5 with no band below 6.0.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5)e.g. International MBA, International Education MASource for this group | 6.0no band below 5.5 | 4 (taken from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 72 (before, 0-120)Reading 18, Listening 17, Speaking 20, Writing 17 (0-30 each) | 5959 in each skill | Only in some casesAccepted-tests page: Direct Entry: No (online pre-sessional: Yes). |
| IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0)e.g. International Law LLMSource for this group | 6.5no less than 6.0 in each band (International Law LLM course page) | 4.5 (taken from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 86 (before, 0-120)Reading 22, Listening 20, Speaking 23, Writing 21 (0-30 each) | 5959 in each skill (page prints 6.5 as '59 (59)') | Only in some casesAccepted-tests page: Direct Entry: No (online pre-sessional: Yes). |
| IELTS 7.0Source for this group | 7.0the page states IELTS 7.0 with no band below 6.5 only for initial teacher training applicants without GCSE English grade C/4 or an approved Level 2 equivalent | 5 (taken from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 95 (before, 0-120)Reading 24, Listening 22, Speaking 25, Writing 24 (0-30 each) | 7659 in each skill (page prints 7.0 as '76 (59)') | Only in some casesAccepted-tests page: Direct Entry: No (online pre-sessional: Yes). |
“For the majority of our courses, an IELTS of 6.0 overall (with no band below 5.5) is required”
Accepted qualifications and English tests
Other tests the university lists
- BCU English Proficiency Test (direct entry yes)
- Cambridge C1 Advanced (direct entry yes)
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency (direct entry marked TBC)
- LanguageCert Academic (direct entry only the SELT UKVI version)
- Trinity ISE (direct entry yes)
- PSI Skills for English SELT B2 to C2
- IELTS Academic online
- IELTS One Skill Retake
- Oxford ELLT (pre-sessional only, not direct entry)
The page says these are not accepted
- PTE Academic Online
- PSI Skills for English: Global
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition for direct entry
- Cambridge syllabus 1123
“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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