Cardiff, UK
Cardiff University: English test requirements
Cardiff sets one university minimum (IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each skill) and a short ladder of higher tiers, then lets each course or school ask for more; the course page gives the exact figure. Undergraduate courses with their own English scores (dentistry, nursing, radiography, law and others) are listed on the undergraduate page. Duolingo is not mentioned on any of the pages read.
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
For the postgraduate English-qualification equivalence table, Standard XII English from Punjab, Gujarat or Haryana states is not accepted, and Functional English is not accepted. The undergraduate page repeats the same exclusion. The page says: “Standard XII English and Higher Secondary English (HSC) from Punjab, Gujarat or Haryana states.”
IELTS
UG from 6.5
PG from 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG from 4.5 / 88
PG from 4.5 / 88
PTE Academic
UG from 69
PG from 69
Duolingo English Test
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Undergraduate
Two general tiers (matched to GCSE English grade C/4 or B/6) plus separate score sets for named schools and programmes. The course page says which applies, and some courses ask for more than the tier. Tests are valid for two calendar years. TOEFL is given on two scales depending on the test date, before and after January 2026.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University minimum (equivalent to GCSE English grade C/4)Source for this group | 6.5no subskill below 5.5Includes the one skill retake. The online IELTS test is not accepted. | 4.5 (tests from January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 88 (before, 0-120)1-6: no subskill below 4; 0-120: no subskill below 20 | 69no communicative skill below 59 | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. |
| Higher tier (equivalent to GCSE English grade B/6)Source for this group | 7.0no subskill below 6.0 | 5 (tests from January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 98 (before, 0-120)1-6: no subskill below 4.5; 0-120: writing 20, listening 20, reading 21, speaking 22 | 76no communicative skill below 62 | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. |
| Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS) and MBBCh Medicinee.g. Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS), MBBCh MedicineSource for this group | 7.07.0 in speaking and no other subskill below 6.5 | 5.0 (tests from January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 98 (before, 0-120)1-6: 5.0 in speaking, 4.5 in all other subskills; 0-120: writing 20, listening 20, reading 21, speaking 22 | 7676 in speaking, 69 in all other communicative skills | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. |
| BSc Adult Nursing, Children's Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Midwiferye.g. BSc Adult Nursing, BSc Children's Nursing, BSc Mental Health Nursing, BSc MidwiferySource for this group | 7.06.5 in writing and 7.0 in all other subskills | 5.0 (tests from January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 98 (before, 0-120)1-6: 4.5 in writing, 5.0 in all others; 0-120: 20 in writing, 22 in all others | 7669 in writing, 76 in all other communicative skills | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. |
| Radiography, Occupational Therapy, Operating Department Practice, Physiotherapy, Radiotherapy and MPharm Pharmacye.g. BSc Diagnostic Radiography and Imaging, BSc Occupational Therapy, BSc Physiotherapy, BSc Radiotherapy and Oncology, MPharm PharmacySource for this group | 7.0no subskill below 6.5 | 5.0 (tests from January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 98 (before, 0-120)1-6: no subskill below 4.5; 0-120: writing 20, listening 20, reading 21, speaking 22 | 76no communicative skill below 69 | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. |
| BSc Medical Pharmacologye.g. BSc Medical PharmacologySource for this group | 7.0no subskill below 6.0 | 5.0 (tests from January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 98 (before, 0-120)1-6: no subskill below 4.5; 0-120: writing 20, listening 20, reading 21, speaking 22 | 76no communicative skill below 62 | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. |
| LLB Law programmese.g. LLB LawSource for this group | 6.5no subskill below 6.0 | 4.5 (tests from January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 88 (before, 0-120)1-6: 4.5 in all subskills; 0-120: writing 20, listening 20, reading 21, speaking 22 | 69no communicative skill below 62 | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. |
“for some programmes, we may ask for higher grades to cope with the requirements of the course.”
English language requirements for undergraduate students
Postgraduate
The page lists four IELTS-based tiers and the equivalent score for each other test; the course page says which tier a course needs. It gives no list of courses per tier. Vocational Law programmes (excluding the GDL) and clinical programmes in the School of Dentistry have their own programme-specific requirements. Tests are valid for two calendar years.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskillSource for this group | 6.5no subskill below 5.5Includes the one skill retake. | 4.5 (tests from January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 88 (before, 0-120)1-6: no subskill below 4.0; 0-120: no subskill below 20 | 69no communicative skill below 59 | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. |
| IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each subskillSource for this group | 6.5no subskill below 6.0 | 4.5 (tests from January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 88 (before, 0-120)1-6: no subskill below 4.5; 0-120: writing 20, listening 20, reading 21, speaking 22 | 69no communicative skill below 62 | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. |
| IELTS 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each subskillSource for this group | 7.0no subskill below 6.0 | 5.0 (tests from January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 98 (before, 0-120)1-6: no subskill below 4.5; 0-120: writing 20, listening 20, reading 21, speaking 22 | 76no communicative skill below 62 | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. |
| IELTS 7.5 with a minimum of 7.5 in each subskillSource for this group | 7.5no subskill below 7.5 | 5.5 (tests from January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 109 (before, 0-120)1-6: no subskill below 5.5; 0-120: 26 in speaking and 24 in all other subskills | 80no communicative skill below 80 | Not on the listNot mentioned on the page. |
“for some courses, our admissions tutors may ask for higher grades or test scores.”
English language requirements for postgraduate students
Other tests the university lists
- LanguageCert Academic, in person (undergraduate 70 overall with 60 in each subskill at the university minimum; postgraduate tiers 70 to 80)
- Oxford English Language Level Test (ELLT) Digital and Global, including one skill retake (valid 18 months)
- Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency (undergraduate 176 or 185; postgraduate 176 to 195)
- Trinity ISE II / III (some tiers accept III only)
- Cardiff University English for University Study exit test and Cardiff pre-sessional programmes (for immediate progression only)
- Study Group Academic English Skills (only as part of a full Study Group programme)
- Kaplan International Foundation Certificate and NCUK EAP (only as part of a full foundation programme; not for undergraduate Medicine or Dentistry)
- University of Michigan ECPE (not for Medicine or Dentistry)
- GCSE or IGCSE English and a long list of national school qualifications
The page says these are not accepted
- IELTS online test
- LanguageCert Academic Online
- IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration is not required for degree courses (ordinary IELTS Academic is accepted)
“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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