London, UK
Imperial College London: English test requirements
Imperial has one English language page for all levels with two attainment levels, Standard and Higher; each course page says which one applies. The scores are the same for undergraduate and postgraduate study. Duolingo is accepted at both levels, but PTE Academic Online is not.
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.
IELTS
UG from 6.5
PG from 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG from 4.5 / 92
PG from 4.5 / 92
PTE Academic
UG from 62
PG from 62
Duolingo English Test
UG from 115
PG from 115
Undergraduate
Each course page names Standard or Higher. Tests are valid if taken within two years of the course start. TOEFL: tests from 21 January 2026 use the new 1-6 scale; earlier tests keep the old scale if within two years. TOEFL MyBest and IELTS single-skill retakes are not taken.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standarde.g. Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical EngineeringSource for this group | 6.56.0 in all elementsTest-centre, UKVI and Online versions accepted. | 4.5 (from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 92 (before, 0-120)1-6: 4.5 in all elements; 0-120: 20 in all elementsiBT and iBT Paper; ETS Home Edition accepted. | 6256 in all elementsTest-centre and UKVI versions only. | 115no integrated subscore below 105 |
| Highere.g. Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Economics, Finance and Data ScienceSource for this group | 7.06.5 in all elementsTest-centre, UKVI and Online versions accepted. | 5.0 (from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 100 (before, 0-120)1-6: 5.0 in all elements; 0-120: 22 in all elementsiBT and iBT Paper; ETS Home Edition accepted. | 6962 in all elementsTest-centre and UKVI versions only. | 125no integrated subscore below 115 |
“See our course pages to find out whether you will need to meet the standard or higher level for your chosen course.”
English language requirements (all levels)
Postgraduate taught
Same two levels and scores as undergraduate. Each course page says which applies. Postgraduate applicants can also pass the Imperial Pre-Sessional English Programme (the Business School no longer offers or recognises pre-sessional courses). Doctoral students must also meet a separate academic communication requirement after entry.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standarde.g. Advanced Aeronautical Engineering, Advanced Chemical Engineering, Advanced Mechanical Engineering, Computational Methods, Molecular SynthesisSource for this group | 6.56.0 in all elementsTest-centre, UKVI and Online versions accepted. | 4.5 (from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 92 (before, 0-120)1-6: 4.5 in all elements; 0-120: 20 in all elementsiBT and iBT Paper; ETS Home Edition accepted. | 6256 in all elementsTest-centre and UKVI versions only. | 115no integrated subscore below 105 |
| Highere.g. Computing, Advanced Computing, Finance, Management, Business Analytics, Environmental TechnologySource for this group | 7.06.5 in all elementsTest-centre, UKVI and Online versions accepted. | 5.0 (from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 100 (before, 0-120)1-6: 5.0 in all elements; 0-120: 22 in all elementsiBT and iBT Paper; ETS Home Edition accepted. | 6962 in all elementsTest-centre and UKVI versions only. | 125no integrated subscore below 115 |
“You only need to meet the relevant standard in one of the following.”
English language requirements (all levels)
Other tests the university lists
- LanguageCert Academic (Standard 70 overall, 65 each element; Higher 75 overall, 70 each element)
- Oxford Test of English Advanced (Standard 145 overall, 125 each; Higher 155 overall, 145 each)
- Trinity ISE Level II / III / IV (Standard 96 overall, 90 each skill; Higher 105 overall, 96 each skill)
- Occupational English Test (Standard C+/300, Higher B/350, all elements)
- Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency
- Imperial Pre-Sessional English Programme (postgraduate only)
The page says these are not accepted
- PTE Academic Online
- IELTS single-skill retakes
- TOEFL MyBest scores
“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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