Belfast, UK
Ulster University: English test requirements
Ulster's general page says most courses need IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, and some ask for 6.5 or 7.0, so the course page decides. The page then gives matching scores for Duolingo, TOEFL, LanguageCert and others at each IELTS level; PTE is listed only at the 6.0 level. For Pakistan the university publishes a long list of restrictions, including regions and courses not being accepted.
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 Pakistan
The university will not accept applications from two regions of Pakistan. The page says: “Applications from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) or Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) will not be accepted.”
Applicants from Pakistan
Oxford ELLT (Oxford International Digital Institute test) is not accepted as English evidence from Pakistan. The page says: “The Oxford International Digital Institute English Language Level Test is not accepted as evidence of English-language proficiency.”
Applicants from Pakistan
Applications must go through an approved agent; direct applications are not accepted. The page says: “Applications must be submitted through one of Ulster University's approved education agents.”
Applicants from Pakistan
Four postgraduate courses are closed to Pakistan applicants for now: MSc Management and the three MSc International Business variants. The page says: “Applications are not currently being accepted for MSc Management,”
Applicants from Nigeria
The same four MSc courses (Management and the three International Business variants) are not being accepted from Nigeria. Applications are open from all regions of Nigeria. The page says: “We are currently accepting applications from all regions of Nigeria.”
Applicants from Nigeria
WAEC and NECO remain accepted as English evidence. The page says: “WAEC and NECO continue to be accepted as evidence of English language proficiency.”
IELTS
UG from 6.0
PG from 6.0
TOEFL iBT
UG from 4 / 80
PG from 4 / 80
PTE Academic
UG 59
PG 59
Duolingo English Test
UG from 110
PG from 110
Undergraduate
The page does not split undergraduate and postgraduate; it lists scores by IELTS level and each course page names its level. Most courses need IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5. Only tests dated after July 2024 count for Duolingo. The page also covers Ulster's London, Birmingham and Manchester sites only through a campus link and does not give separate English requirements for them.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courses requiring IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5)Source for this group | 6.0no band below 5.5IELTS Academic Online and the one skill retake are also accepted. | 4 (tests from 21 January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 80 (before, 0-120)1-6: 4 in each of the four skills; 0-120: Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. | 5959 in each partUKVI and non-UKVI versions accepted; PTE Academic Online scores are not accepted. The page lists PTE only at the IELTS 6.0 level. | 110no subscore below 100Tests taken after July 2024 only; earlier results are not accepted. |
| Courses requiring IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0)Source for this group | 6.5no band below 6.0IELTS Academic Online and the one skill retake are also accepted. | 90 (0-120); the page gives no 1-6 figure for this levelListening 20, Reading 20, Speaking 20, Writing 20TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. | Not on the listThe page lists PTE Academic only at the IELTS 6.0 level. | 125no subscore below 110Tests taken after July 2024 only; earlier results are not accepted. |
| Courses requiring IELTS 7.0 (no band below 6.5)Source for this group | 7.0no band below 6.5IELTS Academic Online and the one skill retake are also accepted. | 100 (0-120); the page gives no 1-6 figure for this levelListening 22, Reading 24, Speaking 25, Writing 24TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. | Not on the listThe page lists PTE Academic only at the IELTS 6.0 level. | 135no subscore below 125Tests taken after July 2024 only; earlier results are not accepted. |
“Most of our courses require a minimum English level of IELTS 6.0 (Academic) or equivalent, with no band score under 5.5.”
English language requirements (Ulster University Global)
Postgraduate
Same page and same scores as undergraduate. Course pages checked: International Business MSc needs IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5; English Literature MA needs IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courses requiring IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5)e.g. International Business MScSource for this group | 6.0no band below 5.5IELTS Academic Online and the one skill retake are also accepted. | 4 (tests from 21 January 2026, 1-6 scale) / 80 (before, 0-120)1-6: 4 in each of the four skills; 0-120: Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. | 5959 in each partUKVI and non-UKVI versions accepted; PTE Academic Online scores are not accepted. The page lists PTE only at the IELTS 6.0 level. | 110no subscore below 100Tests taken after July 2024 only; earlier results are not accepted. |
| Courses requiring IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0)e.g. English Literature MASource for this group | 6.5no band below 6.0IELTS Academic Online and the one skill retake are also accepted. | 90 (0-120); the page gives no 1-6 figure for this levelListening 20, Reading 20, Speaking 20, Writing 20TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. | Not on the listThe page lists PTE Academic only at the IELTS 6.0 level. | 125no subscore below 110Tests taken after July 2024 only; earlier results are not accepted. |
| Courses requiring IELTS 7.0 (no band below 6.5)Source for this group | 7.0no band below 6.5IELTS Academic Online and the one skill retake are also accepted. | 100 (0-120); the page gives no 1-6 figure for this levelListening 22, Reading 24, Speaking 25, Writing 24TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. | Not on the listThe page lists PTE Academic only at the IELTS 6.0 level. | 135no subscore below 125Tests taken after July 2024 only; earlier results are not accepted. |
“Some of our courses ask for a higher score.”
English language requirements (Ulster University Global)
Other tests the university lists
- LanguageCert Academic and LanguageCert SELT, centre-based only
- Oxford International Digital Institute ELLT Global and Digital (not for Bangladesh or Pakistan)
- Oxford Test of English
- Cambridge English B2 First, Advanced and Proficiency
- Trinity ISE III
- Occupational English Test
- Skills for English SELT
- Hong Kong, Indian Standard XII (70 percent in listed boards), WAEC and other national qualifications
The page says these are not accepted
- PTE Academic Online
- TOEFL MyBest scores
- Duolingo results from before July 2024
- LanguageCert International ESOL (not accepted beyond September 2025 entry)
- Oxford ELLT for applicants from Bangladesh or Pakistan
“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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