Aberdeen, UK
University of Aberdeen: English test requirements
Aberdeen gives one undergraduate set (with a higher Medicine set) and two postgraduate sets, Standard and Higher, depending on the School. It lists Duolingo and states component minimums for every test.
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
Medium of instruction letters are accepted only from four named Pakistani universities, only for applications through an official agent, and a test is still required. Alternatively, the Intermediate or High School Certificate at 75 percent or 150/200 is listed as an accepted school qualification. The page says: “MOI letters are only accepted for applications submitted via an official agent!”
Applicants from India
Standard XII English at 80 percent is listed as an accepted school qualification; certificates must be no older than 10 years at programme start. The page says: “Your certificate must be no older than 10 years at the start of your programme of study.”
Applicants from Nigeria
WASSCE (WAEC or NECO) English at grade C6 is listed as an accepted school qualification; certificates must be no older than 10 years at programme start. The page says: “Your certificate must be no older than 10 years at the start of your programme of study.”
IELTS
UG from 6.0
PG from 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG from 78
PG from 4.5 / 90
PTE Academic
UG from 59
PG from 62
Duolingo English Test
UG 105
PG from 120
Undergraduate
One set of scores for all undergraduate degrees, with a separate higher set for Medicine (MBChB). Tests must normally be within two years of the course start.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (all degrees except Medicine)Source for this group | 6.0Listening 5.5, Reading 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 6.0IELTS Indicator, General Training and Online are not accepted; One Skill Retake is. | 4 to 4.5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 78 (tests before 21 Jan 2026, 0-120)1-6: Listening 4, Reading 4, Speaking 4, Writing 4.5; 0-120: Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 21Home Edition and MyBest scores accepted. | 59Listening 59, Reading 59, Speaking 59, Writing 59Online test not accepted. | 105Listening 95, Reading 95, Speaking 95, Writing 105Tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward. |
| Medicine (MBChB)e.g. Medicine (MBChB)Source for this group | 7.0Listening 5.5, Reading 5.5, Speaking 7.0, Writing 6.0 | 4 to 4.5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 100 (tests before 21 Jan 2026, 0-120)1-6: Listening 4, Reading 4, Speaking 4, Writing 4.5; 0-120: Listening 21, Reading 22, Speaking 28, Writing 21 | 70Listening 59, Reading 59, Speaking 70, Writing 59 | Not acceptedThe page says the test is not accepted for Medicine (MBChB). |
“Please note certification must be within the two years prior to commencement of your course, unless otherwise stated.”
Undergraduate degrees - English requirements
Postgraduate
Two sets, Postgraduate Standard and Postgraduate Higher, assigned by School. Tests must normally be within two years of the course start; valid one skill retakes are accepted where available.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Standarde.g. Schools of Biological Sciences, Engineering, Natural and Computing Sciences, Psychology; most Geosciences programmesSource for this group | 6.5Listening 5.5, Reading 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 6.0IELTS Indicator, General Training and Online are not accepted. | 4.5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 90 (tests before 21 Jan 2026, 0-120)1-6: 4 in each skill; 0-120: Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 21 | 6259 in each of Listening, Reading, Speaking and WritingOnline test not accepted. | 120Listening 95, Reading 95, Speaking 95, Writing 105Tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward; results must be shared with the university. |
| Postgraduate Highere.g. Schools of Business, Law, Education, Social Sciences, Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition; MSc Global Energy Transition Enterprise Management; MSc Integrated Petroleum GeoscienceSource for this group | 6.5Listening 5.5, Reading 6.0, Speaking 5.5, Writing 6.0IELTS Indicator, General Training and Online are not accepted. | 4.5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026, 1-6 scale) / 90 (tests before 21 Jan 2026, 0-120)1-6: 4 in each skill; 0-120: Listening 17, Reading 21, Speaking 20, Writing 21 | 6259 in each of Listening, Reading, Speaking and WritingOnline test not accepted. | 120Listening 95, Reading 105, Speaking 95, Writing 105Tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward; results must be shared with the university. |
Other tests the university lists
- Cambridge B2 First / C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency (undergraduate 169 overall; Medicine 185)
- LanguageCert Academic / SELT
- Oxford ELLT Digital
- Trinity ISE II / III
- Skills for English SELT
- University of Aberdeen pre-sessional programmes
The page says these are not accepted
- IELTS Indicator
- IELTS General Training
- IELTS Online
- PTE Academic Online
- LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (not accepted from September 2025)
“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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