Cambridge, UK
University of Cambridge: English test requirements
For undergraduate entry Cambridge publishes one minimum (IELTS Academic 7.5 overall, usually 7.0 in each element, or Cambridge English C2 or C1 Advanced) and the offering College sets the final language condition. For postgraduate entry the score is printed on each course's own requirements page and varies by course; the profiles below are the ones seen on the course pages read, not a university-wide table.
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 7.5
PG Set by course
TOEFL iBT
UG Not on the list
PG Set by course
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Undergraduate
One minimum on the university page. Offers may carry an English language condition, and the College that makes the offer decides it; it may rest on a high school grade or an approved test. Test results are valid for visa purposes for two years and should still be valid on the first day of the course; component scores should normally come from a single sitting. For interview the page recommends at least IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no element below 6.0. The page lists no TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo scores for undergraduate entry.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7.5 | usually 7.0 or above in each element | AcceptedStated as 'normally' and 'usually'. |
| TOEFL iBT | – | Not on the listNot on the undergraduate page. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot on the undergraduate page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not on the listNot on the undergraduate page. | |
| Cambridge English C2 Proficiency | 200 | no element lower than 185 | AcceptedC1 Advanced: 193 overall, no element lower than 185, alongside other evidence of competence in English. |
“IELTS Academic – normally a minimum overall grade of 7.5, usually with 7.0 or above in each element”
Undergraduate entry requirements, English language requirements
Postgraduate taught
Scores are set per course; check the course page. The university page lists IELTS Academic (including UKVI, One Skill Retake and Online) and TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) as accepted, plus C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency for some courses, and does not allow scores from different certificates to be combined. The Offer Conditions Guide for 2026/27 says TOEFL iBT is accepted if taken on or before 21 January 2026, and that a TOEFL iBT taken after that date, if it reaches the course score, may lead to a Language Centre assessment instead. For the LLM and MCL, evidence is needed when you apply and TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. The three groups below are example-course profiles read from individual course pages, not a university-published scheme or minimum.
The scores for this level are set course by course. The tests below are the ones the university lists; check the exact scores on your course page (course finder).
| Example course | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example courses: IELTS 7.5 / TOEFL 110e.g. Master of Law (LLM), MPhil in Economics, MPhil in Economics and Data Science, MPhil in English StudiesSource for this group | 7.5Listening 7.0, Writing 7.0, Reading 7.0, Speaking 7.0 | 110 (0-120)25 in each of Listening, Writing, Reading and SpeakingSubject to the 21 January 2026 cut-off in the Offer Conditions Guide for the main route. | Not on the listNot on the postgraduate English page or the course pages read. | Not on the listNot on the postgraduate English page or the course pages read. |
| Example courses: IELTS 7.5 / TOEFL 107e.g. MPhil in Advanced Computer ScienceSource for this group | 7.5Listening 7.0, Writing 7.0, Reading 7.0, Speaking 7.0 | 107 (0-120)25 in each of Listening, Writing, Reading and Speaking | Not on the listNot on the postgraduate English page or the course page. | Not on the listNot on the postgraduate English page or the course page. |
| Example courses: IELTS 7.0 / TOEFL 100e.g. MPhil in Engineering, MPhil in Scientific ComputingSource for this group | 7.0Listening 7.0, Writing 7.0, Reading 6.5, Speaking 7.0 | 100 (0-120)25 in each of Listening, Writing, Reading and Speaking | Not on the listNot on the postgraduate English page or the course pages read. | Not on the listNot on the postgraduate English page or the course pages read. |
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Not published by the university | AcceptedScore set on each course page (7.0 to 7.5 overall on the pages read). | |
| TOEFL iBT | Not published by the university | AcceptedHome Edition accepted; score set on each course page (100 to 110 on the pages read). See the Offer Conditions Guide for the 21 January 2026 cut-off. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot on the postgraduate English page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not on the listNot on the postgraduate English page. |
“Check your course page for the scores required for your course.”
Postgraduate English language requirements
Other tests the university lists
- Cambridge English C2 Proficiency and C1 Advanced (undergraduate: C2 200 overall, C1 193 overall, no element below 185; postgraduate: C1 Advanced (course pages) 'Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)' on some courses)
- IELTS for UKVI Academic, IELTS One Skill Retake, IELTS Online (postgraduate)
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition (postgraduate page)
- School-leaving qualifications at C1 or above, for example German Abitur or Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (undergraduate)
- University of Cambridge Language Centre assessment where a postgraduate score narrowly misses and the course allows it
The page says these are not accepted
- TOEFL MyBest scores (postgraduate Offer Conditions Guide and LLM page)
- Test reports sent directly from IELTS or TOEFL (postgraduate page)
- Scores combined from different test certificates
“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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