Nottingham, UK
University of Nottingham: English test requirements
Nottingham states each course requirement as an IELTS score in its course listing, and one equivalencies table shows the matching TOEFL and PTE scores for IELTS 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0. The same table serves undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Duolingo is not mentioned on these pages.
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 6.0
PG from 6.0
TOEFL iBT
UG from 4.5 / 80
PG from 4.5 / 80
PTE Academic
UG from 65
PG from 65
Duolingo English Test
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Undergraduate
Each course listing gives an IELTS requirement; the table columns are the IELTS 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0 levels. Some courses ask more: the Quality Manual lists IELTS 7.5 with no less than 7.0 in any element for medicine, nursing and midwifery, physiotherapy and veterinary courses on integrated foundation routes. Tests must be no more than two years old.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS 6.0 levele.g. Mechanical Engineering BEng, Civil Engineering BEng, Chemical Engineering BEng, Chemistry BSc, Electrical and Electronic Engineering BEngSource for this group | 6.0no less than 5.5 in each element | 4.5 (new 1-6 scale, tests after January 2026) / 80 (0-120, tests up to January 2026)New scale: no less than 4.0 in each element. Old scale: Writing 17, Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20Best scores combined across several tests are not accepted. | 65minimum 59 (as the page states it)PTE Online is excluded. | Not on the listNot on the equivalencies page. |
| IELTS 6.5 levele.g. Computer Science BSc, Economics BSc, Mathematics BSc, Psychology BSc, History BASource for this group | 6.5no less than 6.0 in each element | 4.5 (new 1-6 scale) / 90 (0-120)New scale: no less than 4.5 in each element. Old scale: Writing 19, Listening 19, Reading 20, Speaking 22Best scores combined across several tests are not accepted. | 71minimum 65 (as the page states it)PTE Online is excluded. | Not on the listNot on the equivalencies page. |
| IELTS 7.0 levele.g. Geography BSc, Pharmacy MPharmSource for this group | 7.0no less than 6.0 in each element | 5.0 (new 1-6 scale) / 100 (0-120)New scale: no less than 4.5 in each element. Old scale: Writing 19, Listening 19, Reading 20, Speaking 22Best scores combined across several tests are not accepted. | 76minimum 65 (as the page states it)PTE Online is excluded. | Not on the listNot on the equivalencies page. |
“IELTS requirements for each of our courses are listed in our course listings.”
English language equivalencies
Postgraduate
The same IELTS 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0 equivalencies apply to postgraduate courses; the course listing gives the IELTS level. Tests must be no more than two years old.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS 6.0 levele.g. Mechanical Engineering MSc, Electrical and Electronic Engineering MSc, Biotechnology MSc, Sustainable Energy Engineering MScSource for this group | 6.0no less than 5.5 in each element | 4.5 (new 1-6 scale, tests after January 2026) / 80 (0-120, tests up to January 2026)New scale: no less than 4.0 in each element. Old scale: Writing 17, Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20Best scores combined across several tests are not accepted. | 65minimum 59 (as the page states it)PTE Online is excluded. | Not on the listNot on the equivalencies page. |
| IELTS 6.5 levele.g. Finance and Investment MSc, Economics MSc, Management MSc, International Relations MA, Applied Linguistics MASource for this group | 6.5no less than 6.0 in each element | 4.5 (new 1-6 scale) / 90 (0-120)New scale: no less than 4.5 in each element. Old scale: Writing 19, Listening 19, Reading 20, Speaking 22Best scores combined across several tests are not accepted. | 71minimum 65 (as the page states it)PTE Online is excluded. | Not on the listNot on the equivalencies page. |
| IELTS 7.0 levele.g. Master of Business Administration (MBA)Source for this group | 7.0no less than 6.0 in each element | 5.0 (new 1-6 scale) / 100 (0-120)New scale: no less than 4.5 in each element. Old scale: Writing 19, Listening 19, Reading 20, Speaking 22Best scores combined across several tests are not accepted. | 76minimum 65 (as the page states it)PTE Online is excluded. | Not on the listNot on the equivalencies page. |
“IELTS requirements for each of our courses are listed in our course listings.”
English language equivalencies
Other tests the university lists
- Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency (169 to 190 overall by level)
- LanguageCert Academic SELT (non-SELT LanguageCert not accepted)
- Trinity ISE SELT
- Pre-sessional course (CELE) final assessment of Met English language conditions
The page says these are not accepted
- PTE Online
- LanguageCert Academic that is not the SELT version
- Best scores combined across several tests (TOEFL, PTE, Cambridge, Trinity)
“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.
Practise for your test, free
Fable Tests is an independent guide and is not affiliated with University of Nottingham or any test owner. University names are used only to identify them. Test names are trademarks of their owners.