For a bachelor's or master's course, the UK Student visa asks for English at CEFR level B2, which on IELTS for UKVI means 5.5 in each of the four parts. Below degree level the bar is B1, or 4.0. This guide explains which test to book, what your CAS tells you, and how to prepare so that no single part pulls you under the line.
For a degree-level course the Student visa needs IELTS for UKVI with 5.5 in every part; below degree level 4.0 is enough. Whether you need the UKVI version or a regular IELTS is decided by your university and shown on your CAS.
Source: gov.uk ·
The Home Office sets the minimum by the level of your course, not by the university. The level is written in CEFR terms (the European scale from A1 to C2), and each approved test has its own score for that level. On IELTS for UKVI, the minimum applies to every part separately: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
| Your route | CEFR level | IELTS for UKVI minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa, degree level or above (bachelor's, master's, PhD) | B2 | 5.5 in each of the four parts |
| Student visa, below degree level (for example a foundation course) | B1 | 4.0 in each of the four parts |
| For comparison: Skilled Worker visa, since 8 January 2026 | B2 | 5.5 in each of the four parts |
These are visa minimums. Your university can ask for a higher score for admission to the course itself, and that higher score is the one you must reach. Read the offer letter, not only the visa page.
Your university sends you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), the reference number you need for the visa application. The CAS states how your English was assessed. That is where you find out whether you need IELTS for UKVI or whether a regular IELTS score is enough.
For courses at degree level or above, the university (the Home Office calls it a Higher Education Provider) may assess your English itself. It can then accept a regular IELTS result, as long as the level is still equivalent to B2.
If the university does not assess you itself, or your course is below degree level, you need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider. For IELTS, that is the IELTS for UKVI version, booked as such.
Do not guess. Ask the admissions office which test they accept before you book, and book exactly the version they name.
Some applicants can prove English without any test. Check these before you pay for one.
Citizens of countries such as Australia, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand and the USA do not need to prove English. The full list is on the GOV.UK Student visa page.
A UK school qualification started before you turned 18 (GCSE, A level or the Scottish equivalents), a degree from a UK institution, or a degree taught in English outside the UK and confirmed by Ecctis can count instead of a test.
If you already proved your English in a previous UK visa application, you may not have to prove it again.
If you studied in English, for example in India, Nigeria or the Philippines, ask your university early whether your degree counts. The answer decides whether you need to book a test at all.
IELTS reports a band from 0 to 9, in half steps, for each part and an overall band. For the Student visa, the overall band is not enough on its own: a 7.0 overall with a 5.0 in Writing still misses the rule. Your weakest part sets your result.
The whole test takes 2 hours 45 minutes. Since mid-2026 IELTS is delivered on computer, with a Writing on Paper option in some markets. Content, timing and scoring are the same as before, and the test is identical whether you book with the British Council or IDP.
Listening and Speaking are the same in both. Academic Reading uses three long academic passages, and Academic Writing Task 1 asks you to describe a chart, graph or diagram. Your university tells you which module it expects, so check before you book.
Sit a complete, timed mock before you book a date. You need a band for each part, not a general feeling, because the rule is checked part by part.
Raising a 5.0 to 5.5 in one part matters more than raising a strong part further. Writing Task 1 and Task 2 are marked on fixed criteria, so practise both under time pressure.
Book the exact version your university named, and leave time before your visa deadline in case one part falls short. The IELTS One Skill Retake lets you resit a single part on computer within 60 days, once per test, but the new score replaces the old one even if it is lower. Check with your test centre whether it is offered for the version you need.
For a course at degree level or above, you need English at CEFR level B2. On IELTS for UKVI that means 5.5 in each of the four parts. For a course below degree level, B1 is enough, which is 4.0 in each part. Your university may ask for a higher score for admission.
Your university decides, and your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) shows how your English was assessed. For degree-level courses the university may assess your English itself and accept a regular IELTS. If it does not, you need a Secure English Language Test such as IELTS for UKVI.
No. The minimum applies to each part separately. A high overall band does not help if Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking is below 5.5, so plan your preparation around your weakest part.
Citizens of certain countries, including Australia, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand and the USA, are exempt. You may also be exempt if you hold a UK school qualification started before you turned 18, a degree from a UK institution, a degree taught in English outside the UK (confirmed by Ecctis), or proved your English in an earlier UK visa application. Check the full list on GOV.UK.
No. The test is identical with both organisers. What matters is that you book the version your university asked for, IELTS for UKVI or regular IELTS.
IELTS offers One Skill Retake: you can resit one of the four parts on computer within 60 days of your test, once per test. The new score replaces the original one, even if it is lower. Ask your test centre whether it is available for the version you need.