Are you thinking about studying in the UK? If so, you’re not alone. Each year, over 500,000 international students enrolled at a UK university. In fact, after the United States, the UK is the second most popular destination for higher education students.
UK universities are renowned for excellent teaching and cutting-edge research, and UK degrees are highly valued by academics and employers worldwide. But to study there, you’ll need to demonstrate you have an appropriate level of English.
Our PTE Academic secure language test is accepted by nearly every university in the UK – as well as for all immigration applications. So, what score will you need to earn a spot in a university? Let’s find out:
What it’s like to study in the UK
When it comes to world rankings, UK universities consistently perform well. According to this year’s QS World University Rankings, four of the top 10 universities around the globe are located in the UK.
Going to a UK university isn’t just a good move as far as your education goes. It’s also a great way to immerse yourself in a new culture and meet lots of different people.
The UK is small, but it’s also very diverse. This means your student experience will be quite different, depending on whether you choose to study in a big multicultural city like London or Glasgow, or a smaller university town like St. Andrews or Exeter.
The amount of money you’ll need to study in the UK will also vary. Student fees differ from institution to institution. At the same time, your accommodation and day-to-day living expenses will depend on where your university is located.
For a more detailed breakdown, check out the guide on the cost of living in the UK.
English language requirements
To secure a student visa and attend a UK university, you’ll need to prove you have the English speaking, reading, writing and listening skills needed to succeed in your studies.
The PTE Academic is accepted by 99% of universities across the UK.
Still, each has slightly different entry requirements. But as a general UK government rule, for programmes below degree level – such as a foundation programme – you will need to demonstrate a CEFR B1 level of English. For programmes at degree level and above, you will need to demonstrate CEFR B2 level of English.
How does PTE Academic scoring work?
PTE Academic provides transparent and easy to understand scoring. After taking the test you will receive an overall English score, as well as see how you performed in the Listening, Reading, Speaking and writing areas of the exam.
You’ll also get a:
- Grammar score
- Spelling score
- Oral Fluency score
- Vocabulary score
- Written Discourse score
If you’re happy with your results, you can assign your scores to the universities or institutions you are applying to directly from the myPTE account you created when registering. If you want to improve your scores, you can re-book the test after some more practice.
Find out how PTE Academic scoring compares with other English tests.
University score breakdown
Here are the required PTE Academic scores for 25 universities across the UK, including their Times Higher Education World University and QS World University rankings:
Higher Education Institution | Times HE rank | QS rank | PTE Score Requirement |
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine | 11 | 8 | 56 – 62 |
University College London | 16 | 10 | 59 – 75 |
London School of Economics and Political Science | 27 | 49 | 58 – 65 |
King’s College London | 35 | 31 | 59 – 75 |
The University of Manchester | 51 | 27 | 49 – 73 |
The University of Warwick | 77 | 62 | 60 – 75 |
The University of Glasgow | 92 | 77 | 59 – 70 |
The University of Birmingham | 107 | 87 | 51 – 67 |
Queen Mary University of London | 110 | 114 | 51 – 57 |
The University of Sheffield | 121 | 93 | 51 – 56 |
The University of Lancaster | 136 | 135 | 50 – 70 |
University of Durham | 149 | 86 | 56 – 62 |
The University of Leeds | 160 | 91 | 56 – 60 |
The University of Sussex | 160 | 246 | 56 – 67 |
The University of Liverpool | 163 | 181 | 51 – 62 |
The University of Leicester | 170 | 242 | 56 – 67 |
Newcastle University | 178 | 152 | 56 – 69 |
The University of Aberdeen | 178 | 207 | 51 – 54 |
Cardiff University | 191 | 159 | 36 – 78 |
The University of East Anglia | 200 | 333 | 42 – 50 |
The University of Bath | 201-250 | 173 | 51 – 67 |
The University of Dundee | 201-250 | 319 | 56 – 67 |
The University of Reading | 201-250 | 205 | 51 – 67 |
The University of Surrey | 251-300 | 267 | 42 – 73 |
The University of Kent | 301-250 | 380 | 65 – 68 |
The University of Stirling | 301-250 | 485 | 51 – 54 |
Brunel University London | 351-400 | 368 | 51 – 64 |
City, University of London | 351-400 | 350 | 55 – 60 |
University of Northumbria at Newcastle | 351-400 | 651-700 | 54 – 62 |
Ready to book your test?
Don’t forget to explore our huge range of resources to prepare for PTE Academic!
Learn more about PTE Academic for study in the UK here.