TOEFL iBT Requirements
TOEFL Score for the UK
Many UK universities accept TOEFL iBT for direct admission, but student visa routes often require a specific UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test instead.
Quick answer
UK universities commonly ask for a TOEFL total between 80 and 100 for undergraduate and postgraduate admission, with competitive courses and Russell Group universities often expecting 90 to 100 or higher. The key thing to check separately is your visa route. If your course requires a UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test for immigration purposes, a standard TOEFL iBT score will not satisfy that requirement, even if it satisfies the university's own admission criteria.
Typical TOEFL iBT requirements for the UK
| Purpose | Typical TOEFL total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation / pathway program | 60-75 | Combined with English support modules |
| Undergraduate degree | 80-90 | Section minimums common, especially Writing |
| Postgraduate / Master's degree | 90-100 | Research-heavy courses may ask for more |
| Russell Group / top-ranked university | 90-100+ | Always confirm exact figure with the university |
| Student visa (SELT-required routes) | Not accepted | Requires a UKVI-approved SELT such as IELTS for UKVI |
Approximate; verify with each institution and with current UKVI guidance.
The United Kingdom is home to a large number of internationally ranked universities, and most of them list TOEFL iBT as one of several accepted English proficiency tests for admission, typically alongside IELTS Academic and sometimes PTE Academic or Cambridge English qualifications. For the purpose of getting an offer of admission, TOEFL is genuinely useful and broadly recognized across UK higher education. Where things get more nuanced is on the visa side. The UK's student visa system has historically distinguished between tests a university accepts for academic admission and tests approved by UK Visas and Immigration as a Secure English Language Test, or SELT, for immigration purposes. Not every course or every applicant needs a SELT, but where one is required, TOEFL iBT has not been on the UKVI-approved SELT list, so students in that situation typically need an approved alternative such as IELTS for UKVI or another UKVI-approved provider. This distinction between an admissions test and an immigration test is easy to overlook when researching universities purely from their course pages, so international offices generally recommend confirming your exact visa route before finalizing which English test you register for.
TOEFL Acceptance in the UK
TOEFL iBT is respected across UK higher education because British university admissions offices, much like their American and Canadian counterparts, are familiar with the test format and know how to interpret a TOEFL score report against academic English demands like reading dense scholarly texts, following lectures, and producing structured essays. Many UK universities publish TOEFL minimums right next to IELTS minimums on the same admissions page, treating the two as broadly interchangeable for admission decisions. The important honest distinction is between university admission requirements and UK visa English requirements. Some students, particularly those applying for a Student visa where the university is not itself assessing English independently, may be asked to prove their English through a UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test rather than a standard TOEFL or IELTS Academic score. Because this UKVI list has changed over time and depends on your specific visa route and sponsoring institution, students should always verify current UKVI SELT requirements directly with their university's international office or on the official UK government visa guidance before assuming TOEFL alone will cover both admission and visa needs. Universities that hold their own Basic Compliance Assessment rating are often permitted to assess English independently for admission, and in those cases a standard TOEFL score genuinely is enough, which is another reason to ask your specific institution rather than generalize across the whole UK system.
Common Use Cases
Undergraduate admission
TOEFL 80-90UK undergraduate programs typically ask for a TOEFL total in the 80 to 90 range, with more selective courses and universities sometimes requiring 90 to 100. Individual section minimums are common too, particularly for Writing, since UK degree programs place heavy emphasis on essay-based assessment.
Postgraduate / Master's admission
TOEFL 90-100Master's programs generally expect a TOEFL total of 90 to 100, rising toward 100 or above for research-intensive or highly competitive programs at top-ranked universities. Some professional master's courses, such as those with heavy seminar discussion, set higher Speaking and Listening minimums specifically.
Student visa English requirement
Route-dependent, verify SELT statusDepending on your visa route and sponsoring institution, UK Visas and Immigration may require proof of English through a UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test rather than a standard TOEFL or IELTS Academic score. Always check with your university's international office whether your specific route needs a SELT before relying on TOEFL alone.
Foundation and pathway programs
TOEFL 60-75UK foundation year and pathway programs, often run through university-affiliated international colleges, tend to accept lower TOEFL totals, commonly in the 60 to 75 range, and combine academic modules with structured English support before progression into the main degree.
Score requirements vary by program and institution. Always verify current requirements directly with the institution before booking your test.
How to Plan Your Preparation
Confirm your target UK university's TOEFL minimum for both admission and, separately, ask their international office whether your specific visa route requires a UKVI-approved SELT rather than a standard TOEFL score.
If a SELT is required for your visa, plan to sit an approved test such as IELTS for UKVI at an approved test center well in advance, since these have separate booking systems from standard TOEFL registration.
Practice UK-style academic writing conventions, since UK universities often expect formal, well-structured argumentative essays, which maps closely onto TOEFL's independent writing task if you tailor your practice essays accordingly.
Build strong listening comprehension for lecture-style content, since UK degree programs rely heavily on lecture attendance and note-taking, both of which TOEFL's listening section is designed to approximate.
Leave a buffer before UCAS or university application deadlines for both your TOEFL score release and, if needed, a separate SELT booking, since combining two test processes takes noticeably longer than one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Compare TOEFL With Other Tests
TOEFL Scores for Other Countries
the USA
TOEFL iBT is the traditional home-turf English test for US university admission, and most American schools still list it alongside IELTS as an accepted option.
Canada
TOEFL iBT is widely accepted by Canadian universities for admission, but it generally cannot be used for Canadian immigration programs like Express Entry.
Australia
TOEFL iBT is accepted by Australian universities for admission and by the Department of Home Affairs as English evidence for the student visa.
Germany
TOEFL iBT is widely accepted for English-taught bachelor's and master's programs at German universities, most of which charge little to no tuition.