IELTS score requirement for Cardiff University
Cardiff University based in Cardiff, Wales applies a single IELTS floor at both undergraduate and graduate level: overall 6.5 with no band below 5.5. Programme-specific minimums sit above this floor; the breakdown below lists every programme on this page that does.
Standard minimum for most undergraduate programmes. Several programmes set 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component; Journalism, English, and Law require 7.0 overall.
Standard postgraduate taught threshold. Departments in the School of Journalism, the School of Law, and the School of English, Communication and Philosophy typically set 7.0 overall with no component below 6.5.
Last verified 2026-06-16. The figures on this page are taken from Cardiff University's own admissions page. Verify against the official source before relying on a specific number; programme directors can revise English requirements between intakes.
About Cardiff and its IELTS requirement
Cardiff is the only Russell Group university in Wales and is particularly strong in journalism, architecture, and optometry. Standard undergraduate IELTS is 6.5 overall with 5.5 each; Medicine requires 7.5 with no band below 7.0.
Translating the published minimum into a study target
Undergraduate applicants to Cardiff need an overall IELTS Academic band of 6.5 with no band below 5.5. In CEFR terms this corresponds to B2. Standard minimum for most undergraduate programmes. Several programmes set 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each component; Journalism, English, and Law require 7.0 overall.
For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 6.5 with no band below 5.5 (CEFR B2). Standard postgraduate taught threshold. Departments in the School of Journalism, the School of Law, and the School of English, Communication and Philosophy typically set 7.0 overall with no component below 6.5.
Programmes that raise the bar
Several Cardiff programmes publish IELTS thresholds that sit above the institutional minimum. The current list on this page includes MBBCh Medicine (overall 7.5), BDS Dentistry (overall 7.0), MA Journalism, Media and Communications (overall 7.5). Treat these as the target if you are applying to one of them; the institutional minimum does not over-ride a programme-level publication.
How to prepare for the Cardiff IELTS minimum
A target of 6.5 (CEFR B2) is achievable for candidates with strong school-level English and 4-8 weeks of focused IELTS practice. The fastest gains usually come from Listening and Reading because the question types are predictable and trainable. Sit a full-length practice test first, identify the section that pulls your overall down most, and drill that section before scheduling the live exam.
Programme-specific IELTS minimums
These programmes publish IELTS thresholds that differ from the institutional minimum above. Verify the programme page for the most current value before you apply.
| Programme | Overall | Per-section |
|---|---|---|
| MBBCh Medicine | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| BDS Dentistry | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| MA Journalism, Media and Communications | 7.5 | 7.0 |
Other English tests Cardiff accepts
TOEFL iBT 90 (writing 17, all others 17) for the standard profile. Pearson PTE Academic 62. Cardiff offers Pre-sessional English courses through the Centre for English Language Teaching.
Alternatives and thresholds change between intakes. Confirm on the official admissions page before relying on a specific alternative test.
Common questions
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