IELTS score requirement for King's College London
King's College London based in London, England publishes 4 named IELTS levels (Band A, Band B, Band C, Band D). The level that applies to your application depends on the specific course you intend to study, not on whether you are applying at undergraduate or graduate level. The cards below show the institutional starting points; the tier table further down explains which level each cluster of courses uses.
KCL uses four named bands (A, B, C, D) mapped to specific programmes. Band C — overall 6.5 with 6.0 in each subscore — applies to the majority of undergraduate study, including most BSc, BA and BEng courses. Some programmes use Bands A or B.
Most taught and research postgraduate programmes apply Band B (overall 7.0 with 6.5 in each subscore). Law, medicine, and several humanities courses apply Band A (overall 7.5 with 7.0 each).
Last verified 2026-05-18. The figures on this page are taken from King's College London's own admissions page. Verify against the official source before relying on a specific number; programme directors can revise English requirements between intakes.
About KCL and its IELTS requirement
KCL is one of only a handful of UK universities to publish four discrete bands (A through D) rather than two or three. Most undergraduates need Band C (6.5 / 6.0); most postgraduates need Band B (7.0 / 6.5); Medicine and Law require Band A (7.5 / 7.0).
Translating the published minimum into a study target
Undergraduate applicants to KCL need an overall IELTS Academic band of 6.5 with no band below 6.0. In CEFR terms this corresponds to B2. KCL uses four named bands (A, B, C, D) mapped to specific programmes. Band C — overall 6.5 with 6.0 in each subscore — applies to the majority of undergraduate study, including most BSc, BA and BEng courses. Some programmes use Bands A or B.
For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 7.0 with no band below 6.5 (CEFR C1). Most taught and research postgraduate programmes apply Band B (overall 7.0 with 6.5 in each subscore). Law, medicine, and several humanities courses apply Band A (overall 7.5 with 7.0 each).
KCL uses multiple named IELTS levels
King's College London publishes 4 named English-language levels and applies a different one depending on the course you are applying to. The right target is the level the specific programme requires, not the lowest published level. Confirming the level on the programme page before you sit the test saves a retake.
Programmes that raise the bar
Several KCL programmes publish IELTS thresholds that sit above the institutional minimum. The current list on this page includes MBBS (GKT School of Medical Education) (overall 7.5), LLM (The Dickson Poon School of Law) (overall 7.5), MSc Computer Science (overall 7.0). 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 KCL 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.
Named IELTS levels at this university
This university publishes more than one named level. The correct target depends on the course you apply to — confirm against the programme page.
MBBS, dentistry, most LLM and PhD humanities programmes
The majority of taught postgraduate programmes
Most undergraduate programmes
A small number of foundation and pre-Master's pathways
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 |
|---|---|---|
| MBBS (GKT School of Medical Education) | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| LLM (The Dickson Poon School of Law) | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| MSc Computer Science | 7.0 | 6.5 |
Other English tests KCL accepts
TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge English C2 Proficiency, and Duolingo English Test all accepted at equivalent thresholds; each is mapped to KCL's Band A/B/C/D system on the official requirements page.
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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See where you stand against the KCL minimum
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