IELTS score requirement for Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London based in London publishes IELTS Academic minimums for both undergraduate and graduate study. The two cards below show those institutional baselines; the editorial body translates the bands into a study target and lists the programmes that publish their own, higher thresholds.
Band 1 (lowest tier) requires 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component. Band 2 requires 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each. Band 3 requires 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in each. Most Science and Engineering programmes sit at Band 1; Law, English, and History at Band 3.
Standard postgraduate taught minimum. The School of Law sets 7.0 overall; the School of English and Drama requires 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing.
Last verified 2026-06-16. The figures on this page are taken from Queen Mary University of 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 QMUL and its IELTS requirement
Queen Mary is a Russell Group university in east London, home to the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. IELTS requirements range from 6.0 overall (Science, Engineering) to 7.0 overall (Law, English, Medicine).
Translating the published minimum into a study target
Undergraduate applicants to QMUL need an overall IELTS Academic band of 6.0 with no band below 5.5. In CEFR terms this corresponds to B2. Band 1 (lowest tier) requires 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component. Band 2 requires 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each. Band 3 requires 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in each. Most Science and Engineering programmes sit at Band 1; Law, English, and History at Band 3.
For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 6.5 with no band below 6.0 (CEFR B2). Standard postgraduate taught minimum. The School of Law sets 7.0 overall; the School of English and Drama requires 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing.
Programmes that raise the bar
Several QMUL programmes publish IELTS thresholds that sit above the institutional minimum. The current list on this page includes MBBS Medicine (Barts) (overall 7.0), BDS Dentistry (Barts) (overall 7.0), LLB Law (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 QMUL IELTS minimum
A target of 6.0 (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 |
|---|---|---|
| MBBS Medicine (Barts) | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| BDS Dentistry (Barts) | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| LLB Law | 7.0 | 6.5 |
Other English tests QMUL accepts
TOEFL iBT 79 (writing 19) for Band 1. Pearson PTE Academic 57 overall. QMUL runs its own Pre-sessional Academic English Programme (PAEP) in 5, 9, or 13-week formats.
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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