The United Kingdom is a popular study destination for international students. Students applying to universities in the UK may need to demonstrate English-language proficiency, depending on the university, course, and any applicable exemption.
For international students to gain admission to a university in the UK, proof of English-language proficiency may be required. TOEFL iBT scores are widely accepted by UK universities. However, applicants should check the university and course pages carefully because accepted test dates, formats, and score requirements differ.
The TOEFL iBT scoring system changed on January 21, 2026. Tests taken from that date use a 1–6 scale in 0.5-point increments. Earlier valid tests use the legacy 0–120 scale. This article explains the current TOEFL iBT guidance published by the universities listed below.
TOEFL Scores Accepted at Universities in the UK
Here are some universities in the United Kingdom that publish TOEFL iBT guidance. Requirements may differ by course, study level, test date, and test format.
| INSTITUTION NAME | CURRENT TOEFL IBT GUIDANCE FOR TESTS TAKEN FROM JANUARY 21, 2026 | LEGACY GUIDANCE FOR EARLIER VALID TESTS |
|---|
| University of Oxford | Not currently accepted while Oxford reviews the revised test. | Undergraduate: 110 overall, with Listening 22, Reading 24, Speaking 25, and Writing 24. Graduate: 100–110 overall, depending on the course, with the same component minimums. |
| University of Cambridge | Undergraduate: tests taken from January 21, 2026, are no longer suitable for entry. Postgraduate: check the course page and any offer conditions. | Undergraduate: normally 110 overall, with 25 or above in each element. Postgraduate: course-specific. |
| Imperial College London | Course-specific Standard or Higher requirements apply. Check the relevant course page and Imperial’s English-language requirements page. | Standard: 92 overall, with at least 20 in each element. Higher: 100 overall, with at least 22 in each element. |
| University of Edinburgh | Course-specific. For example, Geography BSc requires 4.5 overall with at least 4.0 in each component, while Quantitative Genetics and Genome Analysis MSc requires 5.0 overall with at least 4.0 in each component. | For the same examples: Geography BSc requires 92 overall with at least 20 in each component, while Quantitative Genetics and Genome Analysis MSc requires 100 overall with at least 20 in each component. |
| University of Manchester | Course-specific. Scores from tests taken after January 21, 2026, are reviewed case by case using ETS equivalency tables. The TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not accepted. | Course-specific. Manchester lists typical overall scores of 72, 80, 90, 100, and 109–120, with possible sub-skill requirements. |
| King’s College London | Band-dependent. For example, Band D requires 4.5 overall with at least 4.0 in each skill. | For Band D: 92 overall, with at least 23 in writing and 20 in each of the other skills. |
| University College London | Level-dependent. Levels 1–5 require overall scores ranging from 4.5 to 5.5, with component requirements. | Level-dependent. Levels 1–5 require overall scores ranging from 92 to 110, with component requirements. |
1. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford requires applicants who need to demonstrate English-language proficiency to meet its current requirements. Some applicants may qualify for an exemption. For example, undergraduate applicants do not need to demonstrate their English level if English is their first language and they have always been residents and citizens of a majority English-speaking country recognized by UK Visas and Immigration.
Oxford is not currently accepting TOEFL tests taken on or after January 21, 2026, while it reviews the revised TOEFL iBT. For earlier valid tests, undergraduate applicants need an overall score of 110, with minimum scores of 22 in listening, 24 in reading, 25 in speaking, and 24 in writing. Graduate courses require either the Standard level of 100 overall or the Higher level of 110 overall, with the same component minimums.
2. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge may include an English-language condition in an undergraduate offer. The Cambridge College making the offer decides the condition, which may be based on an approved English-language test or another qualification.
For undergraduate applicants, TOEFL iBT or Home Edition tests taken before January 21, 2026, normally require an overall score of 110, with at least 25 in each element. Cambridge states that the revised TOEFL test introduced in January 2026 is no longer suitable for undergraduate entry. Postgraduate applicants should check their course page and any offer conditions because the requirements are course-specific.
3. Imperial College London
Imperial College London focuses on science, technology, engineering, medicine, and business. The university accepts TOEFL iBT scores, but the required English-language level depends on the course.
For tests taken before January 21, 2026, Imperial’s Standard level requires an overall score of 92, with at least 20 in each element. The Higher level requires an overall score of 100, with at least 22 in each element. Imperial continues to accept tests taken after January 21, 2026, under its revised score requirements. Applicants should check the relevant course page. For example, Imperial College Business School requires an overall score of 5.0, with at least 5.0 in each element, for tests taken after January 21, 2026.
4. University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh accepts TOEFL iBT scores, including Home Edition scores, for many courses. Requirements vary by program.
For example, a Bachelor of Science in Geography requires an overall score of 4.5, with at least 4.0 in each component, for tests taken from January 21, 2026. For earlier valid tests, the requirement is 92 overall, with at least 20 in each component. A Master of Science in Quantitative Genetics and Genome Analysis requires an overall score of 5.0, with at least 4.0 in each component, for tests taken from January 21, 2026. For earlier valid tests, the requirement is 100 overall, with at least 20 in each component.
5. University of Manchester
The University of Manchester accepts TOEFL iBT scores for entry to degree-level study. However, each course and program sets its own English-language requirements.
Manchester does not accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition scores. For tests taken before January 21, 2026, the university lists typical overall scores of 72, 80, 90, 100, and 109–120, depending on the English-language level required by the course. Scores from tests taken after January 21, 2026, are reviewed case by case using ETS equivalency tables. Applicants should check the relevant course profile before applying.
Here is what University of Manchester Scholars say about TOEFL:
“When it came to standardized tests, I needed to take the TOEFL exam. I self-studied using ETS TOEFL books, YouTube videos and took online practice tests.”
Marcos Cáceres
“Most institutions also require standardized tests like IELTS, TOEFL. In my case, I took the former and scored 7.5 on my first attempt.”
Amiya Kumar Sur
6. King’s College London
King’s College London accepts TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition scores. Minimum requirements depend on the program’s English-language band.
For example, undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Band D require an overall score of 4.5, with at least 4.0 in each skill, for tests taken from January 21, 2026. For earlier valid tests, Band D requires an overall score of 92, with at least 23 in writing and 20 in each of the other skills. Postgraduate programs in Band C require an overall score of 5.0, with at least 4.5 in reading and writing and 4.0 in speaking and listening, for tests taken from January 21, 2026.
Some applicants may qualify for an exemption from additional English-language testing. However, eligibility depends on the study level and the detailed exemption rules published by King’s. Applicants should not assume that nationality alone is sufficient.
7. University College London
University College London accepts TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition scores. Requirements are grouped into five English-language levels.
For tests taken from January 21, 2026, UCL’s overall TOEFL iBT requirements range from 4.5 to 5.5, with component requirements. For earlier valid tests, the overall requirements range from 92 to 110. A Bachelor of Science in Economics requires English level 2. This is equivalent to an overall score of 4.5, with at least 4.5 in each component, for tests taken from January 21, 2026. For earlier valid tests, the requirement is 96 overall, with 24 in reading and writing and 22 in speaking and listening.
A Master of Arts in Philosophy requires English level 5. For tests taken from January 21, 2026, this means an overall score of 5.5, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, and listening and 6.0 in speaking. For earlier valid tests, the requirement is 110 overall, with 29 in reading and writing and 23 in speaking and listening.
TOEFL Scores of Students Studying in the United Kingdom
The scores below are individual students’ self-reported scores from Global Scholarships profiles. They are not university minimum requirements. These scores use the legacy 0–120 TOEFL scale.
FAQs: TOEFL Acceptance in the UK
What Type of TOEFL Exam is Accepted in the UK?
The TOEFL iBT measures four academic English skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. ETS states that TOEFL iBT scores are recognized by more than 13,000 institutions across more than 160 countries.
ETS currently offers two testing options: at a test center or at home with the Home Edition. Universities may set their own score requirements and test-format rules, so applicants should check the relevant university and course page. For tests taken on or after January 21, 2026, ETS uses a 1–6 scale in 0.5-point increments and provides a comparable 0–120 overall score during a two-year transition period.
The United Kingdom offers many study opportunities for international students. If you are considering studying in the UK, check the English-language requirements for your chosen university and course carefully. Pay attention to the date of your TOEFL test, the accepted test format, the applicable scoring scale, and any component-score requirements.
You may also find more information about universities and scholarship opportunities in the United Kingdom on our Study in the UK and Programs in Europe for International Students pages.
