People often search for one number, such as the IELTS score for a UK university. The three official pages below show why that number does not exist: the level, the test types accepted and the rules about retakes all depend on the university and often on the course. What follows is limited to what each page says. It is general information, not advice on your application, so open the linked page for your own course and check it again before you book.
Imperial College London
Imperial's English language requirements page lists two IELTS Academic levels for its courses:
- Standard: 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 in every element.
- Higher: 7.0 overall, with at least 6.5 in every element.
The page does not say which courses need which level. It sends applicants to the course pages to find out. It heads its IELTS Academic row with Test-Centre, UKVI SELT and Online, so those three versions are listed. Scores are only considered valid if taken within two years of the intended course start date. The page also says that single score retakes are not accepted and that the requirements must be met on a single test sitting. It does not mention One Skill Retake or General Training.
The London School of Economics (LSE)
The LSE's graduate English language requirements are headed for 2027/8 entry. They cover graduate programmes only. The IELTS Academic minimums on that page are:
| Level | Overall | Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Higher | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Research (most MPhil/PhD) | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| Law | 7.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
The page says English tests must be less than two years old on 1 October 2027. It states that the IELTS General test is not appropriate for academic use and that the online version is acceptable. It adds that the LSE may accept One Skill Retake at the discretion of the selectors, and that it will not accept scores that do not meet UKVI's requirements for a student visa. Otherwise it expects the level to be reached at a single setting of the test.
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh's postgraduate English language page was published on 6 October 2025. It does not give one score. It says requirements vary by programme and points applicants to the degree finder for their chosen programme. On test rules it states:
- IELTS Academic, IELTS Academic for UKVI and IELTS Academic Online are in its two-year group: no more than two years old on the 1st of the month your programme starts.
- The English requirements must be met in a single test.
- IELTS General, IELTS for UKVI General and IELTS Life Skills for UKVI are not accepted.
- One Skill Retake is available only for online programmes, where one component is short by no more than 0.5, and gives one attempt to improve that score.
Edinburgh also says that an IELTS for UKVI test from an approved UKVI test centre is required for its own English courses. That is separate from degree admission.
Side by side
| Question | Imperial | LSE (graduate) | Edinburgh (postgraduate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scores | 6.5 or 7.0 overall by level | 7.0 or 7.5 overall by level | Per programme |
| Test age | Within 2 years of course start | Under 2 years on 1 October 2027 | Within 2 years on the 1st of the start month |
| One sitting | Yes | Yes, except One Skill Retake at the selectors' discretion | Yes, except One Skill Retake for online programmes |
| IELTS Online | Listed | Acceptable | Academic Online accepted |
| One Skill Retake | Not mentioned; single score retakes not accepted | Selectors' discretion | Online programmes, up to 0.5 short |
Where the visa fits
An offer and a visa are separate steps. The GOV.UK page on knowledge of English for the Student visa says a Higher Education Provider can assess a degree-level student's English itself, at a level equivalent to CEFR B2, and that a Secure English Language Test from an approved provider is needed if you have none of the other accepted proofs. Whether your university takes that route is the university's decision, so read its page and the visa guidance together. For the visa-side rules, see IELTS for a UK Student Visa, and for how the test versions differ, IELTS for UKVI or Standard IELTS.
Practical points before you book
- Find the English requirement for your exact programme, not the university's general page.
- Check the date rule against your start month, since a score can expire before you enrol.
- Check whether the programme names IELTS Online, UKVI or One Skill Retake, and whether your university treats them the same way.
- Look at the per-element minimums. One low element can matter as much as the overall score.
Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and other universities are not covered here. Each publishes its own rules.
How lessons with Mike can help with this
Mike teaches one-to-one, live on Google Meet, in English. He is Cambridge CELTA certified, is based in Hanoi and scored 8.5 in Speaking in his own IELTS. Lessons cover Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. He marks Writing Task 1 and Task 2 against the public band descriptors, runs Speaking Parts 1 to 3 in the real format with feedback in the moment, and leaves written progress notes in your account. This helps most when one element is below your target. Lessons cannot promise a score, and the university decides what it accepts. You can see the booking calendar, which shows each slot in your own time zone.
