IELTS or TOEFL for European Universities: Scores, Validity and Exemptions
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Our catalogue lists English-taught bachelor's programmes in six of the seven countries we cover: 233 in Italy, 201 in Czechia, 114 in Germany, 100 in Spain, 67 in Switzerland and 2 in Portugal. Nearly all of them ask applicants who were not schooled in English for a certificate.
The level: B2 as a floor
The usual minimum is B2 on the European scale, and competitive programmes ask for C1. Universities express this as a score in one of the big tests. A common wording is IELTS 6.0 or 6.5, with the equivalent TOEFL score next to it. Always read the programme's own page: the required score, the minimum per section and the list of accepted tests differ from one university to the next.
IELTS Academic
- Four sections: listening, reading, writing and a speaking interview with an examiner.
- Scored in bands from 0 to 9, in half-band steps, for each section and overall.
- Roughly, bands 5.5 to 6.5 correspond to B2 and 7.0 to 8.0 to C1.
- Results in a few days for the computer test.
- Universities accept results up to two years old.
Take the Academic version, not General Training.
TOEFL iBT
- Four sections, all on a computer, including speaking into a microphone.
- The scale changed in January 2026. Scores are now reported from 1 to 6 in half-point steps, for each section and overall, in line with the European levels. During a transition period score reports also show the old 0 to 120 scale.
- Many university pages still state the requirement on the old scale, for example 80 or 90. Your score report shows both, so you can compare directly.
- Scores are valid for two years.
Cambridge qualifications
B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency are exams aimed at one level each. They do not expire, which makes them good value if you take them at school. Most European universities accept C1 Advanced; fewer list B2 First.
Other tests
Some universities accept the Duolingo English Test, PTE Academic or their own online test. These are convenient, but acceptance is patchy. Do not book one unless the programme names it.
Who is exempt
Typical exemptions:
- native speakers and nationals of English-speaking countries
- applicants whose secondary schooling was in English, such as the International Baccalaureate taught in English
- applicants with a high mark in English in certain national school-leaving exams, which some universities list country by country
Exemption is never automatic. You request it in the application and attach proof.
Which test should you choose?
For European admissions the tests are interchangeable where accepted, so decide on practical grounds:
- Availability: which has a test centre and a date near you.
- Speaking format: a live interview in IELTS, a recording in TOEFL.
- Shelf life: Cambridge if you want a certificate that does not expire.
Sit the test at least two months before the deadline, leaving room for one retake.
English is not the whole story
An English-taught degree does not remove the local language from your life. Housing, part-time jobs, internships and clinical placements run in the national language. Most universities offer free or cheap courses for their international students, and starting one in the first semester pays off.
Where to look next
- Which language level do you need? CEFR explained
- English-taught programmes in Italy, Czechia, Germany and Spain
Official sources
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.