English Language Tests for PhD Applications: IELTS, TOEFL and Waivers

Many PhD programmes teach and assess in English. Because of this, most ask you to prove your English level. The two most common tests are IELTS and TOEFL iBT. Score rules, test age limits, and waivers are different at each university. This guide shows real examples from official pages. Always check the current page of your target programme, because rules change.

Which tests count

Universities commonly accept IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT. Some also accept Cambridge English exams (CAE or CPE), Pearson PTE Academic, or other tests. Always check your target programme's own admissions page for the exact list of tests it accepts, since this is not the same at every university.

IELTS General Training is often not accepted for degree study. Check whether your target programme wants IELTS Academic, not General Training.

A UK student visa application has a separate rule. The UK government keeps its own list of approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) providers and test centres for visa and citizenship applications. This list changes often, so check the current version on GOV.UK before you book a test for a UK visa.

Tip: A university admission test and a visa test can have different rules. Confirm both, if you need both.

Typical score requirements

Score levels vary a lot between universities and programmes. Here are examples from official pages, so you can see the range:

The University of Groningen states a minimum TOEFL iBT score of about 92 overall (4.5 on its newer section scale), with separate minimums for reading, listening, speaking and writing. It does not accept TOEFL "MyBest" combined scores for admission.

The University of Copenhagen's Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 83. It only accepts TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic, and it does not accept a test older than two years.

KTH does not set one fixed IELTS or TOEFL number on its own entry-requirements page. Instead, it asks for English proficiency equivalent to the Swedish upper-secondary course English 6, and it sends applicants to Sweden's University Admissions service for the current list of recognised tests and country-specific rules.

Because these numbers differ this much between three universities, never assume a score that was enough for one programme is enough for another.

How to get a waiver

Universities usually waive the test for some applicants. The exact rules differ, but these are common grounds, based on official pages:

• Nationality or home country. The University of Copenhagen's Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences waives the test if you come from a country where English is the official language, or from an EU or EEA country.
• A degree taught in English. The University of Groningen waives the test for candidates who completed a Bachelor's or Master's degree programme fully taught in English. The University of Copenhagen's Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences waives it for a BSc or MSc where English was the language of instruction, with proof enclosed.
• Local secondary education. The University of Groningen also waives the test for applicants who completed Dutch HAVO or VWO secondary education.
• Native speaker. Both universities above waive the test for native English speakers.
• Prior studies, instead of a test. KTH allows some applicants to meet the English requirement through their completed upper-secondary or university studies, depending on their country, instead of taking a test.

A letter from a prospective supervisor that only praises your English is usually not enough on its own. The University of Groningen states this directly: such a letter is not accepted as the only proof, though it can support an application once the other requirements are met.

Tip: If you believe you qualify for a waiver, ask the Graduate School or admissions office before you apply, not after.

When to take the test, and how long scores last

Plan your test well before the application deadline. Score reports take time to arrive, and some schools only accept test results sent directly by the testing body.

Test age limits are common. The University of Groningen and the University of Copenhagen's Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences both reject a test older than two years at the time of application. Check the exact age limit for your programme, since it is not the same everywhere.

If your programme also needs a visa, check the visa test rules separately. For a UK student visa, the approved SELT provider and test-centre lists on GOV.UK are updated often. A test taken for university admission is not automatically valid for a visa application.

Common mistakes

• Taking IELTS General Training instead of IELTS Academic, when the programme needs the Academic version.
• Using an old score. A test that is valid for one purpose can be too old for another. Check the date rule for each use.
• Assuming a waiver without asking. Contact the Graduate School or admissions office and get the waiver confirmed in writing before you skip the test.
• Mixing up admission and visa rules. A score that is enough to get admitted is not automatically enough, or in the right format, for a student visa.
• Relying on "MyBest" or combined scores when the programme states it does not accept them, as the University of Groningen does for TOEFL.

Where to find open positions

Once your English test plan is set, you can focus on finding the right position. PhD Atlas lists open PhD positions across many countries, including the Netherlands and Sweden. You can also read how to read a PhD job advert to understand what a listing is really asking for, and how to find a PhD position in Europe for a step-by-step search plan.

Tip: Every official English-language page changes from year to year. Re-check the current page of your target programme close to your application date, not only when you first plan your test.

PhD Atlas matches open positions to your CV, so you can focus your test preparation on the programmes that fit you best.