6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 clears most UK undergraduate and taught masters programs. The fine print matters more than the headline:
- Competitive courses (law, medicine, top business schools): 7.0 to 7.5, often with 6.5+ in writing. - Standard masters: 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0. This mirrors the UKVI baseline. - Foundation and pre-masters routes: 5.5 to 6.0 gets you in the door. - The "no band below" clause kills more applications than the overall score. A 7.0 average with 5.5 in writing is a rejection at most schools. Sources: IELTS One sub-score below the floor means a retake or a pre-sessional English course. Check the writing requirement first. It is always the strictest, and it is the most coachable in two weeks of drills.
What IELTS score do you need for university? Most UK programs ask 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0.