Language requirements

IELTS Academic

• Overall score 6.0
• Speaking 6
• Writing 6
• Listening 5.5
• Reading 5.5

TOEFL internet-based test (iBT)*

• Overall score 4
• Speaking 4
• Writing 4
• Listening 4
• Reading 4

* for TOEFL iBT tests taken before 21 January 2026, the requirements are an overall score 80, speaking 20, writing 21, listening 17, reading 18.

Cambridge

C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency accepted with the following requirements:

• Overall score 169
• Speaking 165
• Writing 165
• Listening 160
• Reading 160

LanguageCert Academic

• Overall score 65
• Speaking 65
• Writing 65
• Listening 60
• Reading 60

Pearson PTE Academic

• Overall score 61
• Speaking 60
• Writing 60
• Listening 46
• Reading 47

The English language proficiency test scores (IELTS, TOEFL, LanguageCert and Pearson) cannot be older than 2 years. Please note that TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the admission procedure, nor are IELTS One-Skill Retake results.

Is your English test result older than 2 years? Please contact exchange.in.feb@rug.nl.

You are exempted from proving your proficiency in English if you apply on the basis of:

• a (to be obtained) upper secondary qualification obtained in one of the following countries: USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (English speaking provinces/territories), Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines and meet our general end level requirements for that specific qualification;
• a (to be) completed Bachelor's programme in one of the following countries: USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (English speaking provinces/territories), Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines;
• at least 3 (to be obtained) academic GCE A2-level certificates with grades A* to C from an accredited British examination board;
• an (to be obtained) International Baccalaureate diploma, with English as the medium of instruction;

• a (to be obtained) European Baccalaureate diploma from a European School or one of the Accredited European Schools and have (completed) English as an L1 or L2 subject;

• a (to be obtained) French Baccalauréat Francais Internationale (BFI) - British version;

• a (to be obtained) South African National Senior Certificate in combination with an IEB Advanced Programme Certificate in English (with minimum result 55% in case this is the only IEB AP certificate; otherwise with a passing grade) or in combination with an IEB Further Studies (Certificate) in English (with minimum result 55% in case this is the only IEB certificate; otherwise with a passing grade);
• (to be obtained) Singapore/Cambridge A-levels in at least 3 H2 and 1 H1 content* courses (of which at least 1 course in a contrasting discipline) together with either the course General Paper or Knowledge and Inquiry (5 courses in total).
• your diploma is on this list of exemptions.

IELTS Academic

• Overall score 6.5
• Speaking 6.5
• Writing 6.5
• Listening 6.0
• Reading 6.0

TOEFL internet-based test (iBT)*

• Overall score 4.5
• Speaking 4.5
• Writing 5.0
• Listening 4.5
• Reading 4.5

* for TOEFL iBT tests taken before 21 January 2026, the requirements are an overall score 90, speaking 23, writing 24, listening 21, reading 21.

Cambridge

C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency accepted with the following requirements:

• Overall score 180
• Speaking 169
• Writing 176
• Listening 169
• Reading 169

LanguageCert Academic

• Overall score 70
• Speaking 70
• Writing 70
• Listening 65
• Reading 65

Pearson PTE Academic

• Overall score 66
• Speaking 56
• Writing 70
• Listening 58
• Reading 64

The English language proficiency test scores (IELTS, TOEFL, LanguageCert and Pearson) cannot be older than 2 years. Please note that TOEFL MyBest Scores are not considered in the admission procedure, nor are IELTS One-Skill Retake results.

Is your English test result older than 2 years? Please contact exchange.in.feb@rug.nl.

• you are a native speaker and have completed a full secondary education in one of the following countries: USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (English speaking provinces/territories);
• you have already completed a fulltime bachelor programme (nominal duration of at least three years) in one of the following countries: USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (English speaking provinces/territories).