Minimum IELTS Score You Need for Admission in Top B-Schools Abroad

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Subhashri Roy
Updated on Aug 08, 2023 09:58 AM IST

Looking forward to studying at a leading B-School abroad? Scroll through to find out the minimum IELTS score requirement at top B-Schools across the world including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, among others.

Minimum IELTS Score You Need for Admission in Top B-Schools Abroad

IELTS score is often a yardstick to admit international students to the top business schools abroad. Not only the curriculum of foreign universities is taught in English but also it is the lingua franca of the business world. The IELTS exam is a popular English language test that gets equal weightage as a part of the application process for MBA admissions. Every school sets its own minimum IELTS score below which they do not admit students. 

The IELTS score accepted for MBA admissions is no less than 7.0 bands. Some schools may admit students with 6 or 6.5 band scores. Often universities set up the score for an individual component of the IELTS exam. The exam scores testifies the candidate’s ability to fluently communicate in the English language. It also indicates their future success in the business world. In this article, we will check out the minimum IELTS score requirement for top MBA colleges abroad in countries like the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Australia and more. 

Taking the IELTS exam this year and hoping to score high? Check out the following links:

IELTS Eligibility

IELTS Test Dates

IELTS Test Centres

How to Apply for IELTS

IELTS Exam Pattern

IELTS Syllabus

IELTS Preparation Tips

IELTS Best Books

IELTS Practice Papers

IELTS Cut-offs

IELTS Exam Acceptance

IELTS Important Vocabulary

How is the IELTS Scored?

The IELTS exam is graded on a 9-band scale, with 9 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. The band scores are designed for test-takers to understand in the simplest and easiest way. Here is what IELTS scores mean.

Band Score

Skill Level

9

Expert

8

Very Good

7

Good

6

Competent

5

Modest

4

Limited

3

Extremely Limited

2

Intermittent

1

Non-User

0

Did not sit the test

Minimum IELTS Scores Required for Top B-Schools in the USA

Being one of the largest recipients of international MBA applicants and the host to most of the top B-schools, the minimum IELTS score requirement usually ranges from 6.0 to 7.0. Check out the minimum IELTS scores for top US B-schools:

Name of the B-School

QS MBA Rankings 2022

Minimum IELTS Score

Stanford Graduate School of Business

1

7.0

University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)

2

6.5

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)

5

7.0

Harvard Business School

2

7.5

UC Berkeley (Haas)

11

7.0

Northwestern (Kellogg)

16

7.0

UCLA (Anderson)

15

7.0

Yale School of Management

18

7.0

New York University (Stern)

19

7.5

University of Michigan (Ross)

20

7.0

If you are planning to study at top B-schools abroad then, we recommend connecting with our highly experienced study abroad consultants. To date, we have helped numerous students to study abroad.

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Minimum IELTS Score Required for Top B-Schools in the UK

From London Business School (ranked 7th) to the Cranfield School of Management (ranked 79th), here are the minimum IELTS score requirements for the top B-schools in the UK:

Name of the B-School

QS MBA Rankings 2022

Minimum IELTS Score

London Business School

2

7.0

Oxford (Said)

6

7.5

Cambridge (Judge)

8

7.5

Imperial College Business School

9

7.0

Warwick Business School

15

7.0

Manchester (Alliance)

19

7.0

University of Edinburgh Business School

22

7.0

Cass Business School - City, University of London

27

7.0

Cranfield School of Management

26

6.5

Minimum IELTS Score Required for Top B-Schools in Canada

Canada houses some of the top-ranked B-schools, widely popular among international students across the world. Check out the minimum IELTS scores accepted by top B-schools in Canada.

Name of the B-School

QS MBA Rankings 2022

Minimum IELTS Score

University of Toronto (Rotman)

1

7.0

McGill University (Desautels)

4

7.0

Queens University (Smith)

2

7.0

York University (Schulich)

5

7.0

University of British Columbia (Sauder)

6

7.0

Alberta School of Business - University of Alberta

7

6.5

Concordia University (John Molson)

8

7.0

HEC Montreal

9

Advanced - 7, 7.5 and 8

Advanced intermediate - 5,5, 6 and 6,5

Dalhousie (Rowe)

10

7.5

Minimum IELTS Score Required for Top B-Schools in Australia

The QS Global MBA Rankings 2021 features five Australian B-Schools in the top 100. Given below are the top 10 B-schools in Australia and their minimum IELTS scores:

Name of the B-School

QS MBA Rankings 2022

Minimum IELTS Score

University of Melbourne - Melbourne Business School

1

7.0

University of New South Wales (AGSM)

2

7.0

Monash Business School

3

6.5

Macquarie University - MGSM Macquarie

4

6.5

University of Queensland Business School

5

6.5

University of Western Australia Business School

6

7.0

Australian National University

7

6.5

Uts Business School, University Of Technology Sydney, Australia

10

7.0

La Trobe Business School

13

6.0

RMIT University School of Business and Law

11

6.5

Minimum IELTS Score Required for Top B-Schools in Germany

Germany, with four of its B-schools, ranked among the top 100 according to QS Global MBA Rankings, continues to be one of the popular choices for international MBA aspirants. Find out the minimum IELTS scores required to pursue graduate business studies at top German B-schools:

Name of the B-School

QS MBA Rankings 2022

Minimum IELTS Score

Mannheim Business School

39

6.5

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

44

6.5

WHU (Otto Beisheim)

59

6.5

The European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) Berlin

90

7.0

Minimum IELTS Score Required for Popular B-Schools

Apart from the top-ranked universities from across the world that accept IELTS scores, there is a long list of other popular universities that admit international MBA students. From the US to the UAE, here is a carefully curated list of some of the popular B-Schools and their minimum IELTS score requirements:

Name of the B-School

Country

Minimum IELTS Score

Auburn University

USA

5.5

Griffith College

Ireland

6.5

European University

Spain

6.5

University of South Florida

USA

6.5

University of Westminster

UK

5.5

University of Dayton

USA

7.0

University of Idaho

USA

6.0

Pace University

USA

6.5

Coventry University

UK

6.0

Middlesex University Dubai

UAE

6.5

University of Essex

UK

6.5

Saint Louis University

USA

6.5

California State University - Fresno Campus

USA

7.0

Glasgow Caledonian University

UK

6.0

Virginia Commonwealth University

USA

6.5

To secure a coveted position at a prestigious institute in a US university, students must obtain at least the average IELTS scores required. It is a crucial and integral requirement to realise the dream of studying at a top university in the US. Though the average score requirement fluctuates depending on the university and the course.  Aspiring candidates therefore must research the IELTS score required and must commit to improving it to get admission at the university of their choice.

Write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com to get further assistance on the minimum IELTS scores requirements for top B-Schools worldwide.

Have Further Queries About IELTS Cutoff at Top B-Schools?

FAQs

Is IELTS enough to study MBA abroad?

No, IELTS is not enough to study MBA abroad. A solid GMAT score or GRE score is required to study MBA at any international university. While the GRE and GMAT can only be taken five times in a 12-month period, the GRE can be taken once every 21 days and the GMAT once every 16 days. For more information, check out the List of Universities Waiving Off GRE, GMAT for Admission in Masters Programs in 2023.

What is a good IELTS score for MBA?

A good IELTS score for MBA is 7.5 bands and above if you are considering top b-schools. To apply for MBA programmes, these schools clearly require a high level of English proficiency, with IELTS scores ranging from 7 to 7.5 bands. However, some b-schools also require an IELTS score as low as 6.0 bands. For section-wise IELTS scores, check out IELTS Band Score Chart

Does an MBA in USA require IELTS?

Yes, it can be said that MBA in USA require IELTS. While most colleges in the United States and Canada accept both TOEFL scores and IELTS scores, many do not require only IELTS. However, for most MBA programmes in North America, an average of 7 in the IELTS band is still required for admission.

Does an MBA in UK require IELTS?

Yes, MBA in UK requires IELTS. The following are the requirements for pursuing an MBA in UK:

  • A Bachelor's degree or its equivalent.

  • A minimum of three years of full-time work experience.

  • A minimum IELTS score of 6.0-6.5 bands.

  • GMAT scores.

If you are planning to study at top UK universities, check out how to Study in the UK Without IELTS.

Can I study in Australia with an IELTS score of 6.0 bands?

Yes, you can study in Australia with an IELTS score of 6.0 bands. Here is a list of Australian universities that require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 bands:

If you are planning to study at top Australian universities, check out how to Study in Australia Without IELTS.

Can I study in Germany with an IELTS score of 5.5 bands?

Yes, you can study in Germany with an IELTS score of 5.5 bands. Universities in Germany that accept an IELTS score of 5.5 include the University of Bonn and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. IELTS scores ranging from 4.5 to 6.5 are typically required by German universities.

Can I study MBA without GMAT?

Yes, you can study MBA without GMAT. A few MBA colleges are eliminating the GMAT requirement for exceptionally experienced students, while others do not. In that case, the university will review an applicant's overall profile and professional work experience. However, the vast majority of business schools require either the GRE or the GMAT scores for admission. For more information, check out how you can pursue MBA Without GMAT in Top Business Schools Abroad.

Is IELTS difficult than GMAT?

No, IELTS is not difficult than GMAT, rather it is easier than GMAT. To pass the IELTS exam, you must practise and prepare diligently. The GMAT exam is a relatively challenging test because it assesses not only your English speaking and writing abilities but also your critical thinking abilities and logical reasoning.

Does MBA in Canada require GMAT?

Yes, it can be said that MBA in Canada require GMAT. This is because most Canadian universities require GMAT scores for admission to MBA programmes. However, based on the university's parameters and the student's qualifications, a waiver may be granted. On the other hand, if you are planning at top Canadian universities, check out how to Study in Canada Without IELTS.

Can I study masters in UK without IELTS?

It can be said that you can study masters in UK without IELTS. Applicants who do not wish to take IELTS or another English language proficiency exam can apply to universities that do not require IELTS exam scores. However, each university may have other criteria that you must meet in order to get admitted. 

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