Do German public universities accept 5.5 in IELTS for English taught masters?

Your 5.5 overall score will likely fail Germany's strict "met or not met" admissions checklist, since public universities almost always demand a 6.0 to 6.5 baseline for English-taught Masters degrees. The good news is that a few structural workarounds can still keep your German study plan alive.

Typical IELTS Requirements by Degree Level

Your Realistic Alternatives

• Retake the exam: pushing your score up by 0.5 to 1.0 band instantly unlocks thousands of tuition-free Masters programmes.
• Check for a Medium of Instruction waiver if your Bachelor's degree was taught entirely in English.
• Look at German-taught programmes if you hold B2 or C1 German, since your IELTS score will not matter there.
• Consider a private university, since some accept a 5.5 alongside an internal interview, for a higher tuition fee.

My Advice

Request your Medium of Instruction certificate from your previous university today, since this single document can waive the IELTS requirement entirely at many public institutions. If that route fails you, book a retake rather than a private university, since tuition-free public options remain far cheaper for you.