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Is there any chance to move abroad with my current IELTS overall score of 6.0 and reading score of 5.5 in UK/Ireland for a Postgraduate?

17 Aug 2026 · Answered by Sweety Shah · 1 min read
Sweety Shah
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It depends. With an overall IELTS score of 6.0 and a reading score of 5.5, your options vary by country and university.

- Canada: For the Student Direct Stream (SDS) visa, you need at least 6.0 in each band, so your reading score of 5.5 may not qualify. Some universities may accept your scores if no band is below 5.5, but this is not universal.
- UK: Most postgraduate programs require at least 6.5 overall and 6.0 in each band. Your scores may not meet standard requirements, but some universities offer pre-sessional English courses or conditional admission for lower scores.
- Ireland: Typical requirements are 6.5 overall and 6.0 per band for postgraduates, so your current scores may not suffice. Some institutions may offer language pathway programs.

Retaking the IELTS to raise your reading score to 6.0 or higher will improve your chances for both admission and visa.

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