How much PTE score is required for a UK student visa and university admissions in 2026?

For a UK student visa, the minimum PTE Academic UKVI score is 43 in each skill for below-degree-level courses and 59 in each skill for degree-level courses and above. For university admissions, requirements range from 51 to 79 depending on the institution and program. Always check both requirements separately - the visa threshold (set by the Home Office) and the university admissions threshold (set by the institution) are not the same number.

PTE Score Requirements for UK Student Visa (Home Office UKVI, 2026)

PTE Score for UK University Admissions (UG and PG)

PTE to IELTS Score Conversion (Quick Reference)

My Advice

The most common mistake I see is students checking a university's website, seeing "PTE 59 accepted," booking their test, scoring 59 on PTE Academic, and then discovering that for the visa they need PTE Academic UKVI - which is a separate test taken at a designated UKVI test centre. These are not interchangeable. Also note the visa threshold depends on your course level: if you are applying for a PG Masters, you need 59 in every single skill; if any one skill drops below 59, the visa application will fail. UKVI-approved test centres are fewer and in higher demand; book at least four to six weeks in advance. My recommendation: take PTE Academic UKVI from the start so it covers both your university admission and your visa.