Quick answer: Cambridge publishes these English requirements on its official pages (checked October 27, 2026). Undergraduate: TOEFL not accepted. Postgraduate, course-specific (100 tier, e.g. MPhil in Physics): 100 on the old scale. Postgraduate, course-specific (110 tier, e.g. MPhil in Public Policy): 110 on the old scale. Cambridge MBA (Judge Business School): band 5.5 or 100 on the old scale. Where a page states only an old 0 to 120 score, we show "Not stated" for the new band rather than converting it ourselves.
TOEFL requirements at Cambridge, program by program
| Program | Old scale (0 to 120) | New scale (1 to 6) | Section minimums | IELTS | MyBest | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Not accepted | Not required | None stated | 7.5 | Not stated | Official page |
| Postgraduate, course-specific (100 tier, e.g. MPhil in Physics) | 100 | Not stated | Old 0-120 scale: Listening 25, Writing 25, Reading 25, Speaking 25 | 7.0 | Not stated | Official page |
| Postgraduate, course-specific (110 tier, e.g. MPhil in Public Policy) | 110 | Not stated | Old 0-120 scale: Listening 25, Writing 25, Reading 25, Speaking 25 | 7.5 | Not stated | Official page |
| Cambridge MBA (Judge Business School) | 100 | 5.5 | Old 0-120 scale: 25 in each section. New 1-6 scale: at least two sections at 5.5 or higher and none below 5.0 | 7.0 | Not stated | Official page |
Checked on each official page on October 27, 2026. Old scale: TOEFL iBT tests taken before January 21, 2026. New scale: tests taken from that date.
Undergraduate
“Minimum English language requirements IELTS Academic - normally a minimum overall grade of 7.5, usually with 7.0 or above in each element ... Cambridge English at an appropriate standard: C2 Proficiency - accepted with a minimum overall score of 200, with no element lower than 185 C1 Advanced - accepted with a minimum overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185, alongside other evidence of competence in English”
TOEFL is not listed among the English tests Cambridge accepts for undergraduate admission; the listed options are IELTS Academic, Cambridge C1/C2 and certain school-leaving qualifications. The College making an offer sets the exact English condition. For interview, Cambridge recommends at least IELTS Academic 6.5 with no element below 6.0.
Postgraduate, course-specific (100 tier, e.g. MPhil in Physics)
“TOEFL Internet Score Element Score Listening 25 Writing 25 Reading 25 Speaking 25 Total 100 [table flattened]”
Cambridge sets the TOEFL score per course on each course's Requirements page; course pages sampled on the checked date showed totals of 100, 107 (e.g. MPhil in Advanced Computer Science) or 110, each with 25 in every section. Course pages give only 0-120 scores, with no 1-6 band minimum. MPhil in Physics IELTS: 7.0 overall.
Postgraduate, course-specific (110 tier, e.g. MPhil in Public Policy)
“TOEFL Internet Score Element Score Listening 25 Writing 25 Reading 25 Speaking 25 Total 110 [table flattened]”
110 is the highest TOEFL total seen in the sampled course pages and is common for humanities and social science MPhils and PhDs (e.g. Public Policy, Social Anthropology, English Studies). No 1-6 band minimum is shown on course pages. IELTS: 7.5 overall with 7.0 in each element.
Cambridge MBA (Judge Business School)
“b) TOEFL iBT (taken before 21 January 2026 ) Element Score Listening 25 Writing 25 Reading 25 Speaking 25 Overall 100 TOEFL iBT (taken from 21 January 2026 onwards ) Element Score Listening With at least two sub-scores at 5.5 or higher and no sub-score lower than 5.0 ... Overall 5.5 [table flattened]”
From the Cambridge MBA Language Policy 2026-2027 PDF linked from the MBA FAQs. Home Edition is accepted, and the test must be taken within two years of the programme start date. Applicants who narrowly miss may be referred to the Language Centre at the committee's discretion. IELTS needs 7.0 overall with Reading 6.5 and 7.0 in the other sections.
What else Cambridge says about English tests
- TOEFL is not among the English tests listed for undergraduate admission; Cambridge lists IELTS Academic (normally 7.5 overall), Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, and some school-leaving qualifications. (source)
- For postgraduate study Cambridge accepts TOEFL iBT including the Home Edition; the required score is set per course and shown on each course page. (source)
- Postgraduate test results must be dated no more than 2 years before the start of the course, and scores from different test certificates cannot be combined. (source)
- Cambridge does not accept score reports sent directly by TOEFL; postgraduate applicants upload their certificate, which Cambridge verifies online. (source)
- For undergraduates, Cambridge says that under UKVI policy, as a Higher Education Provider, it can accept English qualifications other than a SELT when sponsoring a student visa; postgraduates who meet the admission requirement need no further English evidence for the visa. (source)
How the new 1 to 6 scale applies to Cambridge
Since January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT scores are reported in bands from 1 to 6. Each band covers a range of old scores, so the same old minimum can sit anywhere inside a band.
- For Postgraduate, course-specific (100 tier, e.g. MPhil in Physics), Cambridge asks for 100 on the old scale. On the ETS comparison, 100 falls in band 5.0 (which starts at 95; CEFR C1). The page we checked does not state its own band, so confirm with the admissions office before relying on a new-scale score.
- For Postgraduate, course-specific (110 tier, e.g. MPhil in Public Policy), Cambridge asks for 110 on the old scale. On the ETS comparison, 110 falls in band 5.5 (which starts at 107; CEFR C1). The page we checked does not state its own band, so confirm with the admissions office before relying on a new-scale score.
- For Cambridge MBA (Judge Business School), Cambridge asks for 100 on the old scale. On the ETS comparison, 100 falls in band 5.0 (which starts at 95; CEFR C1). Cambridge itself publishes band 5.5, half a band or more above that, so plan for 5.5.
| Band | Old score (from) | CEFR |
|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 114 and above | C2 |
| 5.5 | 107 and above | C1 |
| 5.0 | 95 and above | C1 |
| 4.5 | 86 and above | B2 |
| 4.0 | 72 and above | B2 |
| 3.5 | 58 and above | B1 |
Source: ETS score scale update. This is the ETS comparison, not a university requirement. Convert your own scores with our TOEFL score converter.
What score should you aim for?
Our advice (not an official Cambridge rule): treat the published number as a floor. Aim half a band above the minimum for your program, so for a band 5.5 requirement plan for 6.0 on your practice tests, so one weaker section on test day does not take your overall score under the line. Check section minimums too: an overall band can hide a low Speaking or Writing score.
Cambridge compared with similar universities
| University | Program | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| LSE | Undergraduate (standard) | band 5.5 or 100 on the old scale |
| Edinburgh | Undergraduate (standard, e.g. LLB Law, 2027 entry) | band 4.5 or 92 on the old scale |
| King's | Undergraduate (Band B, most faculties) | band 5.0 or 100 on the old scale |
All universities: TOEFL requirements by university.
Prefer a teacher? Epic Exam Prep, the team behind PrepDrills, has taught TOEFL courses since 2010, one to one or in small groups.
By Jaclyn Caruana, MBA, co-founder of Epic Exam Prep. Requirements change: always confirm on the official pages linked above before you apply.