United Kingdom — Manchester
PTE score for University of Manchester
University of Manchester accepts PTE Academic for all international admissions. The standard requirement is 64 overall for undergraduate and 70 overall for postgraduate programs, with per-skill minimums on both.
Last verified 2026-06-24. Source: Language Requirements — University of Manchester
PTE Academic score requirements
Undergraduate
64
overall minimum
Standard entry (IELTS 6.0 equivalent per Manchester's own conversion table). Many programs, especially Business, CS, Law, and Medicine, require higher scores. Always check your specific course page.
Postgraduate
70
overall minimum
Standard postgraduate entry (IELTS 6.5 equivalent). CS, Law, and Education programs require 76+. Manchester does not use a universal band system; each course sets its own threshold.
Visa note: PTE Academic accepted for degree-level courses. UKVI version required for pre-sessional and foundation programs. PTE Academic Online and PTE Academic Home are not accepted. Scores must be from a single test sitting within 2 years.
Requirements are set by University of Manchester and can change. Always verify at the Language Requirements — University of Manchester before applying.
PTE requirements by program and faculty
University of Manchester sets different PTE score thresholds depending on your program. The table below lists the most common bands — always confirm the exact requirement for your intended course.
| Band / Level | Overall | Each skill | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard entry (IELTS 6.0) | 64 | 59+ | Standard undergraduate programs per Manchester's PTE-IELTS equivalence table |
| Medicine (UG) | 65 | 65+ | MBChB MedicineNote: 65 in all four skills |
| Business (UG) | 70 | 65+ | Alliance Manchester Business School undergraduate programs |
| Standard PG (IELTS 6.5) | 70 | 65+ | Most postgraduate taught programs |
| Computer Science | 76 | 70+ | All Computer Science UG and MSc programs (September 2026) |
| Law (PG) | 76 | 70+ | LLM Law, PhD EducationNote: Writing: 76, other skills: 70 |
To find the exact PTE requirement for your specific degree, use the Manchester Course Finder and select your intended program.
What if your score is below the requirement?
A PTE score that is 2 to 5 points below the requirement is almost always a single-skill problem. One weak skill — commonly Writing or Speaking — pulls the overall score below the threshold while the other three are already sufficient.
The fastest path to closing that gap is identifying which skill is the bottleneck, then drilling it specifically. A free 10-minute diagnostic on this site identifies your weakest skill from your response patterns — no guessing, no wasted prep time.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. University of Manchester in Manchester, United Kingdom accepts PTE Academic as proof of English proficiency for both undergraduate and postgraduate admissions. The minimum requirement for most undergraduate programs is 64 overall with no skill below 59, and for postgraduate programs 70 overall with no skill below 65.
For undergraduate entry at University of Manchester, you generally need a PTE Academic overall score of 64 with no skill below 59. For postgraduate (masters or graduate coursework) entry, the standard requirement is 70 overall with no skill below 65. Standard postgraduate entry (IELTS 6.5 equivalent). CS, Law, and Education programs require 76+. Manchester does not use a universal band system; each course sets its own threshold. Always confirm with University of Manchester directly, as individual faculties and programs can set higher requirements.
Most masters and graduate coursework programs at University of Manchester require a PTE Academic overall score of 70 with per-skill minimums of Listening 65, Reading 65, Writing 65 and Speaking 65. Standard postgraduate entry (IELTS 6.5 equivalent). CS, Law, and Education programs require 76+. Manchester does not use a universal band system; each course sets its own threshold.
PTE Academic accepted for degree-level courses. UKVI version required for pre-sessional and foundation programs. PTE Academic Online and PTE Academic Home are not accepted. Scores must be from a single test sitting within 2 years.
If your current PTE score is below the University of Manchester requirement, there are two realistic paths. First, resit PTE Academic after targeted preparation focusing on your weakest skill (one low skill can pull your overall score significantly below the threshold). Second, check whether University of Manchester offers a conditional admission pathway through an English language pathway program, which allows entry at a lower score followed by an on-campus English course before your degree starts. The free diagnostic on this site identifies exactly which skill is holding your score back.
University of Manchester accepts both PTE Academic and IELTS. The tests measure the same skills but in different formats. PTE Academic is fully computer-delivered and AI-scored, which removes examiner variability from Speaking and Writing. Many candidates who find the IELTS Speaking interview stressful prefer PTE's recorded format. The best test for you depends on your strengths. Try a free PTE mock to see where you stand.
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