Do I need PTE Academic UKVI for a UK student visa?

It depends on your course level. For a course below degree level, Pearson lists PTE Academic UKVI. For degree level and above, Pearson says PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI, depending on the institution's visa approval status. Ask your university which one it accepts before you book.

What is the minimum PTE score for a UK student visa?

gov.uk sets CEFR levels, not PTE numbers. Pearson converts B2 (degree level and above) to 59 or higher in each of the four sections, and B1 (below degree level) to 43 or higher in each section. Your university may ask for more.

Can my university accept a different test than a SELT?

For degree-level courses, gov.uk says your higher education provider can assess your English itself, using a different test, as long as the result is equivalent to B2. That university-assessment route is described only for degree level or above, so for below-degree courses plan on an approved SELT unless you have another qualification that proves your English. Your offer letter or the university's visa team will tell you which route applies to you.

Is a high overall PTE score enough for the visa?

No. Pearson lists the visa minimum as a score in each of the four sections (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening). A strong overall score with one section below 59 does not meet B2 on Pearson's table.

Do I need a test if my degree was taught in English?

Possibly not. gov.uk accepts a degree-level qualification taught in English and awarded by a UK institution, even if you studied outside the UK. A non-UK degree taught in English needs an Ecctis assessment confirming it equals a UK bachelor's degree or higher and was taught in English. Check the process and your university's rules first.

PTE Requirement for UK Student Visa: B1, B2 by Level

For a UK student visa, you need CEFR B2 if your course is at degree level or above, and B1 if it is below degree level. Pearson converts these to 59 or higher (B2) and 43 or higher (B1) in each of the four sections, and lists PTE Academic UKVI for below-degree study. For degree-level study it lists PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI, depending on the institution's visa approval status (gov.uk, Pearson; checked 10 Oct 2026).

This page helps you pick the right level and test for your own course. For the full list of UK visa routes (work, family, settlement), read PTE score for UK.

Requirement by course level

Your next course	Visa CEFR level	PTE minimum (Pearson)	Test Pearson lists
A course below degree level, such as a pre-sessional course	B1	43+ in each section	PTE Academic UKVI
Bachelor's degree	B2	59+ in each section	PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI, depending on the institution
Masters or above	B2	59+ in each section	PTE Academic or PTE Academic UKVI, depending on the institution

Sources: gov.uk Student visa English requirement for B1 and B2; Pearson UK visa table for the PTE figures and test names. Checked 10 Oct 2026.

What this means after 12th, bachelor's or masters

After Class 12: a bachelor's is degree level, so B2. If the university puts you on a foundation or pathway year first, the level can differ by how that course is sponsored. Ask the university which level your first course is, because a below-degree course means B1 and PTE Academic UKVI.
After a bachelor's, for a masters: B2, with 59 or more in each section. The university can ask for a higher score for its own entry.
Pre-sessional English before a masters: the pre-sessional itself may be below degree level, which would mean B1. Confirm with the university, because it depends on how the course is sponsored.

The visa level is only a floor. The university's entry score is a separate rule, so use the higher of the two when you plan your preparation.

Original tool: pick your test in four questions

Go through these in order. Stop at the first row that fits.

Step	Question	If yes	If no
1	Is your course below degree level?	B1 needed, book PTE Academic UKVI (43+ per section)	Go to step 2
2	Is your degree taught in English and Ecctis-assessed, or from a UK institution?	You may not need a test, check the gov.uk page and your university	Go to step 3
3	Does your university say it will assess your English itself?	It must be equivalent to B2. Follow its instructions on which test	Go to step 4
4	None of the above	Book the test your university names. If unsure, PTE Academic UKVI carries the URN	Ask the university visa team

Step 4 is a practical suggestion, not a government rule. Pearson says PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI have the same test content, and to choose UKVI if you need a SELT Unique Reference Number (URN) for your visa application (Pearson, checked 10 Oct 2026).

Decision tree: UK visa needing a SELT leads to PTE Academic UKVI; Canada Express Entry leads to PTE Core; an Australian visa leads to PTE Academic; anything else means use the exact test your visa or university page names. — A starting-point guide to choosing between PTE Academic UKVI, PTE Core and PTE Academic. Always confirm on the official visa or university page. Source: GOV.UK: prove your English language abilities with a SELT; IRCC: Express Entry language tests; Australian Department of Home Affairs: English language requirements. Checked 10 Oct 2026.

Worked example

Meera has finished Class 12 and has an offer for a bachelor's. Her university says her first year is a degree-level course. Her visa level is B2, so she needs 59 or more in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Her practice result shows Speaking 55. Her overall score looks fine, but that section is under the bar, so she works on Read Aloud and Repeat Sentence before booking.

Test rules that matter

Validity: gov.uk says SELT test results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded (gov.uk SELT guidance, checked 10 Oct 2026).
Approved tests: gov.uk lists PTE Academic UKVI and PTE Home as the approved Pearson SELTs. Pearson's student visa table names only PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI, not PTE Home.
URN: gov.uk says you get a SELT unique reference number after passing, to include in your application. Pearson calls it the "SELT URN". Leaving it out may lead to refusal.

Check your score before you book

Find your course level on your offer letter or CAS details.
Pick the level from the table above (B1 or B2).
Compare each of your four sections with 43 or 59, using the PTE score chart.
Check the university's own English page for a higher entry score.
Practise your weakest section with speaking, writing, reading or listening tasks.

If you are comparing tests, see PTE vs IELTS and the PTE to IELTS converter. The converter is an estimate only and is not a UK visa rule. For the cost of the test, see PTE exam fee, and for the difference between the three PTE tests, see PTE Academic vs Core vs UKVI.

What we could not confirm

We have not listed university-by-university PTE scores, because they change by intake and course and each university publishes its own. We also did not confirm from an official page which individual universities hold the visa approval status that decides between PTE Academic and PTE Academic UKVI. Your university can tell you.

Visa rules change. Confirm the current rule on gov.uk before you apply.