The short answer: B1 below degree, B2 at degree level
For a UK Student visa, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires you to prove English at CEFR level B1 for courses below degree level, and CEFR B2 for courses at degree level and above. You must show it across all four skills — reading, writing, speaking, and listening — not just an overall average. This is the requirement stated on the UK government's Student visa guidance at gov.uk; always confirm the current wording there, because immigration rules change.
You usually prove it in one of two ways: by passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) — such as IELTS for UKVI — at the required level, or, for degree-level courses, by having your university assess your English itself as a licensed student sponsor. Which route applies depends on your course and your sponsor, so check what your university accepts before you book anything.
How CEFR B1 and B2 map to IELTS bands
The SELT most students take is IELTS for UKVI. As rough anchors, CEFR B1 sits around IELTS 4.0–5.0 and CEFR B2 around IELTS 5.5–6.5 — but the specific band you need is set by your course and sponsor, and it is often higher than the visa floor. IELTS itself says there is no exact one-to-one conversion to the CEFR, so treat the table below as orientation, not a guarantee.
| Course level | CEFR (UKVI minimum) | Approx. IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| Below degree (e.g. foundation, pre-sessional) | B1 | ~4.0–5.0 |
| Degree level and above (undergrad / postgrad) | B2 | ~5.5–6.5 |
| Competitive / selective programmes | Often C1 | ~6.5–7.5+ |
Check if you're in range before you book a SELT
An IELTS for UKVI test costs roughly £200 and has to be booked at an approved test centre — it's not something you want to sit twice because you were half a level short. Before you pay, a free self-check tells you whether you're realistically near B1, near B2, or still a level away.
Nivelo's free 5-minute test gives you a CEFR range (like B1–B2) and shows which skill is weakest. If your reading is B2 but your listening is B1, that's the skill to close the gap on first — while there's still time before your official test date.