The short answer: usually B2
If you only remember one thing: B2 is the level most things actually require. B2 is the CEFR's first "independent user" band — it's where you can work, study, and live in English without someone slowing down for you. Universities, skilled jobs, and many visas are all built around it.
But "B2" hides a lot of nuance, and the requirement is often lower than people fear (or lower than the job really needs). Below is the honest breakdown by use case — and the catch nobody mentions: most learners overestimate their own level by about half a band, so the requirement isn't the hard part. Knowing where you actually stand is.
What English level do you need for university?
Most English-taught universities want around B2 for undergraduate study — commonly an IELTS 6.0–6.5 or equivalent. Competitive programs and most postgraduate (Master's/PhD) courses push that to C1 (around IELTS 7.0).
Remember that exam-to-CEFR conversions are approximate — even IELTS and Cambridge say so — so a "6.5" sits near the B2/C1 boundary, not squarely in one band. Always check the exact requirement for your specific program; this is a guide, not a guarantee.
What English level do you need for a job or a work visa?
Two different bars, and people confuse them. The visa minimum is often low — many skilled-work and immigration routes accept B1, and some points-based systems (like Canada's Express Entry) simply reward higher English with more points, where B2–C1 is a real advantage. The job itself usually wants more: most professional roles expect B2 ("can work effectively in English"), and client-facing or senior positions lean C1.
So you can clear a visa at B1 and still struggle in the actual role. If your goal is to work comfortably — not just qualify — aim for B2 as the floor. Verify your specific visa/route requirements with the official source, since they change.
What English level do you need for citizenship?
Citizenship language requirements are usually lower than work or study — the UK, for example, asks for B1. The point is functional communication, not academic English. Again, confirm the current rule for your country; requirements shift over time.
Why B2 is the number that keeps coming up
CEFR splits into basic (A1–A2), independent (B1–B2), and proficient (C1–C2). B2 is the gateway to "independent" — you can follow a lecture, hold your own in a meeting, and read most things without a dictionary. That's why universities, employers, and immigration systems anchor to it: it's the practical threshold for functioning in English, not just surviving.
C1 is the difference between functioning and operating with ease — precise vocabulary, formal register, the implicit meaning behind what people say. You need it for top universities and senior professional roles, but for most goals B2 is "good enough," and chasing C1 when B2 is required is a common waste of time.
How to know if you're actually at the level you need
Here's the honest part: self-assessment is unreliable, and most learners overestimate. People who "feel B2" routinely test at B1 — and find out the expensive way, by failing an exam or freezing in an interview. The fix is a real measurement against the CEFR descriptors, not a gut feeling.
Nivelo's free 5-minute test gives you a CEFR-aligned range (like "B1–B2") so you know exactly where you stand against the level you need — before you pay for an exam, apply to a program, or accept a role. No signup required to start, and your result is shown immediately.