The University of Cambridge accepts TOEFL iBT for English language proficiency. Cambridge's requirements mirror its IELTS tier system in TOEFL terms — with most graduate programmes requiring TOEFL 110 and several humanities and professional programmes expecting scores at the highest level.
Does Cambridge Accept TOEFL?
Yes. Cambridge accepts TOEFL iBT alongside IELTS Academic. Cambridge does not express a preference between the two tests. TOEFL iBT Home Edition is also accepted.
TOEFL MyBest: Cambridge does not accept TOEFL MyBest. A score from a single valid sitting is required.
Cambridge TOEFL Requirements — Overview
Cambridge maps its TOEFL requirements to its IELTS tier system:
| Cambridge Level | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Equivalent | Min Per Section |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 100 | 7.0 | 22 each |
| Higher | 110 | 7.5 | 25 each |
| Highest (Writing exception) | 110 | 7.5 (Writing 7.5) | Writing 27, others 24 |
| Maximum | 120 | 8.0 | 25 each |
Most Cambridge graduate courses sit at the Higher level (110 iBT, all sections 25). Humanities and Law programmes frequently require 110 with higher Writing.
Cambridge TOEFL Requirements — Undergraduate
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum TOEFL | 110 iBT |
| Per-section minimum | 25 each section |
| Competitive score | 115–120 |
Cambridge undergraduate admissions requires TOEFL 110 as the stated minimum — higher than most universities' undergraduate thresholds. Admitted international students typically score 115–120.
Cambridge TOEFL by Faculty — Graduate
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Writing | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPhil English | 110 | 27 | 115–120 |
| MPhil History | 110 | 27 | 113–120 |
| DPhil Humanities | 110 | 27 | 113–120 |
| MPhil Music | 110 | 25 | 110–115 |
| MPhil Classics | 110 | 25 | 110–115 |
Humanities programmes at Cambridge specify Writing 27 as a per-section minimum — one of the highest Writing section requirements of any university globally.
Faculty of Social Sciences
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Per Section | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPhil Economics | 110 | 25 all | 110–120 |
| MPhil Politics | 110 | 25 all | 110–120 |
| MPhil Education | 110 | 25 all | 110–115 |
| MPhil Development Studies | 110 | 25 all | 110–115 |
Cambridge Judge Business School
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Per Section | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA (1-year) | 110 | 25 all | 110–120 |
| MFin (Master in Finance) | 110 | 25 all | 110–120 |
| MPhil Management | 110 | 25 all | 110–115 |
Faculty of Law
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Writing | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLM (1-year) | 110 | 27 | 113–120 |
| MPhil in Law | 110 | 27 | 113–120 |
| PhD in Law | 110 | 27 | 113–120 |
Cambridge Law requires Writing 27 — the highest per-section Writing minimum of any Cambridge faculty. Legal analysis demands precision writing at the highest level.
School of Clinical Medicine
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Per Section | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Medicine (graduate entry) | 110 | 25 all | 110–120 |
| MPhil/PhD Clinical Research | 110 | 25 all | 110–115 |
Department of Engineering
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Per Section | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPhil/PhD Engineering | 100 | 22 all | 107–115 |
Department of Computer Science and Technology
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Per Section | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPhil Advanced Computer Science | 110 | 25 all | 110–120 |
| PhD Computer Science | 110 | 25 all | 110–115 |
Department of Mathematics
| Programme | Min TOEFL | Min Per Section | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part III Mathematics (MMath/MASt) | 110 | 25 all | 110–115 |
| PhD Mathematics | 110 | 25 all | 110–115 |
Cambridge TOEFL — Summary Table
| Programme Area | Min TOEFL | Min Per-Section | Competitive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 110 | 25 | 115–120 |
| Humanities (MPhil/PhD) | 110 | Writing 27, others 24 | 113–120 |
| Social Sciences (MPhil/PhD) | 110 | 25 all | 110–120 |
| Cambridge MBA / Judge | 110 | 25 all | 110–120 |
| Cambridge Law (LLM/PhD) | 110 | Writing 27, others 24 | 113–120 |
| Clinical Medicine | 110 | 25 all | 110–120 |
| Engineering (MPhil/PhD) | 100 | 22 all | 107–115 |
| Computer Science (MPhil/PhD) | 110 | 25 all | 110–115 |
| Mathematics | 110 | 25 all | 110–115 |
Per-Section Strategy for Cambridge TOEFL
Writing (target 25–30)
Cambridge's Level 2 standard requires Writing 25. Humanities and Law specify Writing 27 — among the highest per-section requirements globally. For all Cambridge programmes, Writing is the most scrutinised section.
Target: Writing 25 (Engineering); Writing 27 (Humanities, Law); 28–30 for DPhil English and competitive Law programmes.
Speaking (target 25–30)
Cambridge requires Speaking 25 for all Level 2 programmes. Tutorial debates, seminar contributions, and viva examinations all depend on oral precision.
Reading and Listening (target 25–30)
Both at 25 minimum for Level 2. A score below 22 in either would be a specific weakness at Cambridge's competitive level.
Score Validity at Cambridge
TOEFL scores are valid for two years. Cambridge requires scores valid at the time of application. Most Cambridge graduate deadlines fall in December or January.
TOEFL vs. IELTS for Cambridge
Both accepted equally. Most UK-based applicants submit IELTS; TOEFL is common among North American and Asian applicants.
Common Mistakes Cambridge TOEFL Applicants Make
Submitting 100 for a Level 2 programme. Cambridge's standard for most graduate courses is 110 — not 100. A 100 falls below the stated minimum for most Cambridge MPhil and PhD programmes.
Missing the Writing per-section minimum. A 110 overall with Writing 22 falls below Cambridge Humanities and Law's Writing 27 requirement. Per-section floors are strictly enforced.
Not using MyBest correctly. Cambridge does not accept TOEFL MyBest. A single valid sitting is required.
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