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It’s important to know the exact TOEFL score requirement of your preferred universities; it’s more than necessary. If you set a lower goal than required, you’ll be surprised halfway through your application process that you’re falling short of meeting the program's minimum score requirement. Conversely, if you aim too high for no reason, you'll be preparing yourself for nothing because there's no need to do that. This guide discusses the minimum TOEFL scores of the best universities in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and Europe for 2026, including section-specific score minimums.
Use this guide to determine your exact TOEFL score goal before even thinking about starting your TOEFL test preparation. Having an exact goal is the most effective motivator when preparing for any examination, including the TOEFL test.
TOEFL University Score Requirements: The Total Score and Section Score
Universities have two types of TOEFL score requirements: the total score and the section score. Most students tend to concentrate only on the total score, ignoring section scores. It is an expensive strategy.
The total score is the minimum TOEFL score required by a university to be considered for admission. If a university requires a minimum score of 100, all TOEFL scores below 100 will be automatically rejected, no matter what else is included in the application form.
The section score is the minimum score that a candidate should obtain in a particular section. Universities may require candidates to obtain a minimum score of 22 in Speaking in addition to the total score requirement of 90. A student who scored 94 in the test overall but failed to meet the Speaking section's minimum score of 22 would be automatically disqualified from admission despite obtaining a total score above the required minimum.
TOEFL Score Requirements for US Universities 2026
• The US is the most common country visited by Indian students giving the TOEFL exam. The criteria differ quite widely from one college or course to another. The following are specific criteria for major US Universities:
• MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology): Minimum score overall is 100 plus. Speaking minimum 25. There are no formal minimum scores for each section but for competitive students, a minimum of 25 plus for all sections is expected. Programs mostly offered include engineering and science courses.
• Stanford University: Overall minimum score is 100 plus. All the MBA and graduate programs across different departments need 100 plus. Specific programs like Electrical Engineering and Computer Science need 105 plus for competitive students.
• Harvard University: Overall minimum score is 100 to 105 depending on the program attended. The requirements for the Harvard Kennedy School are 104 overall, whereas, for the Harvard Business School, the overall requirement is 109.
• University of Michigan: Minimum total 100. Programs in business and engineering must have 100 with speaking minimum 24.
• Carnegie Mellon University: Minimum total 100. Programs in computer science and engineering must have 100 with speaking minimum 24. CMU's Masters in computer science is one of the most competitive courses for Indian students.
• UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles): Minimum total 87 in graduate courses but more competitive ones in engineering and business would need 100 plus.
• Georgia Institute of Technology: Minimum total 90 with minimum speaking 23. Mainly STEM programs with high competitiveness with an equally competitive foreign student body.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Minimum total 79. Most of the engineering programs may have 96 plus as their requirement. Program-wise differences are wide.
• Purdue University: Minimum total 77-90 depending upon the program offered by Purdue. Engineering programs would need a minimum total score of 80-88. One of the most sought-after universities by Indian engineers.
• Texas A&M University: Minimum total 80. Graduate sciences have minimum speaking 23.
• Arizona State University: Minimum total 80 except few cases. One of the easiest access to the best universities in America.
Admission to American MS Programs: It would be safe to say that the practical minimum TOEFL score requirement is 90-100. TOEFL scores of 100-105 or more are mandatory for top-20 universities. Programs that involve TA assignments usually require a TOEFL speaking score of at least 24 since TAs have to teach undergraduates.
TOEFL Score Requirement for Admission to Canadian Universities in 2026
After the United States, Canada is the next favorite destination for Indian students who want to pursue their studies abroad. TOEFL is accepted for admission to Canadian universities but not for immigration purposes.
• The University of Toronto: Requires 93 to 100. Min. 22 in writing. Amongst the most research oriented Universities in Canada.
• McGill University: Min. 86 to 100 in total. Varies greatly according to faculty/program. Some faculties at McGill are harder to get into than others.
• The University of British Columbia: Requires 90 to 100 in total. Min. 22 for each skill in all four categories. Highly respected for Engineering and Business Programs.
• The University of Waterloo: For Engineering and Computer Science requires min. 90 in total. Has an excellent computer science department with industry connections.
• Simon Fraser University: For Business and Sciences requires min. 80 in total. A very approachable university in British Columbia.
• The University of Alberta: Most graduate programs require min. 90 in total. The Health Science programs may have even higher score requirements.
TOEFL Score Requirements for Admissions to UK Universities 2026
• The vast majority of UK universities accept the TOEFL iBT for admissions purposes. However, TOEFL is not accepted for UK visas and requires the completion of another exam like IELTS Academic (UKVI) or PTE Academic (UKVI).
• University of Oxford: The TOEFL requirement for graduate programs is 100 to 110. Specific departments require 25+ for each section. Highly varied requirements due to the multiple departments at Oxford - 50+.
• University of Cambridge: TOEFL for graduate programs is 100 to 110. Departments have specific requirements, as does Science with higher effective minimum scores due to competitiveness.
• Imperial College London: TOEFL for STEM graduate programs is 92 to 100. Known for its Engineering and Science program, Imperial College London is one of the top universities in Europe in these subjects.
• UCL (University College London): Arts and Social Sciences: Total score required is 92. Score of at least 24 should be attained in each of the four tests. One of the most sought after universities by foreign students in the UK.
• University of Edinburgh: Most graduate courses will require a total score of 92. One of the oldest universities in the UK with top-notch courses in Medicine, Law, and Business.
• University of Manchester: Majority of courses require a score range of 92 to 100.
• University of Warwick: Most courses require scores between 92 to 100.
TOEFL Scores Required at Australian and New Zealand Universities 2026
• University of Melbourne: Total score ranging from 79 to 94. One of the best universities in Australia and most preferred by international students.
• Australian National University (ANU): Total score range 80 to 94. Sectional minimum score is 20. Located in Canberra and one of the top 30 universities in the world.
• University of Sydney: Total score 85 to 94. The score requirement depends on the faculty. It has great courses for Business, Medicine, and Engineering.
• University of Queensland: Total score 87. Some courses may have more requirements.
• Monash University: Total score of 79 to 94. Minimum writing score of 21 for various courses.
• University of Auckland, New Zealand: Total score 90. Writing score minimum is 23. Largest university in New Zealand.
TOEFL Score Requirements for European Universities (English-Taught Programs) 2026
• The English taught graduate programs in European universities are very much sought by Indians because they provide great academic excellence, reduced tuition fees when compared to universities in the USA and UK, and great future employment prospects in Europe.
• Technical University of Munich, Germany: Total score required 88 to 95. Varies based on program chosen. One of Europe's best engineering schools.
• Delft University of Technology, Netherlands: Total score required 90. Great for Engineering and Architecture programs.
• ETH Zurich, Switzerland: Total score required 95. One of Europe’s most respected technical institutions. Some courses require 22 plus in each section.
• KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden: Total score required 90. Most respected technical research institution in Sweden.
• Bocconi University, Italy: Total score required 85 to 92 for most courses. MBA requires 100 plus score. Leading business school in Italy.
• Copenhagen Business School, Denmark: Total score required 88. Great for finance and management programs.
Safe Score Targets for Each Region
• If you are unsure about the universities on your final list or applying to various regions, use the following score targets as your safe score:
• US top-20 universities: Safe score target of 105 and above, 25+ in each section.
• US top-50 universities: Safe score target of 100-105, 23+ in each section.
• Mid-level US and high-end Canadian universities: Safe score target of 92-100, 22+ in each section.
• Top UK and Australian universities: Safe score target of 92-100, 22+ in each section.
• English-language programs in Europe: Safe score target of 90-95.
Always Confirm Score Requirements Prior to Application
University TOEFL score requirements get revised annually. Departments at the same university may have different score requirements. There may be changes from year to year in terms of intake. Make sure to consult the program admissions page on the university website no more than 6 months before the application deadline. Always confirm the details about score requirements from the official source of the university – do not just depend on third-party sources.
Setting Your TOEFL Score Target with CATKing
CATKing TOEFL consultants help you identify score requirements for the universities on your list, set your TOEFL target score, and prepare for taking the exam. Get the accurate picture of your current skills and weaknesses based on CATKing free diagnostic mock test. Take advantage of CATKing and join thousands of students admitted into the best universities worldwide thanks to CATKing services!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1: How often should I check a university's score requirements?
Answer: University requirements are revised annually. You should consult the official program admissions page no more than six months before your application deadline to ensure the data is current. Different departments within the same university may have different score requirements.
Q2: What scores should one obtain to get into high-calibre US universities?
Answer: To enter the best 20 US universities, one can aim for 105 or more, with 25 or more in each section. In the case of elite universities such as MIT, Stanford, or Harvard, a score of 100 or higher is typically required by the university. Some programmes require even higher scores. For instance, the Harvard Business School requires 109 or more.
Q3: Is it possible to use TOEFL in order to migrate to Canada or the United Kingdom?
Answer: Canada: The TOEFL test is accepted for university enrollment (like the University of Toronto or McGill), but it is not acceptable for migration.
United Kingdom: Though most British universities accept the TOEFL test for enrollment, it is not recognised for obtaining a visa. Visa candidates should usually take the IELTS Academic or PTE Academic tests.
Q4: What are the criteria for English-speaking courses in Europe?
Answer: The safety range of scores in the programs of Europe lies somewhere between 90 and 95. Points required by top technical colleges vary; ETH Zurich needs a score of 95, while Delft University of Technology needs a score of 90, and the Technical University of Munich's score range varies from 88-95 depending on the course.
Q5: What are the standards in Australia and New Zealand?
Answer: Australia's leading universities, such as the University of Melbourne and ANU, demand a total score from 79 to 94.Australia's leading universities, such as the University of Melbourne and ANU, demand a total score from 79 to 94.
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