In short: there is no single CEFR level for university. Each institution sets its own requirement, often programme by programme, and usually asks for a result on a recognized exam:
- Programme taught in English. The requirement is expressed as an English exam result. IELTS writes: "Choose the IELTS Academic test if you wish to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels" (IELTS). The TOEFL iBT, published by ETS, "measures all four academic English skills — reading, listening, speaking and writing" (ETS). Cambridge English presents its C1 Advanced, at CEFR level C1, as proof that you can "Follow an academic course at university level" (Cambridge English).
- Programme taught in French. France Éducation international states that "The DELF B2, and increasingly the DALF C1, allow entry into French, European or Francophone universities, and into certain grandes écoles" (France Éducation international).
This guide explains how to read an admission requirement, what levels B2 and C1 describe, where to find the correspondence between scores and the CEFR, and how to find your level before the exam.
How to Read an Admission Requirement
- The accepted exam. Each institution publishes the list of exams it accepts and the minimum result expected. Its admission page is what counts: check it for your programme.
- The overall score and the skills. An institution may require an overall score and, in addition, a minimum per skill. On the CEFR side, IELTS states that its correspondence applies to the overall band score, not to each skill (see our page on IELTS and the CEFR).
- The language of instruction. IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge English exams assess English; the DELF and the DALF assess French. A programme taught in English asks for an English exam, a programme taught in French for a French exam.
- How long a result stays valid. For both the DELF and the DALF, France Éducation international writes that the diploma is "valid for life" (DELF, DALF). For English exams and others, check how long the institution accepts a result.
- Exemptions. Depending on the institution, previous studies in the language of instruction may exempt you from the exam; the rule is on its admission page.
What Levels B2 and C1 Describe
For English, Cambridge English presents the C1 Advanced, at level C1, as proof that you can follow an academic course at university level; for French, France Éducation international cites the DELF B2 and the DALF C1. Here is what the CEFR global scale says about these two levels:
- B2. The user "can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation" and "can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options".
- C1. The user "can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning" and "can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes".
For the difference between the two, see CEFR B2 vs C1: the differences. The detailed descriptors for reading comprehension and written production, from B2 to C1, show what is expected of a student who reads and writes in the language.
Score Equivalence Reference Table
Score equivalences are approximate, and each exam provider publishes its own. Rather than copy figures that change, here is where to read them:
| Exam | Link with the CEFR | Where to read it |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | Correspondence published by IELTS for the overall band score, with three borderline zones (bands 5, 6.5 and 8) | Our page on IELTS and the CEFR |
| TOEFL iBT | Correspondence published by ETS, the TOEFL provider | Our page on TOEFL and the CEFR |
| Cambridge English | Each exam targets one level: B2 First (B2), C1 Advanced (C1), C2 Proficiency (C2) | Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency |
| DELF / DALF | Each diploma matches one level: DELF A1, A2, B1 and B2; DALF C1 and C2 | France Éducation international: DELF, DALF |
For any other exam, check with the organisation that delivers it.
How to Prepare
According to Cambridge English, moving from one CEFR level to the next takes approximately 200 guided learning hours (lessons and supervised study); the actual time depends on your learning background, the intensity of your study and your practice outside lessons (source: Cambridge English, "Guided learning hours").
Also plan for the calendar of the exam you are taking (session dates, time to get results) and the deadline for your application: they are specific to each exam and each institution.
Finding Your Level Before the Exam
- Self-assessment. The CEFR self-assessment grid (Table 2) gives a first reference point, skill by skill.
- The practice tests of the exam you are taking. They get you used to the format. For the difference between an official exam and an assessment such as CEFRHub, see our comparisons CEFRHub vs IELTS and CEFRHub vs DELF/DALF.
- Assessment of a real production. A written text or a spoken recording, analysed against the CEFR descriptors, shows where you stand and what is left to work on.
CEFRHub assesses written and spoken production, in English and French: a CEFR level from A1 to C2, with sub-levels, and a report based on the descriptors of the CEFR and its Companion Volume, in under 3 minutes. It is an educational assessment tool, not a certifying test, to find your level before the exam. Results are not accepted for any immigration, citizenship or admission process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CEFR level do you need for university?
There is no single level: each institution sets its own requirement, often by programme. For English, Cambridge English presents the C1 Advanced, at level C1, as proof that you can follow an academic course at university level (Cambridge English). For French, France Éducation international states that the DELF B2, and increasingly the DALF C1, allow entry into French, European or Francophone universities (France Éducation international). Always check the admission page of your programme.
Is a CEFRHub assessment accepted for university admission?
No. Results are not accepted for any immigration, citizenship or admission process. CEFRHub is an educational assessment tool, not a certifying test, that helps you find your level before the official exam.
Which English exams do universities accept?
Each institution publishes its own list; check the one for your programme. The three providers cited in this guide present their exam for study: IELTS for IELTS Academic, ETS for the TOEFL iBT, Cambridge English for C1 Advanced.
What CEFR level is C1 Advanced?
C1, according to Cambridge English. B2 First is at B2 and C2 Proficiency at C2 (Cambridge English).
Is IELTS 6.5 B2 or C1?
Either is possible: IELTS itself names band 6.5 as a borderline zone between B2 and C1. The details, with sources, are on our page on IELTS and the CEFR.
Is the overall IELTS score enough?
It depends on the institution: some also require a minimum per skill. On the CEFR side, IELTS states that its correspondence applies to the overall band score, not to each skill.
Can I use IELTS for a programme taught in French?
No: IELTS assesses English. For a programme taught in French, the institution asks for a French exam; check its list of accepted exams.
Can I use a DELF for an English-speaking university?
No: the DELF and the DALF assess French. For a programme taught in English, the institution asks for an English exam; check its list of accepted exams.
Does the DELF B2 expire?
No: France Éducation international describes it as “valid for life”, like the DALF (DELF, DALF).
How long does it take to go from B2 to C1?
According to Cambridge English, about 200 guided learning hours (lessons and supervised study) per level. The figure is indicative: it depends on your background, the intensity of your study and your practice outside lessons (source: Cambridge English).