IELTS for studying abroad
Journalism degrees are language-intensive from day one: seminars, editorial workshops, media law lectures, and constant written output mean examiners look closely at whether your English can handle nuance, argument, and speed. IELTS is the standard proof of that readiness for both university admission and the student visa that follows, so a strong result across all four skills — not just an acceptable overall figure — is what opens doors. Because journalism work lives in writing and speaking, weak sub-scores in those areas can block an offer even if your overall score looks reasonable.
A commonly cited requirement is commonly 6.0–7.0 overall, set by each university (often 6.5 for undergraduate, 7.0 for graduate), set by US universities.
IELTS requirements change and vary by route, employer, and institution — always confirm the current figure with the official body before you rely on it.
US universities generally accept both IELTS Academic and TOEFL, but most Canadian institutions and an increasing number of US journalism schools list IELTS Academic explicitly; sub-score requirements are common and vary by school and by I-20 or study-permit visa processing. Always cross-check the university's admissions requirements with IRCC (Canada) or the relevant US consular guidance for visa purposes.
Prioritise Academic Writing, because journalism programmes assess your ability to construct clear, evidence-based arguments under time pressure — exactly what IELTS Task 2 trains — and a low Writing band can undercut an otherwise solid application.
Going abroad to work instead? See IELTS for professions in United States.