Why should a University or Higher Education institution have an IELTS partnership with British Council?

IELTS seminars and training offered to local English teachers

Our expert trainers and examiners can provide seminars for students and staff as well as training for local English teachers in the University venues.

Closed sessions all year

We offer a vast number of dates - 48 dates per year - to choose from to suit their course programmes. Partner universities can ask the British Council to organise an IELTS session directly in their venues (or still in in their city) choosing one of the dates available every year and communicating their need at least 6 weeks in advance.

Special payment procedures

We can allow bank transfers payments for group registrations from institutions.

Fast turnaround registration to results and certificates

A list of results will be ready just 13 days after the test; universities can access results online through the free online verification system; also candidates can access results online and will also receive a printed Test Report Form (TRF); additional printed forms can be requested in the future.

Remove admin load from university 

All test administration procedures including material delivery will be charge of British Council with no extra cost.


IELTS preparation centre logo

If the university provides IELTS preparation courses to their students the British Council Italy can provide a logo to show in local promotional or information material. Please contact us to request the logo.

Join the world list of recognising universities and higher education institutions

The most prestigious educational institutions recognise IELTS. Among the others, Italian partner universities are Università Commerciale "Luigi Bocconi" in Milan, Politecnico di Torino, Università Alma Mater Bologna, Università del Salento. Find out how to become a recognising organisation.

IELTS can tests Academic English for all purposes

IELTS has a specific Academic module (the alternative, General Training, is mostly used for migration purposes). Universities can recognise IELTS results as a standard high-stakes test alternative to internal English language examinations or for other purposes such as international study programmes like Erasmus+.

Scores you can trust

IELTS examiners are fully qualified English language specialists certified by Cambridge ESOL, and results are benchmarked worldwide. You can be confident that the scores that you see will accurately reflect a candidate’s ability.

Advantages for students

Wide range of materials for preparation

The British Council offers a wide range of IELTS preparation material for students and teachers. 

Road to IELTS for Institutions

Road to IELTS is an official British Council tool that teachers can use as the core material for an IELTS preparation course. It can also be used as a self-access resource by students. Every IELTS candidate has already access to 30-hours of preparation material for free: test takers are more likely to do well, if they know what to expect. This is where our Road to IELTS provides test takers with a unique advantage.

Road to IELTS for Institutions includes 120 hours of intensive work on Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking, helping them to develop their skills to the levels necessary to succeed in IELTS. Crucially, the program simulates IELTS, enabling test takers to view videos of the Speaking test and to practise against the clock. Please visit the official Road to IELTS website to find out more.

High quality testing with internationally recognised exams giving students access to opportunities for study and work worldwide

Students will get a strong benefit in their CV by proving their English language level with the world's most popular test whose Academic module has been built specifically for academic purposes.

How to use IELTS results?

IELTS is recognized by the Council of Europe. The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) provides a basis for the mutual recognition of language qualifications, thus facilitating educational and occupational mobility. 

Find out how IELTS scores relate to the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

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