TOEFL Requirement for Middlesex Dubai: Official Score Guide for 2026

Quick Overview

Key Takeaways

• The cutoff for the TOEFL for the bachelor's degree at Middlesex Dubai is 72, with 17 in Listening and Writing, 20, and 18 in speaking, and reading respectively.

• On the main admissions page, it states that for postgraduate studies, one needs to achieve 87 in the TOEFL, but on the Daytime MBA and Executive MBA pages, the requirements say 72 with 18 in reading, 21 in writing, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking, 6.0 IELTS, 59 PTE. Your program page is your definitive source for that information, and you should double-check in writing with the admissions office for your particular level of study before relying on any of the numbers provided.

• Applicants to the Foundation (IFP) must score at least 65 points on the TOEFL iBT test.

• For MBA programmes, English language requirements can be fulfilled in other ways for students with Indian secondary school qualifications. These include CBSE, ISC, NIOS, and most state board English, GCSE or O-Level English, IB English, and WAEC, WASSCE, or NECO English, with the exception of certain boards. This does not apply to students with qualifications from other countries.

• Middlesex University Dubai does offer an alternative English language route for Indian students for MBA programmes. This includes CBSE, ISC, NIOS, and most boards at 65 percent in English, GCSE or O-level English, IB English, and WAEC or WASSCE or NECO English is acceptable with the exception of certain boards.

• TOEFL iBT score reports produced from 21 January 2026, will include a conversion of the 0-30 or 0-120 score to a 1-6 band score for each section and an overall band score. A comparable 0 to 120 total score is shown only during a two-year transition window, so section-by-section checking against Middlesex Dubai's older-style cut-offs needs care.

• GMAT is only specified for the Executive MBA, and it is only for applicants without honours degrees or relevant postgraduate professional qualifications. First-year graduates are welcome.

• An internal English test is offered by Middlesex University Dubai to applicants who have received an unconditional offer. The test result cannot be used for any other university, and it is non-refundable if a candidate does not attend.

Introduction

Wondering whether your TOEFL score is good enough for Middlesex University Dubai? You are not alone. As any prospective student may discover before the application deadline, Middlesex University Dubai, the overseas campus of Middlesex University which opened its doors in 2005,  has a number of admission-related web pages stating different TOEFL iBT requirements for prospective students. In particular, depending on the programme you are applying to (Foundation, Undergraduate, Postgraduate such as an MBA), there are slight discrepancies in the minimum iBT score needed for consideration. As shown below, the official admission pages for Middlesex University Dubai contradict themselves when it comes to postgraduate admissions.

This guide covers the TOEFL requirement for Middlesex Dubai at all levels, highlights the contradictions on the university’s website, discusses the 2026 TOEFL score scale update, and answers the most common questions about the Duolingo English test, GMAT, and the English waiver for the Class 12 exam. For more information on the range of courses, fees, and rankings, you may want to check Middlesex University Dubai university. You will find all the necessary information to determine your English proficiency for the Middlesex University Dubai in a few minutes. Let’s get started.

Middlesex University Dubai TOEFL Requirement: The Official Numbers

Middlesex University Dubai’s English Language Requirements contains different TOEFL cut-off scores depending on each level of studies:

• Applicants to the institution’s Foundation (IFP) are required to present an overall score of at least 65.

• Undergraduate programs need a total of 72 points. For these programs you have to get at least 17 points in Listening and Writing, 20 points in Speaking and 18 points in Reading.

• On the official page for postgraduate degrees, the MBA needs a minimum of 87 points. For such degrees, each section has to be at least 21 points. This means you need 21 points in Listening and Writing, 22 points in Speaking and 23 points in Reading. 

Before finalizing the number 87, read further. Middlesex Dubai's own website for its MBA and Executive MBA programmes give a different, lower figure. This requirement is likely to apply only if your previous qualifications were obtained outside a listed English-speaking country. If your degree or your class 12 schooling was provided in English in one of the universities on the list, you may be able to avoid taking the tests altogether, which would certainly save you the trouble and expense of preparing for them, so do check this with the admissions office before investing time and money into preparing for any test.

Remember that even if your overall score meets the required minimum, individual sections of the TOEFL test should also meet the minimum thresholds mentioned above. If you have taken your test before 21 January 2026, double-check your individual TOEFL score report against the minimums listed above, and if you have taken your test after this date, check the score-scale section below before assuming that you met the minimum criteria. It is good to take assistance with TOEFL exam registration or double-check the current fees before making any payments. 

TOEFL Requirement for Middlesex University Dubai MBA and Executive MBA: Two Pages, Two Numbers

This is the most crucial correction of all. Middlesex University Dubai’s main English Language Requirements page states a postgraduate TOEFL score requirement of 87. However, both the Daytime MBA page and the Executive MBA page independently list a higher TOEFL iBT requirement of 72 plus individual scores of 18 in Reading, 21 in Writing, 17 in Listening, and 20 in Speaking, plus IELTS Academic 6.0 and PTE Academic 59. 

In practice, it is the programme page for the course you are applying to that will determine your eligibility, so double check that against the overall number on the main page. An MBA student who has a score of 75 might wrongly think they can't apply if they only look at the 87 number on the main page. The page for the specific program they want to join might say 72 is needed. Don't rely on either number, as the answer. Always ask for help to make sure. Take screenshots of both pages for your records, and confirm your requirement in writing with the admissions team before considering retaking a test.

Academic eligibility is considered independently from English proficiency, and the two aspects have different entry requirements:

• Executive MBA: The entry requirements for the Executive MBA require you to have a 2:2 honours degree or higher and two or more years of relevant business experience, or a graduate level professional qualification. However, applicants that do not satisfy either of these criteria are still welcome to apply, but the school requires a GMAT score of at least 550 to demonstrate academic competence.
• Daytime MBA: Unlike the Executive MBA, there is no GMAT option here. The programme welcomes fresh graduates with no work experience, so the 550 GMAT rule does not apply.

A good GMAT score (where applicable) cannot replace the need to achieve a sufficient score in either TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE to demonstrate English language proficiency. For a complete description of the course, fees, and scholarships available in the university, check out our Middlesex University Dubai Complete Guide and Middlesex University Dubai scholarships.

The TOEFL Score-Scale Change You Need to Know About Before You Book

Since 21 January 2026, ETS has redesigned how TOEFL iBT score reports are presented. Reports now show each section, Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, on a 1 to 6 scale in half-point increments, along with an overall score also expressed on that band scale. The familiar 0 to 30 per-section and 0 to 120 overall scores are no longer the primary numbers on a current score report.

For a two-year transition period, ETS also displays a comparable 0 to 120 overall score alongside the new band score, which gives you something to check against older-style university requirements. However, there is no comparable 0 to 30 figure shown for each individual section, which means you cannot directly verify Middlesex Dubai's published section minimums, such as 17 in Listening and Writing for undergraduate entry, against a current-scale report in the same way you could before.

Middlesex University Dubai's own admissions pages, as reviewed for this guide, still publish cut-offs in the old 0 to 30 and 0 to 120 format and do not yet specify which test dates these figures apply to. If you tested on or after 21 January 2026:

• Use the comparable 0 to 120 overall score shown on your transition-period report to check against the overall cut-off.

• Do not assume your band score converts cleanly to the old section minimums on your own. Send your score report to Middlesex Dubai admissions and ask them to confirm in writing whether you meet the section-level requirement under the new scale.

• Keep in mind that MyBest scores, which combine your best section performance across your two most recent valid TOEFL attempts within two years, are included on your score report by default and can be the difference between meeting a section minimum and falling short of it.

Does Middlesex University Dubai Accept Duolingo?

The official page of Middlesex University Dubai on English Language Requirements does not include the Duolingo English Test. It only offers the IELTS Academic, PTE, and TOEFL iBT tests. However, some educational websites state that the Duolingo English Test is a suitable option for Middlesex Dubai, even though it is not mentioned on the university’s official page.

If You Miss a Section Minimum: Recovery Options

Falling short by one mark on one section but clearing the overall required score by the university is one of the most frequent situations that applicants face. Prior to taking the test again, there are several options that the applicant can consider using in order to meet the score requirements:

• First, it is essential to check whether the MyBest score option would be applicable in the situation. ETS offers this option, which allows test takers to combine their best section scores for each of their two most recent TOEFL test results within the two-year period. Each of the TOEFL test attempts is taken as a whole, and the highest scores from the sections are combined. It is necessary to ensure that one of the attempts has a higher score on the section that the applicant has failed.

• Applicants can also ask about the possibility of taking the internal English test offered by Middlesex Dubai; however, it is only available to those who have an offer from the university and cannot be used for other university applications. The fees for the test are non-refundable. 

• Finally, it is vital to understand that TOEFL does not allow you to retest for one particular section. In case of a retake, you will need to sit for the whole exam again even if it means that you want to improve just one section of your exam. Therefore, budget for full test fee in case of retake.

Middlesex University Dubai Entry Requirements Beyond English Proficiency

The Middlesex University Dubai entry requirements entail academic qualifications as well as English proficiency scores as stated below. As per the official Entry Requirements page of the institution, the university requires that applicants to its undergraduate programmes should fulfill the academic and English entry requirements for their preferred course, whereas postgraduate applicants should hold a relevant bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution.

The admission page does not state a percentage range for Indian boards of Class 12 that is applicable to all programmes. Additionally, some courses have specific additional entry requirements beyond meeting the generic academic requirements. It is recommended that you get in touch with the Admissions Office to confirm the academic entry requirements for your intended course.

The Class 12 English Waiver Indian Students Should Know About

Middlesex University Dubai does publish an alternative English qualifications route on its MBA and Executive MBA programme pages, and it is worth checking even if you are not applying to the MBA, since it signals the kind of school-leaving qualifications the university generally recognises. The published alternatives include:

How the Middlesex Dubai TOEFL Requirement Compares to Other UAE Campuses

Since most of the applicants considering Middlesex Dubai are likely to compare it to other universities in the UAE rather than to the sister campus in Britain, below are the published TOEFL requirements of Middlesex compared to other institutions that are popular in this region among would-be students.

Middlesex University Dubai's Own English Test: An Alternative to TOEFL

As an alternative to TOEFL, IELTS or PTE, if you have already received an offer for an upcoming intake, you may be eligible to take an internal English language test set by Middlesex University Dubai.

This test is specific to Middlesex University Dubai and can only be used for programmes at this campus. The test fee is not refundable or transferable, so you should contact the Admissions team at Middlesex University Dubai to confirm availability and cost prior to booking the test.

Common Mistakes Indian Students Make With the TOEFL Requirement

• Assuming the Foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate TOEFL cut-offs are the same: They are not, and for postgraduate, the central admissions page and the MBA programme pages contradict one another

• Focusing only on the total score, and missing the sub-score requirement, which can occur even if one’s TOEFL is otherwise a strong performance

• Assuming that a post-January 2026 band score converts directly to the old 0-30 cut-off for individual sections, without confirmation from admissions

• Assuming that Duolingo testing will be accepted without confirmation from admissions

• Assuming that the class 12 English route is not an option, when it is stated on the MBA programme pages, and may be available more widely

• Applying the Executive MBA’s GMAT 550 rule to the Daytime MBA, which does not have a stated GMAT pathway

• Registering for TOEFL too late to allow a resit if one’s score falls below the cut-off in one section, since TOEFL does not permit resits in individual sections

What Indian Students Should Know Before Booking TOEFL for Middlesex Dubai

A few minor notes are worth adding for applicants taking this exam from India, aside from the scores:

• The ETS has increased the tuition fee for the TOEFL iBT Examination in India to approximately ₹18,000 plus Goods and Services Tax (GST) beginning 1 October 2025; a smaller number of ETS India bulletin references this as instead being approximately ₹16,900 plus GST, so double-check the most recent information on the ETS website prior to registering. Consult our page on TOEFL exam fees and the concealed expenditures of the TOEFL for additional information.

• India is a passport-only country for TOEFL identification purposes. So ensure that you always travel with a valid passport that matches the name you provided during your TOEFL registration, as failure to do so can lead to you being barred from the examination without a refund. Our guide to passport requirements for TOEFL covers this in detail.

• Do not count on being able to bypass the requirement to take the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE examinations merely by virtue of your board exam English scores, even if the university you are applying to has a published table of exemptions for certain programmes, unless you have received specific written approval from them for your intended course of study.

• You should also consider scheduling your test two to three months ahead of your earliest possible application date, as it can take some time for your scores to reach the university, as well as for document attestation for your visa to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

• If you are applying to other universities in the UAE as well, you should keep your MOHESR degree equivalence attestation and documentation running concurrently with your English language test because both can take considerable time to complete.

• If you are applying to another Middlesex University campus, or to a different institution in the UAE that utilises a similar admissions process, you can find a comprehensive list of the TOEFL score requirements in the same vein as those for RIT Dubai in our TOEFL score guide for RIT Dubai.

How Study From UAE Can Help

Trying to find out if your TOEFL score meets the standards of Middlesex University Dubai, and how they compare to other campuses in UAE that you are considering, can be challenging when the university’s own website contains conflicting information. Study From UAE compiles admission, fees, and scholarships information for Middlesex University Dubai and other universities in UAE offering international programs. You can use our  Find Your University Quiz to narrow down your options based on your TOEFL score and area of study. Contact our counselors who can help you verify English language entry requirements directly with the admissions team of your chosen university.

Conclusion

The TOEFL requirement for Middlesex Dubai is 65 for the Foundation and 72 for the Undergraduate programmes, with the sections having their own minimums. For postgraduate and MBA courses, the number given on the main page should be used as a reference only, since the Daytime MBA and Executive MBA webpage state 72 with IELTS 6.0 and PTE 59, so it is better to check the specific course page. The Duolingo English test is not officially confirmed, GMAT 550 is only required for the Executive MBA, not all MBAs, and a Class 12 English exemption is available for certain Indian boards on the MBA pages. If you took the test after 21 January 2026, keep in mind you received a report using a new 1 to 6 band scale, so it is essential to determine your overall grade and section scores on this scale and contact the University to clarify any equivalences instead of relying on the previous one.

Study From UAE is ready to assist you with your Middlesex University Dubai application options. Make sure to get in touch to take the next step in your admission process.