Do European Universities Accept GRE Scores

Europe is home to many reputed universities offering a very wide range of programs to suit a very wide range of expectations. The programs are both broad-based and niche, are rigorous and mostly research intensive. Competition is high and admission processes are strict for both domestic and international applicants. While GRE is not universally mandated, many European universities accept GRE scores, particularly the highly coveted ones like HEC Paris, INSEAD, ETH Zurich, LSE, Oxbridge etc., require an exceptional GRE score.

Look at Country-wise Requirements for European Universities Accepting GRE Scores

GRE Requirements in the United Kingdom

Most universities in the UK do not require GRE for admissions. They rely more on academic transcripts, personal statements and LoRs. However, some top institutions like Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and LSE are a few European universities that ask for GRE, especially for programs in quantitative sciences, finance, management or economics. A 320+ overall with 163+ per section is considered a good score. Your Quantitative score is given more importance than your Verbal score for these programs. For programs like Humanities, Sciences and Engineering, GRE is not required.

• Oxford: GRE (or GMAT) is mandated for MFE, MBA and some PhD programs in Economics.

• Cambridge: Here too, GRE (or GMAT) is mandated for MBA, MFin and M. Phil in Economics. For the latter, a 165+ quantitative score is expected. If you have completed a full degree at a UK university you can request for a GRE waiver.

• LSE: GRE is a must if you are a non-UK graduate and applying to programs in Economics and Finance. For some management and social science programs, although not mandatory, it is recommended, more so if your UG degree lacked a strong quantitative component. A good GRE in this case can be seen as a compensating factor.

• LBS: GRE/GMAT is a must for all programs in this business school including MBA, MiM, MFA and MAM. They typically look for GRE scores of 160+ in both Verbal and Quant.

GRE Requirements in Germany

Germany is one of the most popular destinations for Masters programs in European universities, particularly for Indian students aspiring for engineering courses. GRE requirements are highly program-specific and mandated only for the competitive Economics, Management and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) programs. Quant scores are most important for STEM programs, and some universities even disregard the verbal scores for these programs. A GRE score of 315+ (with 160+ in Quant) is ‘safe’ for the top 10% of German technical schools.

• TU Munich (TUM): It is extremely strict about its GRE requirement, particularly for international students. GRE is mandatory for MS programs like Management, Engineering and Computer Science. Emphasis is on Quant for which the hard minimum is 157-164+. TUM uses a Point System and a 164+ Quant score is worth huge admission points. They also consider Analytical Writing with a preferred score of 3.5+. For students from India, for a few specific engineering programs, your GATE score may also be used as a substitute.

• LMU (Ludwig Maximilian University) Munich: A GRE above the 75th percentile with a heavy focus on the Quant score is required for its Management, Economics and Epidemiology programs. However, this number is just the minimum benchmark. For Economics, the actual number in admitted students is 85+ and often even 90th percentile.

• RWTH Aachen: GRE is mandatory for non-EU applicants. A minimum of 160 for Quant and 145 for Verbal is required. This university too, like TUM, considers Analytical Writing in which a 3+ is expected. However, since the university uses percentile over scores, these numbers are bound to be different with every batch of applicants.

GRE Requirements in France

In most public universities in France, such as Sorbonne and University of Bordeaux, GRE is not mandatory for the standard Master’s programs like Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts and many Life Sciences. The focus is more on academic compatibility. They want to see how your undergrad major aligns with the proposed master’s program. But GRE is now becoming a requirement for their International Master’s programs in Economics or Finance.

However, if you are applying to any of the Grandes Écoles (top-tier engineering and business schools), or to specialized English-taught Master’s programs, the GRE or GMAT becomes important. It is actually mandatory for the MiM and MBA programs. Technical colleges like Ecole Polytechnique or CentraleSupélec use the GRE to assess the academic capability of international students. Private elite schools like HEC Paris, ESSEC and ESCP mandate GMAT or GRE, and look for a balanced score across all sections unlike Germany which focuses on quant.

That being said, across most universities in France, a GRE can help in the following situations even if the university does not require it:

1. Your undergrad GPA is not great.

2. You are targeting competitive programs like MiM, MSc Finance and MSc Data Analytics.

3. You are looking for a switch. i.e. from marketing to analytics, engineering to MiM, etc.

4. You are looking for scholarships.

• HEC Paris: It is a top ranked privately run business school and one of the top notch European universities accepting GRE scores. This business school considers the GRE as a critical metric. A GRE score of 325 is the ‘competitive minimum’, meaning that though 325 is not an official cutoff, it is the minimum percentile the school will consider. The average GRE of admitted students generally falls in the range 328-330. HEC values Analytical Writing too, and looks for a 4 or higher score in this section.

• INSEAD: Another prestigious private university, INSEAD officially expects applicants to be in the 80th percentile in both sections of the GRE. For its MBA, the average GRE score of admitted students is around 324, with balanced scores in both sections (quant of 163+ and verbal of 160) is considered satisfactory.

• École Polytechnique (l’X): This is the most prestigious engineering school in France and is a public institution. It falls under the purview of the French Ministry of Defense. GRE is mandatory for the Master of Science and Technology (MSc&T) programs (e.g., AI, Data Science, and Energy) especially for international students, and a quant score of 164-170 is the standard expectation.

• Sciences Po: A state-funded public institution, GRE requirement in this social sciences university depends entirely on the program. The GRE (or GMAT) is mandatory for programs like Master in International Finance, and Master in Economics and for its dual degrees granted with partner institutions like LSE, and NUS. Though there is no hard cutoff limit, a 320 total score is considered very strong. 160+ is required in quant for the Economic and Finance programs. Research-heavy programs will look for 155+ in verbal and a 4 in Analytical Writing.

• ESSEC Business School: A prestigious private business school, ESSEC follows a holistic review approach. Although they clearly state that there is no strict cutoff, they also mention that successful applicants for their MiM have a 320-322 GRE score. Lower scores must necessarily present very high GPAs (8.5+) to be considered.

GRE Requirements in Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the GRE is a prime requirement for Master’s programs in fields like Data Science, Engineering, and Economics, especially for international students and is considered as a cutoff filter. If you are even one point below their stated minimum, the system will automatically reject your application. Scores must be no older than 2 years at the time of the program’s start date (not the time of application). Technical universities like TU Delft and TU Eindhoven care almost exclusively about the Quant score.

• TU Delft: It has one of the most rigid GRE policies in Europe. GRE is mandatory for all international MSc applicants and you have to meet the minimum in all three sections: Quant: 163, Verbal: 154, and Analytical Writing: 4.0. Even a single point lower in one section will not be considered, nor can it be compensated for by scoring higher in other sections.

• Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e): GRE is required for all international applicants to its MSc programs (Engineering and Computer Science tracks). Technical proficiency is expected and a strong Quant score in GRE should reflect this. If your Bachelor’s GPA is a little below their 75% aggregate requirement, a very high quant of 165+ in the GRE can, at times, help balance it out.

• Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR): World renowned for its business and economics programs, EUR has stringent GRE requirements, and these vary with the school to which you are applying.

1. GRE is mandatory for all international students applying to its Rotterdam School of Management programs like the Master in Management or in Finance & Investments. They expect 80th percentile or higher in Quant and a 320+ in overall GRE. Since they prefer GMAT, your GRE score will be converted to a GMAT equivalent using an in-house method.

2. For students applying to programs like Econometrics, Data Science and Marketing Analytics, or Economics and Business at Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), GRE is a must for all students with a non-Dutch Bachelor’s Degree. A quant of 160 and a 3.5 in Analytical Writing is the minimum scores expected.

3. At the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB), GRE is often not mandatory. It relies more on your Bachelor’s GPA and more specifically on your ‘methods and statistics’ credits.

Here is a complete study in Netherlands 2026 guide for Master’s.

GRE Requirements in Ireland

Ireland is becoming an increasingly popular destination among European universities, especially for students looking for tech and biomedical programs. GRE is not mandatory in most Irish universities where you are applying for subjects like Computer Science, Engineering and Data Analytics, as they focus on Bachelor’s GPA (equivalent to 60-75% depending on university), the subject’s relevance to the proposed field of study, SoPs and LoRs.

GRE and GMAT are usually required only for top-tier business schools (they prefer GMAT to GRE) or specific research tracks.

• Trinity College Dublin (TCD): Ireland’s highest ranked university, GRE is not a requirement even for their Computer Science or Finance programs. They are, however, very particular about the reputation of your undergrad university in your country and your specific grade (preferably above 65%) in the relevant fields (like Math for Computing).

• UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School: This university stands out for its GRE/GMAT requirement for the MBA program. The test is used as a primary filter to maintain its global ranking. A 300-315+ (equivalent to 600+ GMAT) with a Quant score of 160+ is expected though to be truly competitive you should aim for a 320+. Most other MSc programs like Marketing or Supply Chain do not require the GRE.

• University of Galway & University College Cork: Popular for their Data Analytics and Biotechnology programs, these universities use a weighted system with your final-year project and core subject grades given most weight. The GRE is not even an option to be submitted.

GRE Requirements in Sweden

In Sweden, GRE is not required for the majority of master’s programs including Engineering and Science. Swedish universities prioritize the relevance of your Bachelor’s degree to the proposed major, and your ECTS in specific subjects over standardized tests. ECTS are your credits earned based on your total workload across attending lectures, submitting assignments, etc. The universities also evaluate your GPA, university reputation and statement.

• Stockholm School of Economics (SSE): The most prestigious school in Sweden, it is also the only major institution that requires a GRE, especially for international applicants to MSc programs (Finance, Business & Management, etc.). A minimum Quant score of 155 is mandated though the average generally is 165.5. Similarly though there is no specific cutoff for Verbal it is usually in the 160+ range in admitted students.

• Lund University: GRE is required for its Master’s in Finance. The test is used more like a selection criterion than an entry requirement. This means that, although you can apply without a GRE, submitting a GRE of 315+ will improve your chances of admission to competitive tracks.

• Uppsala University: This university recommends a GRE/GMAT for its Master in Statistics and some business programs. The test is used more for Merit rating than decision-making. If you have a GRE score, you can upload it to your University Admissions Account.

In most other universities including KTH Royal Institute and Chalmers, GRE is rarely required.

GRE Requirements in Switzerland

Switzerland is an exception among European universities accepting GRE scores for its most rigorous and clearly defined GRE requirements. With world leaders in STEM like ETH Zurich and EPFL, GRE is used as a high-level filter for international applicants. Elite business schools like St. Gallen (HSG) require the GRE or GMAT for nearly all their top-tier MBA and Master’s tracks. However, public universities like the University of Zurich or Geneva require GRE only for their Economics, Finance, and Psychology programs. Swiss universities are notoriously punctual and if you do not submit your GRE on time, your application will get automatically rejected.

• ETH Zurich: The GRE is mandatory for most Master’s programs particularly if your Bachelor’s degree is not from a European Union university. A score in the 90th percentile (166-170) in Quant is expected for technical programs like Robotics, Data Science, and Mechanical Engineering.

• EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne): While not a strict requirement for all programs, EPFL strongly recommends GRE for international applicants to boost their merit rating.

• University of St. Gallen (HSG): A GRE (320+) or GMAT is mandatory for their Strategy and International Management (SIM) and Finance (MBF) tracks. For their MBA, although GMAT is preferred, they accept a balance high GRE score and 3 years of work experience.

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