Graduate School Memoranda

Memo 8: Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements

Proficiency in English is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Proficiency can be demonstrated in one of the following five ways:

  1. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or from an institution in Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, or the United Kingdom.

  2. Documentation verifying that the applicant’s undergraduate degree is from an institution (in a country other than those listed in #1 above) where all instruction is in English.

  3. A minimum English language proficiency test score1 of:
    • 7.0 on the IELTS2
    • 92 on the TOEFLiBT3
    • 237 on the TOEFLC3
    • 580 on the TOEFL3
    • 90 on the MLT4

  4. If an applicant is admitted with an English proficiency test score lower than the minimum scores (listed in #3 above) and in the range of scores listed below, the student will be required upon matriculation to take designated Academic English Program (AEP) courses through UW English Language Programs5.
    • 6.0-6.9 IELTS
    • 61-91 TOEFLiBT
    • 173-236 TOEFLC
    • 500-579 TOEFL
    • 80-89 MLT

    Students must complete any required English courses as soon as possible in their graduate programs.

  5. Successful completion of the UW Intensive English Program.

 

IMPORTANT:

  • Students who do not complete their English language proficiency requirement will not be permitted to graduate.

  • No waivers of the English language proficiency requirement will be granted.

  • Test scores are valid for two years and must be valid on the date the application is submitted.

  • Graduate students whose native language is not English and who wish to be appointed as teaching assistants (TAs) must meet the conditions for appointment specified in Graduate School Memorandum #15, “Conditions of appointment for TAs who are not native speakers of English.”

 

Footnotes:

  1. A DELNA test score cannot be used to satisfy the English language proficiency requirement.
  2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination. The IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. The official IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) must be received by the University of Washington within two years of the test date.
  3. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL is administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). It is currently offered in the three formats: internet-based (TOEFLiBT), computerized test (TOEFLC), and written, paper-based test (TOEFL). Please note that not all test formats are available in all countries. Official test scores must be sent by ETS directly to the University of Washington and must be received by the University of Washington within two years of the test date.
  4. Michigan Language Test (MLT). The institutional version of the MLT is no longer offered at the University of Washington. However, official MLT test scores are still valid for two years from the test date.
  5. In rare cases, an applicant who scores below this range may be admitted upon the recommendation of the department. The department’s petition to the Graduate School must state that the applicant has demonstrated extraordinary academic merit by prior performance and that the applicant’s English language proficiency level is adequate for full participation in a graduate program. Note that an applicant admitted by petition must fulfill the English language proficiency requirement before graduation.

 

Revised: March, 2006; July, 2009