English Proficiency Requirements

Our International students demonstrate the greatest potential for success when they have a mastery of the English language.

That’s why we require proof of English proficiency from all international applications.

Exceptions to Proof Requirement

Citizenship

If you are a native English speaking citizen of the following countries, you will not need to submit proof of English proficiency.

Citizens of a country not listed below will still need to prove English proficiency through one of our approved means, even if the medium of academic instruction is English.

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Dominica
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Liberia
• Mauritius
• Namibia
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• The Bahamas
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
• Zambia

Continuing Students

If you are currently enrolled at the University of Utah and will be moving from one-degree level to another, or from one program to another, you will not need to prove English proficiency again.

This change must take place without a break greater than two years.

How to Demonstrate Proficiency

This chart can help you understand the best ways to effectively provide proof of English proficiency based on your application type.

For more details on how proficiency can and cannot be demonstrated, please see the English Proficiency Explanation and Rules section in the chart below.

Please note: Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral degrees must be earned from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university and be completed within two years of submitting your application and paying the application fee.

Approved English Proficiency Exams

Test Guidelines and Minimum Score Requirements

Test dates must fall within two years of submitting your application and paying your application fee to be valid.

Our office cannot use expired test scores to evaluate the English proficiency requirement.

• TOEFL: 80 or higher
• IELTS: 6.5 or higher
• DUOLINGO: 110 or higher
• ACT English score of 18 or higher
• SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) Score of 510 or higher
• TOEIC: This is only for UAC applicants. For more information go here: https://asiacampus.utah.edu/apply/

How to Send Your Test Scores Officially

Please have your scores sent electronically to the University of Utah Office of Admissions. You can do this by using the following codes:

• TOEFL: 4853
• IELTS: Please contact your testing center to have the score sent directly to the University of Utah.
• DUOLINGO: Please log into your Duolingo account, select the “Send Results” button next to your test results, and select the University of Utah as the receiving institution.
• SAT: 4853
• ACT: 4274

If the name on your test result is different from the name you put on your application, please email our office with the name information so we can match the correct score with your application.

You can contact our office at iao@utah.edu.

Other Ways to Demonstrate Proficiency

In some instances, your academic background can be used to demonstrate your English proficiency.

In these cases, the following means can be used in place of an English test score to fulfill your proficiency requirement:

• 3 years of B- or higher grades in non-ESL English classes at a U.S. regionally accredited high school.
• An associate’s or bachelor’s degree from a U.S. regionally-accredited college or university within the past two years.
• A bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited or ministry of education approved college or university within the past two years from any of the following countries:
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Canada
  • Dominica
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Liberia
  • Mauritius
  • Namibia
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • The Bahamas
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
  • United States of America
  • Zambia
  • Semesters do not need to be consecutive, but coursework completed prior to a gap of two or more years during which the student was outside the US cannot be used toward the semester total.

  In order to qualify as proof of English proficiency you must have either:

  • Received all grades, courses, and degrees within two years of submitting your application and paying the application fee
  • Or have remained in the above-listed countries continuously since the time of receiving the scores, grades, or degrees

  Ways Proficiency Cannot Be Demonstrated

  Our office is unable to accept the following as proof of English proficiency:

  • English as a means of instruction alone
  • Citizenship from an English speaking country other than those listed above
  • High School English ESL courses
  • An English intensive course or program at an accredited U.S. college or university other than the University of Utah
    • Successfully completing the University of Utah’s English Language Institute Level 8 courses, with a grade of B or better, qualifies as an English waiver for undergraduate admissions only

    This list is not comprehensive, as there are other forms of unacceptable proof that have not been included.

    Permanent Resident Card Holders

    Applicants who are permanent residents of the United States may submit a copy of their (valid) permanent resident card as proof of English proficiency.

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