All international applicants are required to meet a minimum standard of English proficiency. This requirement can be met if:
- You are a citizen of a country listed on the “TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo Not Required for Citizens of these Countries” table below, or
- You have completed at least one year of full-time academic study at a U.S. institution (or at an institution in a country listed on the “TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo Not Required for Citizens of these Countries” table below) at the time you apply, and within two years from your desired admission term. Enrollment in an English language program, including within the USA, does not fulfill this requirement. This can be confirmed by your transcripts.
-
You take an English proficiency test and “report passing official scores” or “submit passing unofficial scores” from the following test agencies:
Test Scores Details
Passing Scores - You must receive a score that is equal to or higher than your program’s requirements. Please use the “Minimum Scores Required” table below to determine the passing score your program requires.
“Official” test scores – Valid (unexpired) test scores must be reported directly from the testing agency to the University of Colorado Boulder. Use the “Minimum Scores Required” table below to determine if your program requires official scores for application review. If your program requires official scores, please make sure to:
- Fill in the requested information on your graduate application in the “Test Score” section.
- Follow the reporting directions for the agency you tested with:
“Unofficial” test scores – Valid (unexpired) test scores you receive from the testing agency can be submitted by you the applicant. Use the “Minimum Scores Required” table below to determine if your program accepts unofficial scores for application review. If your program accepts unofficial scores, please make sure to:
- Fill in the requested information on your graduate application in the “Test Score” section.
- Follow the submitting directions for the agency you tested with:
- Unofficial TOEFL test scores are only valid for two years from the date of taking the test. Please email your “Score Report” to intlgrad@colorado.edu
- Unofficial Duolingo test scores are only valid for two years from the date of taking the test. Please email your “Certificate“ to intlgrad@colorado.edu
- Unofficial IELTS test scores are only valid for two years from the date of taking the test. Please upload your “Test Report Form” to your application in the “Test Score” section.
TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo Not Required for Citizens of these Countries:
- Australia
- Belize
- Botswana
- Canada (except Quebec)
- Commonwealth Caribbean
- Ghana
- India*
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Singapore
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- Zimbabwe
*Applicants from India to the Engineering Management program will be required to submit English Proficiency Scores.
Note: Paper-Based TOEFL scores will no longer be accepted after October 1, 2019.
Minimum Scores Required
Graduate Programs |
Internet Based TOEFL |
IELTS |
Duolingo |
---|---|---|---|
Accounting and Taxation Accounting |
80 (Min) |
7.0 |
120 |
Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design (MA) |
100 |
7.0 |
120 |
Advertising, Public Relations and Media Design (PhD) |
107 |
7.0 |
120 |
Aerospace Engineering** |
83 |
6.5 |
120 |
Anthropology | 75 | 6.0 | 120 |
Applied Mathematics** |
100 |
7.0 |
120 |
Architectural Engineering | 90 | 7.0 | 120 |
Art History** | 75 | 6.0 | 120 |
Asian Languages & Civilizations |
95 | 6.5 | 120 |
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences** |
75 | 6.0 | 120 |
Biochemistry*** | 100 | 7.0 | 120 |
Biomedical Engineering** |
75 |
6.0 |
120 |
Business (PhD) |
100 |
7.0 |
120 |
Chemical and Biological Engineering** |
100 |
7.0 |
120 |
Chemistry** |
100 |
7.0 |
120 |
Civil Engineering |
90 |
7.0 |
120 |
Classics** |
75 |
6.0 |
120 |
Communication |
75 |
6.5 |
120 |
Computational Linguistics, Analytics, Search and Informatics (CLASIC) | 83 | 6.0 | 120 |
Computer Science** |
83 (Min) |
7.0 |
120 |
Critical Media Practices** |
75 |
6.0 |
120 |
Creative Technology and Design (ATLAS)** |
100 |
7.0 |
120 |
Dance |
79 |
6.5 |
120 |
Data Science** | 80 | 6.0 | 120 |
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology** |
79 |
6.0 |
120 |
Economics |
75* |
6.0 Overall, 7.0 Speaking |
120 |
Education** |
90 |
7.0 |
120 |
Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering** |
100 |
7.0 |
120 |
Engineering Management |
102 |
7.5 |
125 |
English | 100 | 7.0 | 120 |
Environmental Studies** |
100 |
7.0 |
120 |
Environmental Engineering | 90 | 7.0 | 120 |
German** | 75 | 6.0 | 120 |
History** | 75 | 6.0 | 120 |
Integrative Physiology |
100 |
7.0 |
120 |
Journalism |
100 |
7.0 |
120 |
Law (JD & LLM) |
100 |
7.0 |
|
Linguistics** |
90 |
7.0 |
120 |
Linguistics** |
90 |
7.0 |
120 |
Masters of the Environment** |
75 |
6.0 |
120 |
Master of Business Administration (MBA), MS Finance, MS Real Estate, MS Business Analytics, MS Supply Chain Management |
80 |
6.5 |
120 |
Mechanical Engineering** |
80 |
6.5 |
120 |
Media Studies (MA) |
100 |
7.0 |
120 |
Media Studies (PhD) |
107 |
7.0 |
120 |
Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) |
100 |
6.0 - 7.0 |
120 |
Museum & Field Studies** | 75 | 6.0 | 120 |
Music (Artist Diploma)** | 75 | 6.5 | 120 |
Music (DMA, PhD)** |
93 |
7.0 |
135 |
Music (Music Education MA)** |
80 |
6.5 |
125 |
Music (Musical Arts MA)** |
80 |
6.5 |
125 |
Physics*** |
80 |
6.5 |
120 |
Political Science |
90 |
7.0 |
120 |
Psychology and Neuroscience** | 90 | 7.0 | 120 |
Robotics | 83 | 6.0 | 120 |
Russian** | 75 | 6.0 | 120 |
Spanish |
80 |
6.5 |
120 |
Theater |
79 |
6.5 |
120 |
All others |
75 |
6.0 |
120 |
* Additional Economics TOEFL score minimums: 75 overall; 23 speaking for admission consideration; 24 speaking for funding consideration No * notation: If you need to submit test scores to meet the English proficiency requirement - These programs require official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores for application review. ** If you need to submit test scores to meet the English proficiency requirement - These programs accept unofficial TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores for application review. Admitted students must submit valid official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores before confirming enrollment. Note** The College of Music, the Business PhD Program and the Department of Economics require the TOEFL whether or not you have previously studied at a U.S. institution and regardless of length of attendance. *** If you need to submit test scores to meet the English proficiency requirement - These programs do not require applicants to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores for application review. Admitted students must submit valid official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores before confirming enrollment. |
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