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English Proficiency Exam Requirements for Admission
Applicants whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate their English proficiency to ensure they can succeed in their academic programs. This is especially important for students whose coursework will primarily be in English. Below is an overview of the accepted English proficiency exams, the minimum score requirements, and applicable exemptions.
Accepted Exams and Minimum Score Requirements
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
- Paper-Based: 550
- Computer-Based: 213
- Internet-Based: 79
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TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 6.5
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Applicants with a score of 105 or higher may be required to participate in a Zoom or Skype interview before a final admission decision.
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English Proficiency Exam Exemptions
Some applicants may be exempt from the English proficiency requirement. Visit the English Proficiency Exam and Degree Requirements by Country page to check if your country qualifies for an exemption.
Other exemptions include:
- Completion of at least 30 credit hours of university-level coursework in an exempt country.
- Lifetime residents of Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States (excluding Puerto Rico).
- Completion of the Advanced Level of the Intensive Program from UTRGV’s English Language Programs (submit certificate of completion with your application).
Important Information
- Only official test scores received directly from the testing agency or UTRGV’s Testing Center are accepted.
- Plan to take your exam well in advance, as it can take 8-10 weeks for scores to be received by UTRGV.
- Residual TOEFL scores from other institutions are not accepted.
- Test scores are valid for two years. If your score is older than two years, you will need to retake the exam.
- UTRGV's institution code for test scores is 6570.