2023-2024 Graduate Bulletin

English Language Proficiency

TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/DUOLINGO ENGLISH TEST

Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Applications will not be processed until the required TOEFL, IELTS, C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test score is received. The TOEFL, IELTS, C1 Advanced and Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date and are considered official only when received directly from the testing agency.

TOEFL

The minimum TOEFL score accepted by the University is 80 (iBT). The institution code for the University of Denver is 4842.

IELTS

The minimum IELTS score accepted by the University is 6.5.

C1 Advanced

The minimum C1 Advanced score accepted by the University is 176.

Duolingo English Test

The minimum Duolingo English Test score accepted by the University is 115.

Notes: Individual graduate programs reserve the right to set higher English language proficiency test score requirements. Graduate Teaching Assistants must meet the Required Tests for GTA Eligibility policy

English Language Exemption

Students are generally exempt from the English proficiency test requirement if they have any of the following:

  • Secondary/high school diploma from a school where the language of instruction is English.
  • Earned a baccalaureate degree or higher from a formally-recognized/accredited university where the institution's sole language of instruction and examination is English.
  • Last 30 semester credits (45 quarter credits) of coursework were successfully completed (cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher) from a formally-recognized/accredited university where English is the sole language of instruction and examination.

English Conditional Admission

Some graduate programs may offer English Conditional Admission (ECA) to academically qualified non-native English speakers who do not meet the University's minimum English language proficiency requirements. To apply for a program in an academic department that offers ECA, applicants must indicate on their application to the degree program that they wish to be considered for ECA.

ECA students cannot enroll in any regular degree courses prior to meeting the University’s English requirement. In order to be granted regular status in their graduate degree program and become eligible to take academic classes, ECA students must meet present a departmental qualifying minimum TOEFL, IELTS, C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test score before the start of their program.

Students who are admitted under the ECA option are not eligible for Graduate Teaching Assistantships until they have met the minimum ECA requirements, have been changed to regular status students, and have met minimum GTA eligibility requirements.

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