Proof of English proficiency is required of all applicants by submitting official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). TOEFL and IELTS tests are valid for 2 years. For example, a student applying for Fall 2023 must have taken the test after January 1, 2021.
This requirement is waived if you meet one of the following criteria:
- You are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or a citizen of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom.
- You have studied in the United States (or one of the above countries) at an accredited college or university for at least TWO (2) years. The University must be located in the countries listed above.
- You have received, or expect to receive, an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution where the official language of instruction is English. If your transcript does not clearly state that the language of instruction is English, then please upload supporting documentation on institutional letterhead along with your transcript.
This waiver does not apply to students who have earned or are earning undergraduate or graduate degrees from an institution in a country listed above while enrolled in a “dual degree” program with an institution in another country. Studying as an exchange student in an English-speaking country is not sufficient to waive the English proficiency requirement.
NOTE: The TOEFL ITP exam is not accepted as proof of English language proficiency.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements of English proficiency are not eligible for admission.
To support you with an accessible way to complete the English Proficiency requirement for your application to GRS, we are allowing our international applicants to complete the online Duolingo test or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition test.
When you log in to complete the exam, please select Boston University Graduate & Professional Programs as a score recipient. Once you have completed the Duolingo exam and after you submit your admissions application, please email GRS Admissions at grs@bu.edu with Subject Line “Duolingo,” and include your first and last name, exam date, and the name of the PhD or MFA program to which you are applying.
A minimum score of 105 is required for the Duolingo test to satisfy the GRS English proficiency requirement.
Minimum TOEFL Requirements
It is important that you schedule your TOEFL test well in advance of the application deadline. The ETS should forward the official score report to the Admissions Office (institution code 3087) so that it arrives before the application deadline date.
The TOEFL Bulletin of Information and registration form can be obtained from:
- TOEFL/TSE Services website
- American embassies and consulates
- Offices of the United States Information Service (USIS)
- U.S. education commissions and foundations abroad
- Binational centers
- Certain private organizations
If you can’t obtain the documents locally, request them well in advance from TOEFL/TSE Services, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, U.S.A.; 609-771-7975.
Unless otherwise indicated by the department/program to which you are applying, the minimum score requirement is:
- paper-based test: 550
- internet-based test
- Reading section – 21
- Listening section – 21
- Speaking section – 21
- Writing section – 21
Minimum IELTS Requirements
In addition to the TOEFL, the IELTS is also accepted as proof of English proficiency. The overall band score of 7.0 is required for admission to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Applicants submitting IELTS scores will need to contact their testing center and request official test scores be sent electronically to Boston University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences via our e-delivery account name: Boston University Graduate Programs.