English Language Proficiency Test Requirement Exemptions

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How to Waive the English Proficiency Requirement

The English Language Proficiency requirement can be waived if you meet one of these criteria: 

  • Students who are citizens of the United States.
  • Students who are citizens of one of the countries noted in the chart below.

OR

  • The requirements below are met
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Freshmen Students Transfer Students Graduate Students Exempt Countries

Eligibility for English Test Exemption

Note: Proof of medium of instruction (MOI) in English is NOT sufficient unless the below criteria are met.

orientation leaders dancing to hot-to-go

Undergraduate First-Year Students (Freshmen):

  • Students who graduated/will graduate from a high school in the United States, a U.S. territory, or any of the countries on the below list.
  • Students who attend an international school that follows the educational system of any of the countries listed below (for example, IGCSE or IB programs).
  • Note: students who change high school mid-stream (for example, from a local, non-English speaking curriculum to an IB program) are expected to be enrolled in non-ESL English courses consistent with their peers and should have a B average or better in the English courses.
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Undergraduate Transfer Students:

  • Students who graduated from a high school in the United States, a U.S. territory, or any of the countries on the below list.
  • Students who have satisfactorily completed at least 24 credit hours (not including ESL classes) at an accredited college or university in the United States, a U.S. territory, or one of the countries listed below.
  • Students who have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of College Composition I and College Composition II with a grade of ‘C’ or above at an accredited college or university in the U.S. or a U.S. territory.
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Graduate Students:

  • Students who attend a regionally accredited university or college located in the United States or a U.S. territory with a minimum of one academic year (3 quarters or 2 semesters) of full-time enrollment, not including ESL courses.
  • Students who attend a university located in or that follows the curricula of one of these listed countries (example, American University of Beirut) reflecting a minimum of one academic year (3 quarters or 2 semesters) of full-time enrollment, not including ESL courses.

English Proficiency Test Exemptions are Granted for the Following Countries:

AnguillaCayman IslandsJamaicaNew ZealandTrinidad and Tobago
Antigua and BarbudaChristmas IslandKenyaPalauTurks and Caicos
AustraliaDominicaLesothoSaint LuciaUganda
BahamasFalkland Islands/MalvinasLiberiaSierra LeoneUnited Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
BarbadosGambiaMalawiSt. HelenaUnited States of America
BelizeGhanaMauritiusSt. Kitts and NevisZambia
BermudaGibraltarMicronesia (Federated States of)St. Vincent and the GrenadinesZimbabwe
BotswanaGrenadaMontserratSouth Africa 
British Virgin IslandsGuyanaNamibiaSwaziland 
Canada (excluding Quebec)IrelandNigeriaTanzania 

 

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