English Proficiency

Application Requirements

The following international students are exempt from submitting official test scores as part of an application packet:

• Native speakers of English
• Applicants who, within the past two years, have received a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or a foreign college or university accredited by a Regional U.S. accrediting organization (where English is the language of instruction); or

• Applicants who, within the past two years, have completed at least three years of full-time study at a governmentally-accredited institution of higher learning where English is the primary language of instruction.

Non-native speakers of English who fall into one of the exemptions will be tested for English proficiency upon arrival.  Individual academic programs may require any applicant (even those qualifying for an exemption) to demonstrate proficiency as part of an application or require on-campus English proficiency testing.

Score	TOEFL-Paper	TOEFL-CBT	TOEFL-iBT	IELTS-Academic
University Recommended Minimum	550(TWE*5)	213(TWE*5)	80	6.5 across all bands
Minimum for Conditional Graduate Admission; Admission on a case-by-case basis, may require additional English language study prior to full-time admission to degree program	500	173	61	5.5 across all bands

* Test of Written English for the Paper-based TOEFL and Computer-based TOEFL

Official scores must be reported directly from the testing agency to Ohio University. The Ohio University institution code for the TOEFL is 1593. English language proficiency scores older than two years are not accepted.

Department Proficiency Requirements

If you will be responsible for classroom or laboratory instruction and your native language is not English, you must take the SPEAK test when you arrive on campus and receive a minimum score of 230 before you can begin you teaching or instructional duties.  For more information and SPEAKtest requirements, please visit the Ohio University Department of Linguistics Graduate Communication page.

Conditional Admission/Further English Language Study

Some departments will grant conditional admission if your proficiency score is less than the University minimum, as noted in the score table. If granted conditional admission based on English proficiency, you will be required to enroll in either full or part-time English study through the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) until the desired proficiency is reached.

Part-time English study allows you to take English and a limited number of academic classes at the same time.

If you are required to enroll in full-time English study, you will be financially responsible for all associated tuition and fees. University financial aid in the form of a graduate appointment cannot be used to cover full-time OPIE expenses.