WashU is responsible for confirming that visitors and students possess the necessary level of English language proficiency to succeed in their respective course of study and/or program. WashU requirements apply to non-immigrants who seek to study, work, or engage in research in the U.S. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals holding F or J immigration status.

In addition, federal regulations require that F-1 and J-1 international student applicants and prospective J-1 scholars demonstrate proficiency in the English language before an immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019) can be issued. Therefore, the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) must have evidence of proficiency before they can issue a student or scholar their I-20 or DS-2019. OISS cannot grant an exemption or waiver of this requirement.

Requirements

WashU accepted tests and minimum score requirements:

Official test scores must be received by WashU directly from the test administration agency. Official scores must be less than two years old at the time of application deadline or submission of application.

WashU does not accept super-scored results (a combination of the highest scored sections) such as TOEFL MyBest.

Important Note: minimum scores

Some schools and programs may have higher test score requirements than the university minimum requirements based on the level of English proficiency needed for their respective course of study and/or program. Individuals should consult with the school and/or program to which they are applying to confirm the score requirements for their respective program.

Exemptions

Appropriate documentation based on the type of exemption requested will be required. Note that any exemption request from this Policy is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the Senior Vice Provost for Graduate Education and International Affairs after review of the entire record.

Exemptions for exchange visitors only

For all J-1 exchange visitors:

  • Earned a minimum Cambridge English scale score of 180 on Cambridge C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE), Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly CAE) or Cambridge B2 First (formerly FCE).

For J-1 scholars only:

  • Earned a minimum score of 3.0 on the English3 Interview (applies to J-1 scholars only in the following categories: short-term scholar, research scholar, professor, student intern, specialist).
    • English3 offers test-preparation materials. Scholars who utilize these resources achieve a pass rate of over 95%.
    • Access the study materials on the English3 website.

For J-1 exchange students only:

  • Partner university confirms that the prospective student has passed an English proficiency test in alignment with WashU English language proficiency requirements (applies to J-1 exchange students only in the following category: non-degree student).

Exemptions available for all

Exemptions from the English language proficiency test requirement may be granted for individuals who meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Citizenship from one of the following countries: Australia, Bermuda, Cameroon, Canada, Caribbean Commonwealth countries and British Caribbean territories (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands), Ghana, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe. 
  • Earned the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree* or master’s degree (before matriculation at WashU) within the past five (5) years from an institution in one of the following countries: Australia, Bermuda, Cameroon, Canada, Caribbean Commonwealth countries and British Caribbean territories (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands), Ghana, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
  • Earned the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree* (before matriculation at WashU) within the past five (5) years at an English-medium institution in one of the following countries: Botswana, Burundi, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Curacao, Eritrea, Fiji, The Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Namibia, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sint Maarten, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
  • Possesses two (2) years or more of continuous full-time work experience in the United States within the last five (5) years.

*For joint (dual, 2+2, etc.) programs in which the medium of instruction was English at one institution and the medium of instruction was not English at the other institution, exemptions will be made for applicants whose studies were in English for a minimum of two (2) years (within the past five (5) years) regardless of physical location.