English Proficiency Requirements

The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) accepts the following TOEFL English proficiency test scores: TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test), TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition, and TOEFL Essentials^†. Purdue University does not accept TOEFL MyBest scores. To learn more about these test options visit www.toefl.org.

Minimum TOEFL Scores Required by the OGSPS for Admission

Note: Some graduate programs require higher minimum scores than those listed above. Please review the English proficiency requirements for your specific program of interest here.

To be valid for admission, TOEFL test scores must be no more than two years old at the time the recommendation for admission is received at the OGSPS.

Purdue University must receive official TOEFL scores directly from Educational Testing Service (ETS). For more information about transmitting test scores, visit www.toefl.org.

Your application must be submitted and paid for official test scores to match to your application. Score reports are sent to Purdue University electronically, approximately 10 to 15 days after your test date. Once your score report has been sent, it may take an additional 2 to 3 weeks or longer for your application checklist to update and show received.

Purdue Institution Codes

• Purdue University West Lafayette (including Purdue University in Indianapolis) – 1631
• Purdue University Northwest – 1638
• Purdue University Fort Wayne – 1336

†Essentials Test: The TOEFL Essentials requirements of the OGSPS are not accepted by all graduate programs. Please review the English proficiency requirements for your specific program of interest here.

‡iBT (Test Center and Home Edition): In addition to required iBT minimum scores for writing, speaking, listening, and reading, the OGSPS also requires a minimum overall iBT score that is higher than the minimums for the four area tests combined. Applicants must meet or exceed each of the five scores for admission to the OGSPS.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) accepts IELTS (Academic Module) English proficiency test scores. Purdue University does not accept the One Skill Retake. For more information about these testing options, visit www.IELTS.org

Minimum IELTS Scores Required by the OGSPS for Admission

Note: Some graduate programs require higher minimum scores than those listed above. Please review the English proficiency requirements for your specific program of interest here.

To be valid for admission, IELTS test scores must be no more than two years old at the time the recommendation for admission is received at the OGSPS.

Official IELTS test scores can be uploaded to your applicant status portal after application submission under IELTS Score Report, sent electronically to the Purdue University, West Lafayette Graduate, or the hard copy score report can be mailed directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) accepts the Duolingo English test with integrated subscores in Production, Literacy, Comprehension, and Conversation. Individual subscores of Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening are not accepted. To learn more about this test option visit https://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants. 

Minimum Duolingo English Test Scores Required by the OGSPS for Admission

Note: Some graduate programs require higher minimum scores than those listed above. Please review the English proficiency requirements for your specific program of interest here.

To be valid for admission, Duolingo test scores must be no more than two years old at the time the recommendation for admission is received by the OGSPS.

Please request to have your results submitted to: Purdue University Graduate Office.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) accepts results showing that a student has satisfied the English proficiency exit requirements of one of the intensive English language programs listed below.

Intensive English Language Programs and Exit Requirements Aaccepted by the OGSPS for Admission

Successful completion of the intensive English language program must be certified, in writing, by the intensive English program faculty to the Office of Graduate Admissions at West Lafayette or the equivalent office at the regional campuses before applicants using this method of establishing English proficiency may be admitted to the OGSPS.

The certificate of completion can be uploaded to the online application status portal (after submission) under Miscellaneous Supporting Documents, sent electronically to the Office of International Education, or the hard copy certificate can be mailed directly to the Purdue Fort Wayne Office of Graduate Studies.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars will routinely waive the English Proficiency testing requirements for applicants who have received a baccalaureate degree or graduate or professional degree, within the last 36 months prior to the time of recommendation for admission, from a school where English is the primary language of instruction in a country/location where English is the native language. Note: Some graduate programs may still require a test of English proficiency for admission; please confirm the acceptance of this waiver with your department.

If you are admitted under this waiver and are still finishing your degree, you must satisfactorily complete your degree and submit a final official transcript showing that this degree has been awarded BEFORE the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS) can produce your US immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019) or before you can enroll in courses at Purdue University.

Official English-speaking countries/locations, in addition to the U.S., include:

• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Botswana
• British Virgin Islands
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Christmas Island
• Cook Islands
• Dominica
• Fiji
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Isle of Man
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Malawi
• Micronesia
• Montserrat
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Norfolk Island
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Pitcairn Islands
• Republic of Ireland
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• St. Helena
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent and Grenadines
• Swaziland
• Tanzania
• The Gambia
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Uganda
• United Kingdom
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Routine waivers of English proficiency requirements are granted to current Purdue University undergraduate degree, graduate degree, certificate, non-degree, and teacher license students. In order to obtain the English Proficiency waiver, the student must have:

1. Previously met Purdue English proficiency requirements (via one of the options listed above); and
2. are being recommended for admission to a Purdue graduate degree-seeking, non-degree, teacher’s license, or graduate certificate program within three consecutive sessions of their last Purdue University registration.