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English Language Proficiency Policy

Students who apply for academic admission are expected to take all of their courses alongside native English speakers. This includes:

  • Participating in class discussions
  • Writing multiple-page essays
  • Reading and understanding assigned textbook and course material
  • Comprehending lectures

To show English proficiency, international applicants must submit an official qualifying English Proficiency score for one of the following:  

  • TOEFL iBT score of 79 and above
  • TOEFL code 1830
  • TOEFL paper-based score of 550 and above
  • TOEFL Essentials score of 8.5 and above
  • IELTS score of 6.0 or above
  • Pearson’s Test of English score of 54 or above
  • Duolingo English Test score of 51 or above (test dates before July 15, 2019)
  • Duolingo English Test score of 110 or above (test dates after July 15, 2019)
  • IB Literature (SL & HL) final grade of 4 or above
  • IB Language & Literature (SL & HL) final grade of 4 or above
  • English Language A or AS Level final grade in A-E range
  • SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of 550 or above
  • ACT English of 22 or above

Students may be required to enroll in one or two English language support courses administered by the English Language Institute. For more information, please see UA’s English programs for new students page.

 ELC Coursework Requirements

  • Enrollment in the Undergraduate Academic Writing or Speaking courses will count toward your overall minimum full-time enrollment requirement and carries 3 hours of academic credit.
  • If your TOEFL iBT writing score is lower than 18, or IELTS writing score is lower than 6.0, or your overall Duolingo score is lower than 110, or your TOEFL Essentials writing score is lower than 8.5, or your Pearson’s Test of English writing score is lower than 51, you must enroll in the Undergraduate Academic Writing course (ELC 111) in addition to your other undergraduate courses.
  • If your TOEFL iBT speaking score is lower than 18, or IELTS speaking score is lower than 6.0, or your overall Duolingo score is lower than 110, or your TOEFL Essentials speaking score is lower than 6.5, or your Pearson’s Test of English speaking score is lower than 51, you must enroll in the Undergraduate Academic Speaking course (ELC 110) in addition to your other undergraduate courses.

Students who do not meet these requirements may be eligible for the Pathway to UA program.

Exemptions from the English Course Requirement

You are exempt from the Undergraduate Academic Writing (ELC 111) course requirement if:

  • Your Writing sub-score is 18 or higher on the TOEFL iBT
  • Your Writing sub-score is 8.5 or higher on the TOEFL Essentials
  • Your Writing sub-score is 6.0 or higher on the IELTS
  • Your Duolingo overall score is 110 or higher on the new DET scale for tests taken after July 15, 2019 (61 DET for tests taken prior to July 15, 2019)
  • Your Writing sub-score is 51 or higher on the Pearson’s Test of English
  • You have completed ELI Reading/Writing 6.

You are exempt from the Undergraduate Academic Speaking (ELC 110) course requirement if:

  • Your Speaking sub-score is 18 or higher on the TOEFL iBT
  • Your Speaking sub-score is 6.5 or higher on the TOEFL Essentials
  • Your Speaking sub-score is 6.0 or higher on the IELTS
  • Your Duolingo overall score is 110 or higher on the new DET scale for tests taken after July 15, 2019 (61 DET for tests taken prior to July 15, 2019)
  • Your Speaking sub-score is 51 or higher on the Pearson’s Test of English
  • You have completed ELI Speaking/Listening 6

You are exempt from both the Undergraduate Academic Writing (ELC 111) and Undergraduate Academic Speaking (ELC 110) course requirements if you have an ELI Proficiency Certificate or if you were admitted to UA with an English proficiency waiver. English proficiency Exemption Options Exemptions are granted to applicants who:

  • Graduate from a U.S. high school
  • Have earned a “C” or better in a university-level composition course at an accredited post-secondary institution in the US that is level 101 or higher (ESL courses do not qualify). This must be an in-person class, not online.
  • Are a citizen or resident of one of these English-speaking countries or regions:
    • American Samoa
    • Anguilla
    • Antigua
    • Australia
    • Bahamas
    • Barbados
    • Bermuda
    • Belize
    • Botswana
    • British Virgin Islands
    • Canada (except Quebec)
    • Cayman Islands
    • Christmas Islands
    • Cook Islands
    • Dominica
    • Falkland Islands
    • Federated States of Micronesia
    • Fiji
    • Gibraltar
    • The Gambia
    • Guyana
    • Ghana
    • Grenada
    • Guam
    • Hong Kong
    • Ireland
    • Jamaica
    • Kenya
    • Kiribati
    • Lesotho
    • Liberia
    • Malawi
    • Malta
    • Marshall Islands
    • Mauritius
    • Montserrat
    • Namibia
    • Nauru
    • New Zealand
    • Nigeria
    • Niue
    • Norfolk Island
    • Northern Mariana Islands
    • Palau
    • Papua New Guinea
    • Pitcairn Islands
    • Saint Helena
    • Saint Kitts and Nevis
    • Saint Lucia
    • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
    • Samoa
    • Sandwich Islands
    • Sierra Leone
    • Singapore
    • Solomon Islands
    • South Africa (English-speaking, i.e. not Afrikaans)
    • South Georgia Islands
    • Swaziland
    • Tanzania
    • Tonga
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Turks and Caicos Islands
    • Tuvalu
    • Uganda
    • United States
    • United Kingdom
    • US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John)
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe