English Language Proficiency Requirements

English language proficiency scores must be submitted in the MSU Graduate Application portal, in order for the application to be reviewed. 

All international applicants and applicants whose first language is not English must be able to be proficient in English as a condition for regular admission to Michigan State University. 

Such applicants will be required to demonstrate their proficiency by meeting certain minimum standard on any one of the following test: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Duolingo. 

English proficiency can be determined by one of the tests below	You must demonstrate proficiency as follows:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)  https://www.ets.org/toefl.html  MSU Code: 1465	Internet-based test (iBT) and IBT Home Edition Regular Admission:  Test taken prior to January 21, 2026:   • No sub score below 19 for reading, listening, and speaking • No writing sub score below 22 • A minimum average score of 80** Test taken after January 21, 2026:  • Score of 4.5 with a minimum score of 4 in reading and speaking, and • a minimum score of 4.5 in listening and writing.  Provisional Admission:  Test taken prior to January 21, 2026:  • Score of 70 Test taken after January 21, 2026:  • Score of 3.5
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) https://www.ielts.org/	Regular Admission: • Minimum average score of 6.5.  • No subscore below 6.0. Provisional Admission: • Average score is 6.
Duolingo English Test https://englishtest.duolingo.com/	Regular Admission: • 110 or higher Provisional Admission: • 95 to 105

Automatic Waivers by the Office of Admissions

• Bachelor’s degree earned in the U.S. (or other English-speaking country).
  •  If a copy of the (old) English language competency scores is available, please send to Admissions.
  •  The BA or BS program should be a regular 4-year degree the majority of credits earned in the U.S. (or other English-speaking country), not 100% online, not an “experiential” degree that is based on credit for life experiences and/or not earned at a branch campus in a non-English-speaking country.
•  Bachelor’s degree earned at MSU, the majority of credits earned while on our campus.
• Master’s degree earned at an AAU institution (see https://www.aau.edu/who-we-are/our-members) on a U.S. campus.
  • Helpful if English language competency scores are included (even if old) for the student’s admission into the master’s program.
    
    List of English Speaking Countries
    
    English Speaking Countries in most cases, candidates who are citizens from the following countries need NOT be held for proof of English Language Proficiency (ELP). Language of instruction at institution attended must be English.
    
    However, residence in one of the countries or attending school there does not necessarily presume English fluency—a student from China may be living in the U.K. Please be careful to look for a place of birth as well as current country of residence/citizenship.
    
    • Anguilla
    • Antigua
    • Australia
    • Bahamas
    • Barbados
    • Belize
    • Bermuda
    • British Virgin Islands
    • Canada (except Quebec)
    • Cayman Islands
    • Dominica
    • The Gambia
    • Ghana
    • Grenada
    • Guyana
    • Ireland
    • Jamaica
    • Federated States of Micronesia
    • Liberia
    • Montserrat
    • New Zealand
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
    • St. Kitts & Nevis
    • St. Lucia
    • St. Vincent
    • Trinidad
    • Tobago
    • Turks & Caicos Islands
    • United Kingdom- England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland
    • U.S. Virgin Islands
    
    KLOMPARENS, 2009; WIDDERS 2013, 2017; LEAHY 2020

Applicants should have all test scores sent from the testing agency directly to Michigan State University Most testing authorities are able to send scores electronically. In the rare case that a physical copy must be sent, it should be sent to; Office of Admissions; Hannah Administration Building; 426 Auditorium Road, Room 250; East Lansing, Michigan 48824-2604.