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Special Notice for All Applicants

If TOEFL testing is not available in your country, then please contact us to inquire about options available to you.

For applicants whose native language is not English, both general English language proficiency and additional spoken language proficiency requirements must be met.

General English Language Proficiency Requirements

Applicants to the Michael G. Foster School of Business whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency in one of the following ways (from Graduate School Memo 8):

  1. A bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution located in the United States and where English is the medium of instruction.
  2. A bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an institution in Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, or the United Kingdom and where English is the medium of instruction. While enrolled at the degree-granting school, the student must be in residence on campus.
  3. Official documentation from the applicant’s undergraduate degree-granting institution (if the institution is in a country other than those listed in #2 above) verifying that all instruction is in English. A minimum of three years of enrollment at the undergraduate institution is required. Documentation must be presented to the Graduate School; credential service reports are not acceptable. Acceptable documentation must be one of the following:
    • Official or attested letter from the undergraduate college, university Registrar, or Controller of Examinations office.
    • Official transcripts, attested mark sheets or degree statements, are also accepted if English is stated as the medium of instruction.
  4. An official letter stating successful completion of the UW Intensive English Program (IEP): University Track. The letter must be submitted to the Graduate School.
    • The UW Intensive English Language Program (IEP): University Track is no longer offered. Students who have successfully completed this program may request that the UW International English Language Programs submits a letter of completion to the Graduate School.
  5. Official English Language Test Score of at least 92 on the TOEFL iBT OR 7.0 on the IELTS

Additional Spoken English Language Proficiency Requirements

Applicants to the Michael G. Foster School of Business who are not native speakers of English must satisfy this additional English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways to qualify for the financial aid package (from Graduate School Memo 15):

  1. Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States, or hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution in Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, or the United Kingdom, where English is the medium of instruction. While enrolled at the degree-granting school, the student must be in residence on campus. (Note: A master’s degree does not satisfy this requirement).
  2. Hold a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Juris Doctor (JD) from a regionally accredited institution located in the United States where English is the medium of instruction.
  3. Demonstrate spoken English proficiency with a test score on file at the University of Washington of at least:
    • 26 on the speaking section of the TOEFL-iBT
    • 7.0 on the speaking section of the IELTS
  4. Pass a one-time appeal interview. If a student has one of the scores below on file with the University of Washington, a graduate program can submit an online request for a one-time appeal interview.
    • 23-25 on the speaking section of the TOEFL-iBT.
    • 6.0-6.9 on the speaking section of the IELTS
    • Note: students who have not satisfied the general English proficiency requirements as stated in Graduate Memo 8 are NOT eligible for an appeal interview.
  5. Pass English 105. This course is designed specifically for International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) and is offered by UW’s Academic English Program (AEP). While a student is completing English language proficiency requirements, that student can be assigned teaching duties that do not include direct interaction with students. Such duties can include, but are not limited to, grading, setting up labs, preparing instructional materials, running equipment in classrooms.