In order to be admissible, applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by meeting one of the criteria listed below. Please be advised, an applicant may still be held to the on campus English Proficiency Evaluation (EPE) depending on which criteria is used to meet the English Proficiency Requirement. More information regarding criteria to waive the EPE is listed in the following section.
Criteria to meet English Proficiency Requirement
| Citizen of a Country in which English is the Official Language Reflected on your applicationAntigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, St. Christopher & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe | |
| Attend a U.S. high school for a minimum of 3 years and will graduate from a U.S. high school Upload a copy of your transcript from your U.S. high school in your Admission Profile in MyUI after you apply. |
|
| Transfer students who complete 30 s.h. of transferable credit with a minimum 2.50 GPA from a U.S. institution Have official transcripts sent from every U.S. college and university you have attended. |
|
| American Degree Transfer Program (ADTP) transfer students who complete 30 s.h. of transferable credit with a minimum 2.50 GPA Upload a copy of your transcript for every college and university you have attended outside of the U.S. in your Admissions Profile in MyUI after you apply. |
|
| Transfer students who complete the equivalent of the University of Iowa’s Composition I and Composition II at a U.S. institution Have official transcripts sent from every U.S. college and university you have attended. |
|
| TOEFL iBT | 80 (no part score under 17) Send via ETS using institution code 6681 and leave department code blank |
| TOEFL iBT Home Edition | 80 (no part score under 17) Send via ETS using institution code 6681 and leave department code blank |
| IELTS | 6.5 (no part score under 6.0) Send through your IELTS Testing Center |
| IELTS Indicator *accepted through Fall 2022 |
6.5 (no part score under 6.0) Send through your IELTS Testing Center |
| Duolingo (DET) | 105 Send via DuoLingo English Test |
| ACT | English section score of 21 Send via ACT using institution code is 1356 |
| SAT | Reading score of 29 or an EBRW score of 540 Send via College Board using institution code is 6681 |
| Advanced Placement Exams: English and Composition | Mark of 4 or higher Send via College Board using institution code is 6681 |
| Advanced Placement Exams: Literature and Composition | Mark of 4 or higher Send via College Board using institution code is 6681 |
| Cambridge International Exams: English Literature A Level | Grade C or higher Upload a copy of your GCE Exam Certificate in your Admissions Profile in MyUI after you apply |
| Cambridge International Exams: English Literature AS Level | Grade C or higher Upload a copy of your GCE Exam Certificate in your Admissions Profile in MyUI after you apply |
| Cambridge GCSE and IGCSE Exams: English or English First Language | Grade C or higher Upload a copy of your GCSE/IGCSE Exam Certificate in your Admissions Profile in MyUI after you apply |
| International Baccalaureate: HL English A: Literature | Mark of 5 or higher Send an IB Certificate or Diploma via International Baccalaureate |
| International Baccalaureate: HL English A: Language and Literature | Mark of 5 or higher Send an IB Certificate or Diploma via International Baccalaureate |
- The College of Nursing requires at a TOEFL score of 100 or above.
- We will accept an ACT English superscore to waive the English Proficiency Requirement.
- We do not allow a SAT or TOEFL superscore.
- We do not accept TOEFL Institutional Test of Proficiency (ITP) or TOEFL ITP Plus China.
English Proficiency Evaluation (EPE)
The on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation (EPE) will be required unless an applicant meets one of the following criteria:
| Citizenship is a Country in which English is the Official LanguageAntigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, St. Christopher & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe and your first language is English | |
| Attend U.S. high school for a minimum of 3 years and will graduate from a U.S. high school | |
| Transfer students who complete 30 s.h. of transferable credit with a minimum 2.50 GPA from a U.S. institution | |
| American Degree Transfer Program (ADTP) transfer students who complete 30 s.h. of transferable credit with a minimum 2.50 GPA | |
| Transfer students who complete the equivalent of the University of Iowa’s Composition I and Composition II at a U.S. institution | |
| TOEFL iBT | 100 |
| TOEFL iBT Home Edition | 100 |
| IELTS | 8.0 |
| IELTS Indicator *accepted through Fall 2022 |
8.0 |
| ACT | English section score of 24 |
| SAT | EBRW score of 600 |
Conditional Admission
Conditionally admitted students must first successfully pass the Iowa Intensive English Program before registering for regular coursework. Apply for conditional admission using the same application as for regular admission.
Applicants determined to be academically eligible but do not meet our minimum TOEFL or IELTS requirements for admission may be eligible for Conditional Admission.
Scores required for Conditional Admission:
- TOEFL 54 – 79
- TOEFL iBT Home Edition 54 - 79
- IELTS 4.5 with no subscore less than 4