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Undergraduate students

Effective Spring 2021 - Domestic students are no longer required to meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement. Domestic students admitted prior to Spring 2021 are still required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirement.
 

International applicants for whom English is a non-native language must provide proof of English language proficiency.  Applicants can fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of four ways listed below. Note for international applicants: This requirement must be met one quarter prior to matriculation. For example, if an applicant is admitted to autumn quarter, proof of English language proficiency must be received by the university by July.

 

1. Submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores at or above the following minimum scores

 

Test Minimum score
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (Internet-based)* 83
TOEFL (paper-based) 558
TOEFL (computer-based) 220
International English Language Testing System (IELTS - academic only) 6.5
Duolingo 110

 

The TOEFL institution code for University of Washington Tacoma is 9965. (Note: Graduate students should send TOEFL results to code 4854).

2. Submit official SAT or ACT scores at or above the following minimum scores

Official scores must be sent to UW Tacoma directly from the College Board or ACT to satisfy this requirement.

Test Minimum score 
New Test: Evidence based Reading & Writing (ERW) 560
ACT: English score 22

 

 

 

 

 

3. Transfer students can fulfill the English proficiency requirement based on classes if ALL of the following apply:

  • Enter as a transfer student at UW Tacoma with at least 30 transferable college-level credits from another accredited U.S. higher education institution; AND
  • Earn a 2.75 or higher overall grade point average in transfer coursework (GPA); AND
  • Complete two college-level English composition classes with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in each course.

Exceptions:

  • International students whose primary and secondary education took place in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States are exempt from this requirement. Students who were born in one of these countries but were educated elsewhere are still required to satisfy the English proficiency requirement.
  • The university reserves the right to request TOEFL or IELTS scores in cases where the admissions office determines that more information regarding an applicant’s English language proficiency is needed.
  • These are pre-major requirements and academic departments may have additional requirements. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the admissions requirements for their chosen major.

Milgard School of Business applicants:

Undergraduate transfer applicants to the Milgard School of Business are required to submit at least one test score to apply to the business major:

  • Writing Skills Assessment (WSA) test – can take on any UW campus
  • TOEFL (minimum 83 ibT, 558 paper-based, 220 computer-based)
  • IELTS (minimum 6.5 overall)
  • Combination of English composition course prerequisite and the Personal Statement

The TOEFL or IELTS test results can be submitted to the Office of Admission with the general application, and the Milgard School will be able to review the results when they consider an application to the major.

Graduate students:

Students applying to a graduate (master's level or higher) program at UW Tacoma must follow the UW Graduate School guidelines for English proficiency.