International applicants who do not meet the requirements for a waiver are required to submit English proficiency scores.
| test | minimum requirements | how to send |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT / TOEFL iBT Home Edition (taken before Jan. 2026) | Total score 81 | Send via ETS using institution code 6681 and department code 01 |
| TOEFL iBT / TOEFL iBT Home Edition (taken after Jan. 2026) | Total score 4.5 | Send via ETS using institution code 6681 and department code 01 |
| IELTS | Overall score of 7 with no subscore less than 6 | Send through your IELTS Testing Center |
| DuoLingo (DET) | Score of 120 or above | Send via DuoLingo English Test |
| PTE | Overall score of 68 with no subscore less than 58 | Email internationalgrad@uiowa.edu with your Score Report Code |
- The on-campus English Placement Evaluation (EPE) will be required unless you submit a TOEFL overall score of 100 (taken before Jan. 2026) 5.0 (taken after Jan. 2026) or higher, or an IELTS overall score of 8.0 or higher.
- All students admitted using DuoLingo (DET) or PTE test scores will be required to take the EPE when they arrive on campus.
- We do not accept the TOEFL MyBest Superscore or the IELTS One Skill Retake.
English proficiency requirements vary by program. Please check if there are specific requirements for your program.
Waiver Eligibility
Applicants will be given a waiver if they are a citizen, or have earned the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, master's degree, or Ph.D. in the United States, or any of the following countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Botswana
- Cameroon (English speaking side)
- 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
A degree from a host university in this list is not eligible for a waiver if it is completed outside of that country, e.g. a degree from a US institution completed at a campus located in China.
English medium institutions are not sufficient for a waiver if they are completed in a country not on this list.