TOEFL/IELTS Questions

If you are an international student, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam (MyBestScore [TOEFL] and Duolingo are not accepted).

Self-Reported TOEFL or IELTS scores must be input into the application by the application deadline. Official TOEFL/IELTS scores are required in order to accept offers of admission (typically sent before the end of February).

TOEFL Codes:

• School/Institution: 4836
• Department: 35

Minimum Acceptable TOEFL and IELTS Scores:

• TOEFL Speaking: 23 (Applicants below 23 will not be considered)
• TOEFL Total: 100
• IELTS Speaking: 7 (Applicants below 7 will not be considered)
• IELTS Overall: 7

Non-native English language speakers may be exempt from this requirement if they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either:

• A regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction, or
• A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English. You may verify whether your institution meets this requirement by looking up your institution in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). If English is not the sole language of instruction listed, if no language is listed at all, or if the institution does not appear on the WHED website, you are required to submit English proficiency exam scores. No other documentation (e.g. letters, language certificates, school websites) may be used in place of WHED as a means to obtain an exemption from the English proficiency requirement.

For the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs' (GEPA) TOEFL/IELTS FAQs, please visit their page on Test and Scores Questions.

Non-native English language speakers may be exempt from this requirement if they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either:

• A regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction, or
• A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English. You may verify whether your institution meets this requirement by looking up your institution in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). If English is not the sole language of instruction listed, if no language is listed at all, or if the institution does not appear on the WHED website, you are required to submit English proficiency exam scores. No other documentation (e.g. letters, language certificates, school websites) may be used in place of WHED as a means to obtain an exemption from the English proficiency requirement.

For questions regarding TOEFL/IELTS exemption, please contact gradadmissions@ucsd.edu.

No, working/teaching in the United States does not qualify you for a TOEFL/IELTS exemption.

No, MyBestScore and Duolingo are not accepted by UC San Diego.

No, only Self-Reported TOEFL or IELTS scores must be input into the application by the application deadline. Official TOEFL/IELTS scores are required in order to accept offers of admission (typically sent before the end of February).

Minimum Acceptable TOEFL and IELTS Scores for the program:

• TOEFL Speaking: 23 (Applicants below 23 will not be considered)
• TOEFL Total: 100
• IELTS Speaking: 7 (Applicants below 7 will not be considered)
• IELTS Overall: 7

Yes, you can apply if your TOEFL Total or IELTS Overall score is below the acceptable minimum; however, your application evaluation will be negatively impacted by a TOEFL Total or IELTS Overall score that does not meet the minimum acceptable score for the program.

No, applicants with a TOEFL Speaking below 23 or an IELTS Speaking below 7 will not be considered by the Admissions Committee nor the program.

• TOEFL School/Institution Code: 4836
• TOEFL Department Code: 35

Only School/Institution Code is required.

Please visit the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs' (GEPA) page on Test and Scores Questions and see How can I submit my IELTS scores?.

Please visit the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs' (GEPA) page on Test and Scores Questions and/or email gradadmissions@ucsd.edu.