English Language Proficiency (ELP)

In addition to the standard application requirements, international applicants, and domestic applicants for whom English is not the first language, must meet English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for both the Department of Psychology, which are described here, and for the Graduate School. Most international applicants meet this requirement by providing TOEFL iBT or IELTS exam scores that meet or exceed our minimums, or by demonstrating proficiency with English-language coursework that meets the requirements for number of years and recency outlined below.

Important: The Department of Psychology does not accept the following as proof of English Language Proficiency: 

• Duolingo
• PTE Academic
• Cambridge C1 advanced
• Proficiency credentials from other universities or institutions
• English language instruction completed at institutions in countries other than those on the Graduate School’s approved list. This includes American universities with campuses in non-listed countries.

Testing (IELTS or TOEFL)

The Department of Psychology accepts IELTS and TOEFL scores only; Duolingo, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced, and other tests are not accepted. The exam test date must be within two years of our program start date (e.g., August 2025 or later for Fall 2027 admissions) to be considered valid.

Minimum Score Requirements

Testing must occur in time for self-reported scores to be included on the application submitted for our December 1 admissions deadline (provided these scores are included, official scores can arrive after December 1) but must be received before admission will be confirmed. Scores from tests taken after our admissions deadline, including to demonstrate improved proficiency from scores included in the file, will not be considered.

Important: Applicants who submit scores below our thresholds without demonstrating proficiency by another accepted mechanism listed on this web page (e.g., coursework) are not eligible for admission to our program and will receive a deny decision on their file without further review.

Score Submission

Coursework

Applicants whose first language is not English but who will earn the entirety of their undergraduate degree (or four years combined undergraduate and graduate education) at US institutions, institutions in specific English-speaking countries, or specific institutions and regions in other countries do not need to submit ELP exam scores.

The following requirements must all be met to meet ELP with coursework:

• The country of study must be listed; testing is required even if all instruction in an unlisted country was conducted in English.
• Four years of study are required; this departmental requirement is more stringent than, and supersedes, the Graduate School’s requirement of two years.
• At least 16-semester credits (or 24 quarter credits) must have been completed within the last 2 years (with a potential exception for applicants who completed four years of coursework more than two years ago but have been working and residing in the US in the interim).
• The required number of semesters must be achieved before the intended term of admission starts and may therefore include a final planned semester of coursework past the application deadline (e.g., applicants who apply in Fall 2026 for Fall 2027 admissions may count Spring 2027 coursework toward the requirement).

Exemptions

Applicants who meet one or both of the following criteria are exempted from demonstrating proof of English proficiency via testing or coursework:

• Applicants whose first language is English from specific countries. A University-wide committee determines which countries are exempted from the requirement to provide test scores.

Applicants who are current UMN graduate students in another department and have already achieved an ELP rating of 1 (fully proficient) by taking the SETTA or GRAD 5105. Email [email protected] to request confirmation.