English Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English must meet one of the following English proficiency requirements for admission.

Scores may be self-reported to be issued an admission decision, but if the student receives an offer of admission, official documentation will be required for full admission and matriculation.

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1. Completion of a qualifying academic program

U.S. high school: Graduation from an accredited U.S. high school or U.S. Department of Defense School overseas. Must have attended for at least three consecutive years.

U.S. degree: Completion of a regionally accredited associate's degree, international baccalaureate (IB): Successful completion of the full IB Diploma Programme in English.

U.S.-based intensive English program completion will be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Degrees outside of the U.S. that qualify: High school (secondary school) diploma and/or citizenship from one of the following English-speaking countries:

American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Cameroon (southwest, northwest only), Canada (except Quebec) , Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Denmark, Dominica, England, Eswatini (Swaziland), Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, The Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grand Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Islands, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Scotland, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, St. Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, Wales, Zambia, Zimbabwe

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2. Achieve a qualifying score on a recognized English language proficiency test

Qualifying scores must have been obtained within the last two years. SAT and ACT scores are accepted within 5 years of submission. The only exceptions are for applicants who submit scores for a test taken more than two years ago is if the student has been continuously studying at a post-secondary institution or employed professionally within the U.S

English proficiency exam: The below chart outlines the minimum score requirements on accepted English proficiency exams for admission to undergraduate (Bachelors) and graduate (Masters) degree programs. 

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3. Complete qualifying courses, degrees or diplomas

If a student completes a specific curriculum or course/level within curriculum then we will use it as demonstration of the mandatory English Language Requirement.

• Student has taken a full year of high school in the U.S.A. and earned a C grade (or better) in one year of standard English (not ESL). This must be shown on your transcripts.
• International transfer students transferring from a college or university in which English is the medium of instruction and have completed an English Composition (not ESL) class with a “C” letter grade or higher.
• GCSE or GCE Score of “C” or better on the English language exam
• You have earned a passing score on the O Level/IGCSE of the GCE (General Certificate of Education).
• You have passed the first year of IB English (SL or HL) with a score of 4 or higher.
• Ethiopian General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (EGSECE) or Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Examination (EHEEE): English section minimum result of A or 75.
• WAEC (West African Exam Council) score of C6 or better. 

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4. Letter from international host university - Exchange Only

As an alternative to submitting English proficiency scores, international exchange (non-degree) students may provide a letter from the international office of their home university verifying that they have a high enough level of English language proficiency to be academically successful as an exchange student at Kutztown University.