English Proficiency Policy: Application Exams, Admission, and ELP Student Courses
In the fall of 2011, Graduate Council approved a policy that requires non-native English-speaking applicants to demonstrate their level of English-language proficiency in order to be considered for admission. Applicants fulfill this prerequisite by providing a satisfactory test score report from the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, PTE Academic, or Cambridge English Qualifications exam.
GSAS requests that each program’s DGS and faculty keep an eye on incoming international students and share any concerns about their English language skills with GSAS during the first eight weeks of the semester, so that GSAS can coordinate the appropriate services for the student with English Language Programs (ELP).
The policies below are in effect from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026, at which point they will be reviewed.
English Proficiency Test Score Requirement for Applicants
Applicants must show proof that they have received an acceptable score on an English-language exam in order to be eligible for admission. Applicants who are citizens of any country for which English is an official language or who have graduated from an accredited degree program at an English-speaking institution, are exempt from this requirement.
Applicants must submit official test score results from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (the TOEFL iBT, At-Home, or revised Paper-delivered test type options), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic), the Pearson Test of English (PTE-Academic), the Duolingo English Test, or one of three Cambridge English Qualification exams (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency). Applicants should check with the appropriate testing agency to ensure that their scores are still valid and that the agency will be able to send an official score report.
GSAS communicates with prospective students that test results of successful applicants to the Graduate School are generally at or above the scores listed below. We do not communicate that it is a required minimum score as many programs will admit applicants who fall slightly below these recommended scores. The recommended minimum scores were set in collaboration with faculty and ELP staff and were determined to demonstrate the ideal level of English-proficiency that an admitted student should have.
- TOEFL iBT: 100
- IELTS Academic: 7
- PTE: 68
- DuoLingo: 130
- Cambridge English Qualifications (B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency): 185
If a department is admitting a student below the recommended minimums the following scores are the lowest possible scores that a department should consider for admission. If your department wishes to consider an applicant that does not meet this threshold, you must contact GSAS Admissions immediately to determine if this admission is a possibility. Admitting a student without an acceptable level of proficiency would impact Brandeis’ ability to support and ensure students’ academic success.
- TOEFL iBT: 87
- IELTS Academic: 6.5
- PTE: 58
- DuoLingo: 120
- Cambridge English Qualifications (B2 First or C1 Advanced): 180
Applicants are allowed to enter a future test date in the online application to prevent delaying the submission of their application.
Note: in August 2021, ETS released a new version of the TOEFL exam, TOEFL Essentials. It is a less expensive exam with only a 50% focus on academic English. In collaboration with the ELP office and the other graduate schools at Brandeis the decision was made to not accept these scores this cycle but we will evaluate the option moving forward.
In addition to the above, GSAS encourages programs to interview applicants to get a better sense of their English-language abilities.
On-Campus English Language Support
GSAS requires individualized tutorials for students who are admitted below the recommended minimum scores communicated to applicants. We require 1-2 semesters of writing and/or speaking tutorials, depending on the score subject breakdown and in consultation with ELP and the program.
GSAS will check in with all DGSs at fall planning meetings about first year students not receiving support who would benefit from additional supports, and GSAS will actively work with ELP instructors to monitor and support students in tutorials. The check-in process will work as follows:
- The DGS will communicate with the faculty who are teaching incoming international students, asking them to surface any concerns with speaking, writing or comprehension skills in the first 8 weeks of the semester.
- If a faculty member communicates a concern to the DGS, the DGS will ask the other faculty who have the student in class, if they share the original concern.
- The DGS will then reach out to GSAS Academic Affairs (Assistant Dean Canelli) with the information.
- GSAS Academic Affairs will help to coordinate appropriate support with ELP services and GSAS Student Affairs.
- During the fall planning meetings between GSAS and programs, we will ask the DGS/admins about students who are struggling with English language skills, and follow up with appropriate support resources (see #4). GSAS will also follow up on this in the spring ASFR process.
- The student has the right to refuse to engage with the support resources. In this case, the program should monitor the student’s progress carefully. If the student’s skills are not improving and the student is not making satisfactory progress in their coursework, then the program can recommend withdrawal to GSAS after the end of the fall or spring semester.
English-Language Tutorials
Should you have any questions about the coursework or how a particular student from your program is doing, please contact the Office of English Language Programs directly at 6-3992.