The TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo English Test are three different English language proficiency tests accepted by CU Boulder as proof of English proficiency. CU Boulder does not accept any other tests as proof of English proficiency.
Contact us for more information.
Engineering
TOEFL: 83
IELTS: 6.5
Duolingo: 125
All Other Majors
TOEFL: 75
IELTS: 6.5
Duolingo: 120
Total scores must include a TOEFL writing subscore of 19 or higher or an IELTS writing subscore of 5.5 or higher. Scores may not be combined.
For more information about our admission requirements and selection process, please visit our International Plan page.
Request that the testing agency submit your scores directly to the Office of Admissions. Scores must be received by the Office of Admissions no later than November 15 for spring applicants and June 15 for fall applicants. Duolingo test scores can be submitted directly through the DET website. Select CU Boulder Undergraduate Admissions as the institution to which you would like to send the score results. For more information on the TOEFL, go to . For more information on the IELTS, go to . For more information on Duolingo, go to .
The CU Boulder school code for the TOEFL is 4841.
All IELTS test centers worldwide are able to send scores electronically to our institution. You must provide the following information to your IELTS test center when requesting your scores (IELTS does not use school codes):
°µÍø½ûÇø Bachelors & Post-Baccalaureate
3100 Marine Street
Suite A122, UCB 65
Boulder, CO
80303
Proof of English proficiency is required for immigration purposes for all international student applicants unless:
- You have completed at least two years of full-time academic study at a U.S. high school or at a high school in a country where English is the native language (i.e., Australia, U.K.) within two years of the time you begin studies at CU Boulder
- You have completed at least one year of full-time academic study at a U.S. college or university or at an institution in a country where English is the native language (i.e., Australia, U.K.) within two years of the time you begin studies at CU Boulder
- English is your native language
Students attending a school where English is the language of instruction are not automatically exempted from the English proficiency requirement. We do not accept Medium of Instruction (MOI) letters as proof of English proficiency. Please note that is NOT enough to meet our requirement even if the program was taught in English; the school at which you studied must be in a country whose primary official language is English.
The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request proof of English proficiency in certain circumstances, even if one or more of the above conditions has been met.
International Conditional Admission
The °µÍø½ûÇø offers conditional admission to international students who meet the academic requirements for admission but need to improve their English language skills before starting an academic degree program. Students who receive conditional admission to the °µÍø½ûÇø will be allowed to start their degree program after they have met the requirement for English proficiency.
How to meet the English proficiency requirements:
If you have taken one of these tests and your current score does not meet the requirement, you may retake the TOEFL, Duolingo or IELTS in an attempt to meet the requirement. Scores from multiple tests may not be combined. In order to finalize your admission, an English proficiency score that meets the requirement must be submitted along with proof of funding to the Office of Admissions no later than November 15 for spring applicants and June 15 for fall applicants.
The Pathway to CU Program is offered through the International English Center. Students take coursework in academic English and participate in workshops, activities and events that help them transition into the university community. Students who choose to enroll in the Pathway to CU Program must successfully complete all levels of the program, or submit the required English language proficiency test scores prior to beginning their degree program at the university.
Pathway to CU Program
