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English Proficiency Requirement for Admission

All international students are required to submit English proficiency scores that meet the University’s minimum requirement for admission consideration. Previous ESL or English composition courses, even when taken in the United States, will not satisfy this requirement. Students currently enrolled in U.S. or Canadian high schools or colleges are still required to submit official exam scores to fulfill the English proficiency requirement. The UW Seattle does not offer conditional admission to applicants who have not met the minimum English proficiency requirement by the application deadline.

Review minimum score requirements for admission to the UW

Submitting Official Exam Scores

Scores must be sent directly from the testing agency to the UW. Score reports provided to the applicant (i.e. school copies, examinee score reports, student copies, or photocopies) will not be accepted.

Make sure that the name on your score report matches exactly the name you give on your admission application form. Even a slight difference in the name will prevent scores from being matched to your application file.

If there are any differences in your name, be sure to list the name discrepancy on your application or notify the Admissions Office in writing by email or postal mail.

Select an examination date that will allow the results to reach the Office of Admissions by the application deadline. December is the last month for international freshmen to take an exam before the January 15 application deadline. January is the last month for international transfers and postbaccalaureates to take an exam before the February 15 application deadline.

Exams taken or scores received after the published application deadline will not be considered.

TOEFL scores are only valid for two years from the exam date. If scores are more than two years old, new exam scores will need to be submitted. Institutional TOEFL exams administered by other colleges/universities will not be accepted.