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Clemson University Graduate School

English Language Proficiency for Graduate Admissions

International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. Applicants can demonstrate proficiency through the submission of official test scores or through one of the qualifying categories outlined below. 

Official documentation demonstrating English language proficiency must be received by our office before a decision can be made on your application. English proficiency can be demonstrated in the following ways:

  • Submission of official scores for an approved English proficiency test; or
  • Earned or in-progress undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution; or
  • Earned or in-progress degree from a foreign institution where English is the only language of instruction; or
  • Completion of an approved ESL program for graduate programs offering Conditional Language Admission

Standardized Test Scores

English Proficiency Tests Accepted

Minimum Score Requirements

TOEFL iBT (MyBest Scores allowed)

80

TOEFL Essentials

8.5

IELTS

6.5

Duolingo

115

PTE

54

Clemson University Institution Code: 5111

English proficiency test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

Please note, the minimum score requirements listed above are the minimum required by the University. Meeting the minimum University requirement does not guarantee admission. Each program sets their own requirements. Contact your program of interest for more information. Program contact information can be found here.

Test scores may take four to six weeks from the date the scores are sent to reflect on your Graduate Application. If you have questions about scores reflecting on your application, please contact Graduate Admissions at grdapp@clemson.edu.

How to Send Scores

Official score reports must be sent electronically from the testing agency to Clemson University. Clemson University does not accept unofficial score reports or score reports sent directly to us by the applicant.

Earned Degree from U.S. Institution or Qualifying Foreign Institution

An earned degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a foreign institution where English is the sole language of instruction satisfies the English proficiency requirement. During the application process, the English Proficiency requirement will be waived as a checklist requirement if your education meets this requirement. To determine if your foreign institution satisfies the requirement, please see “Qualifying Foreign Institutions” below.

For international applicants, credential evaluations and English translations may be required for foreign institution transcripts. Please see our supporting materials page for more information.

In-Progress Degree from U.S. Institutions

An in-progress degree at a regionally accredited U.S. institution qualifies applicants for an in-progress waiver of the English Proficiency requirement on their Graduate Application. This waiver postpones the English Proficiency Requirement during the application process until the beginning of the first term at Clemson University. Upon completion of the approved in-progress degree, official transcripts must be sent to Graduate Admissions to satisfy the English Proficiency Requirement.

If official transcripts from a regionally accredited U.S. institution showing a conferred degree are not supplied, a registration hold will prevent any future enrollment until proper English Proficiency documentation is received as defined by Graduate Admission requirements for international applicants.

In-Progress Degree from Qualifying Foreign Institution

An in-progress degree at a qualifying foreign institution qualifies applicants for an in-progress waiver of the English Proficiency requirement on their Graduate Application. This waiver postpones the English Proficiency Requirement during the application process until the beginning of the first term at Clemson University. Upon completion of the approved in-progress degree, official transcripts must be sent to Graduate Admissions to satisfy the English Proficiency Requirement.

If official transcripts from a qualifying foreign institution showing a conferred degree are not supplied, a registration hold will prevent any future enrollment until proper English Proficiency documentation is received as defined by Graduate Admission requirements for international applicants. To determine if your institution is a qualifying foreign institution, please see the information below.

Credential evaluations and English translations may be required for foreign institution transcripts. Please see our supporting materials page for more information.

Qualifying Foreign Institutions

A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English and is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s or graduate degree can satisfy the English Proficiency requirement. Clemson University Graduate Admission uses the IAU WHED World Higher Education Database when determining whether your institution qualifies for satisfaction of the English Language Proficiency Requirement.

You may verify whether your institution meets this requirement by looking up your institution in the IAU WHED World Higher Education Database. If English is not the sole language of instruction listed, if no language is listed at all, or if the institution does not appear on the WHED website, you are required to submit English proficiency exam scores. No other documentation (e.g. letters, language certificates, school websites) may be used.

Credential evaluations and English translations may be required for foreign institution transcripts. Please see our supporting materials page for more information.

Approved ESL Programs for Conditional Language Admission

Some graduate programs offer Conditional Language Admission to international students who have completed an approved ESL program. To determine which programs offer Conditional Language Admission for approved ESL programs, please visit the Conditional Language Admission webpage.

The following ESL programs and proficiency levels are approved for Conditional Language Admission to specific programs:

  • Agape English Language Institute (AELI) — Greenville or Columbia, SC — Level 6 proficiency.
  • ELS Language Centers — any location — Level 112 proficiency.

Other ESL programs may also meet the requirement if they follow all three of these criteria:

  1. Accreditation: regional accreditation, or ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Teaching), or CEA (Commission on English Language Program Accreditation).
  2. EnglishUSA membership.
  3. Proficiency level equivalent to CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) C1.

To find out if your program of interest offers Conditional Language Admission, please visit the Conditional Language Admission webpage.

English Proficiency Requirements for Assistantships

Clemson University seeks to support students in their role as teachers while using English and adapting to academic culture in the US. To ensure the success of all new international students seeking student-facing assistantships, higher scores than the University minimum on English proficiency tests or a short screening of English proficiency may be required. Please review the requirements for new international graduate students who are seeking student facing assistantships on the English Language Programs website.  For more information and who to contact, please visit the English Language Programs website.

Frequently Asked Questions