English Proficiency for Graduate Applicants

In order to succeed academically at the graduate level, students must have strong English language skills. All students must meet the university minimum score requirements indicated below; however, many graduate programs have higher score requirements. It is important that you contact your department directly to learn their minimum score requirements.

Score Submission

Pearson PTE is temporarily unavailable as an option for providing proof of English Proficiency at Montana State University. Please send a proof of English Proficiency that is included on this page.

TOEFL

Arrangements to take the TOEFL can be made at this website. There, you can also find out more information about this examination. Allow sufficient time for test registration procedures (about one month) and score results (one additional month). Entering the Montana State University school code (4488) on the test form will ensure that an official score report is sent directly to the Office of Admissions. Scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Services (ETS) to the MSU Office of Admissions. Official score reports can be ordered via the TOEFL website.

IELTS

IELTS is a program jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, British Council, and IDP Education Australia (IELTS Australia). To register for the exam, please go to: http://www.ielts.org. Graduate applicants need to order the official score report to be sent directly to The Graduate School. The address is: 

DUOLINGO

Duolingo English Proficiency Test is now accepted at MSU for Graduate School. This test that can be taken online, on-demand, in under an hour. The minimum required test score is 120, however it is important to know that most departments at MSU require higher scores as well as interviews, especially for those students who will be graduate teaching or research assistants. To learn more about this exam and to register for the exam, please go to: https://englishtest.duolingo.com/Graduate. If you take this exam, please request your scores are accessible to Montana State University, Bozeman. If you have taken the exam, you can also email the Graduate School ([email protected]) with your test score report.

Exemptions from Providing Proof of English Proficiency

If you have received a high school, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree from an institution in the United States or a country listed below, an English proficiency examination is not required.  Please see the list below.

NOTE: The Office of International Programs reserves the right to request students to submit proof of English proficiency, even if they meet the above-mentioned requirements.