MBA Application – English Language Proficiency

Proficiency in English is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency. Proficiency can be demonstrated in one of the following four ways:

  1. A bachelor’s or doctoral degree (but not a master’s degree) from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or from an institution in Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, or the United Kingdom.
  2. Official documentation from the institution verifying that the applicant’s undergraduate degree is from an institution (in a country other than those listed in #1 above) where all instruction is in English. The undergraduate degree must be equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree. You will be asked to submit this documentation to the University of Washington Graduate School if you are admitted to the program.
  3. Successful completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Michigan Language Test (MLT) or the Pearson Test of English. The available test types in the online application are TOEFL and TOEFL iBT. For the minimum scores required on these tests, please refer to the UW Graduate School website that describes the English Language Proficiency requirements. Test Scores are typically valid for two years from the test date.

If you score below the required minimum score on any of the above tests, you can attend the University of Washington after completing the UW Intensive English Program.

Educational Testing Service (ETS) administers the TOEFL at locations all over the world. If you are planning to take the TOEFL (or have already taken the test), please request that scores be sent to the University of Washington (School Code: 4854). Official TOEFL scores are mailed to us approximately three to four weeks after the test date.

Please contact uwbmba@uw.edu if you have questions relating to English Language Proficiency requirements.