Departments may require higher minimum scores.

Exemptions from the TOEFL/IELTS/DET requirement are permitted for students who have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution whose sole official language of instruction is English. To qualify, the language of instruction must be verified via one of the following methods:

1. WHED: English must be listed as the only language of instruction for the institution; OR

2. The applicant’s official transcripts: the institution-issued transcripts uploaded to the application must explicitly state that the language or medium of instruction is English.

If an applicant states that they attended an institution where English is the language of instruction, but they do not qualify for an exemption based on the WHED or their official transcripts, the department may choose to submit an exception request to waive the language exam admissions requirement. The justification should address how the department has assessed the applicant’s English language proficiency.

English Language Placement Exam (ELPE)

Required for new students. All incoming graduate students whose first language is not English, regardless of citizenship or residency, must take the English Language Placement Examination (ELPE) at the beginning of their first quarter of enrollment.

The following students are not required to take the ELPE:

1. Nonnative speakers of English who completed the entirety of their undergraduate degree (four years) at an institution where the medium of instruction was English-only. The language of instruction must be verified according to TOEFL/IELTS/DET exemption requirements.

2. International students visiting UCSB under the Education Abroad Program and other non-degree reciprocity statuses unless they later apply for admission to a graduate program

Students whose first language is not English but who were exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS/DET requirement may still be required to take the ELPE. The ELPE is administered by the English for Multilingual Students (EMS) Program, though the Graduate Division evaluates eligibility for exemptions. In addition, some students will be exempt from the oral ELPE, the written ELPE, or both based on their TOEFL or IELTS or DET scores (as determined by the EMS Program):

• Students whose TOEFL Writing score is 26 or 5.0 or higher or whose IELTS Writing score is 7.5 or higher are exempt from the written ELPE.

• Students whose TOEFL Speaking score is 26 or 5.0 or higher or whose IELTS Speaking score is 8 or higher are exempt from the oral ELPE.

• Students who have taken or who are scheduled for UCSB’s TA English Language Exam do not have to take the oral ELPE.

Teaching Assistant Language Evaluations

Required for students who will be hired as Teaching Assistants (TAs). Graduate Council policy requires all prospective teaching assistants (TAs) whose first language is not English to take the TA Language Evaluation prior to being certified to hold sole classroom teaching or laboratory responsibilities.

Like the ELPE, the EMS Program also coordinates the TA English Language Exams for prospective Teaching Assistants whose first language is not English. Unlike the ELPE, students are not exempt from TA English Language Exams on the basis of test scores or English medium instruction. Nor are students exempted on the basis of U.S. residency or citizenship. Students whose first language is not English but were exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS/DET and/or ELPE requirements must still take the TA Language Evaluation.

The EMS Program conducts two types of TA English Language Exams: the screening exam, with only an EMS Program evaluator, and our standard exam, with both an EMS evaluator and a faculty member from the student’s department.

Screening exams are available for students who meet any of the following criteria:

• TOEFL speaking score of 26-30 or 5.0-6.0

• IELTS speaking score of 7 or higher

• Completion of four years of baccalaureate education in an English-medium institution.

For all other students, the standard exam is required.

In late July or early August, departments will be asked to submit the names of all students who should be scheduled to take the TA Language Evaluation (including both the screening and the standard exam) to the EMS Program.