English Proficiency
for Graduate Admissions
To be considered for admission to the Graduate College, international applicants are expected to submit evidence of English proficiency in the form of official scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Duolingo English Test (DET) or PTE Academic examinations. A waiver of this requirement can be obtained for applicants who have completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, at which English is the primary language of instruction, located in a country in which English is a recognized primary language; applicants with one or more completed degrees from the countries listed here automatically receive this waiver. Note that graduate programs may have additional requirements.
Scores must be from an examination taken within the last two years. Minimum requirements are TOEFL 79 iBT*, 115 DET, 53 PTE Academic or 6.5 IELTS academic stream.
*Effective 21 January 2026, the iBT has a new scoring scale. On that scale, the minimum overall score for admission is 4.0. Valid tests using the old scoring system will continue to be accepted.
Applicants who present a TOEFL score of at least 61 iBT (or effective 21 January 2026, a score of lat least 3.5 iBT on the new scoring scale), but less than 79 iBT (4.0 on the new scoring scale), an IELTS academic stream score of 6.0, or a DET score of 95, and who demonstrate unusual academic promise may be admitted to graduate study on conditional status upon petition to the Graduate College by the graduate program. Such applicants admitted with conditional status must successfully complete a minimum of 12 weeks of study at an intensive English program approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education State Regents. At least two-thirds (eight weeks) of the 12 weeks must be instruction at an advanced level. You may contact the Graduate College at grad-i@okstate.edu for a list of approved intensive English programs.