International Students

All international students, both freshmen and transfers, must submit official copies of their secondary school record. In addition to the regular admission procedures, international students are required to provide proof of English language competence through one of the following procedures: Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

The TOEFL or the IELTS is required of all applicants whose native language is not English. A minimum composite score of 71 (or 6.5 on IELTS) must be attained for acceptance as an undergraduate student. Performance on TOEFL subsections will also be considered. A minimum of 79 (7.0 on IELTS) is required for acceptance as a graduate student, except for the master’s programs in business administration, communication studies, music, and nursing. In business administration the minimum score is 88 (7.0 on IELTS); in communications, music, and nursing it is 100 (7.5 on IELTS). An I-20 document will not be issued until the student is accepted at the University. After the TOEFL or IELTS requirement is met, it is required that undergraduate students take the English placement examination at the University of Portland before registering for classes. If the score on this test is not satisfactory, the student will be required to take and pass, with at least a grade of C, the English class or classes in line with the deficiency. Until English proficiency is judged satisfactory, the student must take a reduced load in the major area of study. Thus, it may take the student an extra semester or more to obtain an undergraduate degree.

An exception to the above may be made in the following case: Applicants presenting GCE certificates in English language from the University of London, or GCE certificates from examining bodies recognized as equivalent to the University of London need not take the TOEFL test, but they will be required to take the University of Portland English placement examination with the conditions mentioned above.