University of Portland Bulletin 2018-2019

International Students

Admission Requirements

All undergraduate international applicants must meet the regular admissions procedures as set forth by the office of Admissions, with the following exception. An international applicant who will complete high school outside the United States, or will complete less than 3 years of high school in the United States at the time of graduation is not required to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT 1) or the American College Test (ACT). An international applicant who will have completed 3 or more years of high school in the United States at the time of high school graduation will be required to submit scores from the SAT or ACT, but will not need to submit an English language proficiency exam to be considered for admission.

University of Portland reserves the right to request all transcripts of previously attended institutions, including language training programs, prior to finalizing an applicant's admission decision. 

All graduate international applicants must meet the regular admissions procedures as set forth by the Graduate School.

English Language Proficiency: In addition to the regular admission procedures, applicants whose native language is not English must 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). A minimum composite score of 71 on the TOEFL iBT or 6.5 on IELTS must be attained for acceptance as an undergraduate student. Performance on TOEFL or IELTS subsections will also be considered. A minimum of 79 on the TOEFL iBT or 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 on the TOEFL iBT or 7.0 on IELTS; in communications, music, and nursing it is 100 on the TOEFL iBT or 7.5 on IELTS.

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 cases:

  • 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 or IELTS test, but they will be required to take the University of Portland English placement examination with the conditions mentioned above.
  • Applicants presenting a score of 550 or above on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT 1), need not take the TOEFL or IELTS test.
  • Applicants presenting a score of 20 or above on the English section of the American College Test (ACT), need not take the TOEFL or IELTS test.
  • Applicants presenting a score of 4 or above on the International Baccalaureate (IB) exams English A or English B, need not take the TOEFL or IELTS test.

Non-immigrant Documents: In compliance with US immigration regulations, an I-20 or DS-2019 document will not be issued until the student is accepted at the University and has submitted proof of financial support for one academic year of anticipated educational and living expenses.