First-Year International Admission - English Proficiency and Conditional Admission Requirements

Aug 29, 2026

First-year international applicants to the University of Miami must complete a rigorous college-preparatory program with at least three or four years of coursework. Academic success is strongly tied to English communication ability, so non-native speakers submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test (DET) scores valid for two years. Waivers are available through specified standardized scores, advanced coursework, or demonstrated English study, and conditional admission may be granted for non-competitive scores contingent on Intensive English Program placement, full-time enrollment, Level 5 completion, and/or an alternative TOEFL requirement.

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First-Year International Admission

Academic Preparation and Application Pathways

English Proficiency Requirements (TOEFL, IELTS, DET)

Score Validity and Waivers

Conditional Admission

First-Year International Admission 1 FIRST-YEAR INTERNATIONAL ADMISSION The University of Miami encourages international students to apply as both ﬁrst-year and transfer students. First-year applicants must complete a rigorous college preparatory program that includes at minimum three or four years of coursework. Note that students graduating from a high school or secondary school outside the United States may apply under test optional admission. Refer to our FirstYear Admission Requirements for additional details. Transfer applicants should refer to the Transfer Admission Requirements for additional details. Academic success at the University of Miami is strongly dependent upon the ability to communicate in English. To ensure that international students are prepared for the rigorous curriculum they will experience at the University of Miami, non-native English speakers are required to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test (DET) . TOEFL, IELTS, and DET exams are valid for two years from the date of the exam. If a student's exam scores are more than two years old, the student will need to take a new exam to be considered for admission. Non-native English speakers may have this requirement waived if they can demonstrate English proﬁciency in one of the following ways: Obtain a score of 650 or higher on the redesigned SAT evidence-based reading and writing section (administered beginning in 2016); Obtain a score of 27 or higher on the ACT English section; Obtain a grade of A or B in an Advanced Placement (AP) or Higher level (HL) International Baccalaureate (IB) English course; Graduate from or attend at least three years at a high school in the United States; Successfully complete Level 5 of the University’s Intensive English Program (IEP); IB English A1 Standard level (SL) or HL examination with a predicted score of 4 or higher; IB English B HL examination with a predicted score of 5 or higher; Grade of C or better on the IGCSE/GCE “O” or “A” Level in English language; Graduate from or attend a high school outside the United States, including the ﬁnal three years, in which the medium of instruction is English; or, earn 24 or more postsecondary credits (including 6 credits in English Composition with a grade of B or higher) at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. For non-native English speakers submitting the TOEFL, IELTS, or DET, competitive applicants generally score above the following: 550 on the paperbased TOEFL; 80 on the online TOEFL; 6.5 on the IELTS; or, 125 on the DET. CONDITIONAL ADMISSION Non-native English speakers who submit the TOEFL, IELTS, and/or DET, and do not have competitive scores may be granted admission to the University of Miami to the future entry term stated on their admission letter. The student's admission is contingent on taking the University's Intensive English Program placement exam, enrolling full-time in the Intensive English Program and completing Level 5 with a grade of 70 percent or higher or passing the paper-based TOEFL offered at the University with a score of 550 or higher. Failure to complete these requirements by the future entry term stated on the student's admission letter will result in revocation of the student's admission offer.

FAQs

What academic preparation is required for first-year international applicants?

Applicants must complete a rigorous college preparatory program with at least three or four years of coursework. High school or secondary school education outside the U.S. may qualify under test-optional admission.

Which English proficiency tests are required for non-native English speakers, and how long are scores valid?

Non-native speakers must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or DET. These exam results are valid for two years from the exam date.

What happens if an applicant’s English test scores are older than two years?

If scores are more than two years old, the applicant must take a new test to be considered for admission, unless an approved waiver applies based on other evidence of English proficiency.

How does conditional admission work for students with non-competitive English scores?

Conditional admission may be granted for the future entry term on the admission letter if the student completes the Intensive English Program placement exam, enrolls full-time, completes Level 5 with a grade of at least 70%, or meets an alternative paper-based TOEFL requirement. Failure to complete requirements by the stated term can revoke the offer.

Aug 29, 2026

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