English Proficiency Requirements for Graduate and Professional Students

Duquesne University requires submission of standardized English proficiency scores for graduate applicants whose native or primary language is not English. Some applicants, however, may be exempt from TOEFL or IELTS requirements and/or other English language testing if they have:

• completed four years of undergraduate coursework taught in English at accredited institutions of higher education in the United States;
• completed two years of graduate coursework taught in English at accredited institutions of higher education in the United States; or
• submitted with the application and have approved a petition recognizing four years of undergraduate work taught in English at an accredited institution outside of the United States; or
• submitted with the application and have approved a petition recognizing two years of graduate coursework taught in English at accredited institutions of higher education outside of the United States.

The University requires the following minimum scores for general admission consideration:
TOEFL (iBT)- 80
IELTS- 6.5*
DuoLingo - 115

Scores current to within one year are considered reliable for evaluation.

*Duquesne's Rangos School will consider 6.0 for applicants in the China Linkage Program only.

Some academic programs require higher general scores and/or sub scores (in Reading, Writing, Speaking, and/or Listening). The Palumbo-Donahue School of Business, for example, requires a minimum TOEFL of 90 or IELTS of 7.0. Prospective students should consult their program of choice to determine the particular admission requirements. Information about Graduate and Professional Programs may be found on the Admissions website at https://duq.edu/admissions-and-aid/graduate.

Applicants who have not met the required minimum English proficiency scores established by the academic program may be considered for admission to a Pathway Program, if applicable. This entails additional cost. Information about the Pathway Program may be found below.

Graduate assistantships require greater proficiency than the minimum general scores and certification of acceptable fluency. For information about assistantship requirements, please contact the Global English Institute at 412.396.5091.

Graduate Pathway Program
(Conditional Admission)

International applicants who have not attained the required English proficiency scores and other required standardized tests for admission into graduate programs may be eligible for conditional admission to either an academic program or admission into the Global English Institute. Through the Pathway Program for International Graduate Students, applicants may attend up to one year (twelve months) of the Global English Institute and academic coursework at Duquesne to prepare for the required standardized tests in order to be granted full admission into a graduate program. If, after twelve months, the student has not demonstrated satisfactory progress and attained a competitive score on the standardized tests, the student will be dismissed from the program by the appropriate Program Director.