Applicants Whose First Language is Not English

All students with F-1 visas and/or foreign academic credentials whose first language is not English must demonstrate adequate English language proficiency before admission. English language proficiency may be verified in one of the following ways:

1. Applicants may sit for either the International Testing Program or the special Center Testing Program of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have an official score report sent by the testing agency directly to Graduate and International Admissions. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based). Applicants with a score below the minimum requirement may be eligible to participate in SIUE's Intensive English Program.
2. Applicants may sit for an institutional TOEFL examination administered on campus at SIUE. Institutional TOEFL scores will not be accepted from other institutions. The minimum acceptable score is described in item 1 above.
3. Applicants may submit a properly certified copy of their General Certificate of Education administered by a British Testing Agency showing a grade of A, B, or C in the subject English Language. Recognized equivalent examinations also will be considered.
4. Applicants may submit academic records certifying that they have graduated from a recognized secondary school, college, or university located in an English-speaking country, and where English is the exclusive language of instruction.
5. Applicants may submit academic records certifying that they have completed courses, totaling at least 6 semester hours, equivalent to both English 101 (English Composition I) and English 102 (English Composition II) with earned grades of C or better at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.
6. Applicants may sit for the University-administered English Competency Test and meet SIUE indicators of college entry level competence in English and reading.
7. Applicants with acceptable credentials and a TOEFL score between 430 and 549 (paper-based) or 117 and 210 (computer-based) will be granted conditional acceptance to an undergraduate academic program contingent upon entry into SIUE's Intensive English Language Program. (For more information on this program, see the Noncredit Programs and Services section of this catalog.) Successful completion of this program, i.e., achieving a score of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) or higher on SIUE's institutional TOEFL, is a prerequisite for course registration in the selected program.

Undergraduate application materials for students whose first language is not English the SIUE web site include a detailed explanation of procedures and required credentials. Refer to the section, Students Holding or Requiring F-1 Visas for more information.