Iowa State University (ISU) and the Graduate College have three separate English language requirements for nonnative speakers of English:

  • For admission to ISU set by the Office of Admissions
  • For graduate degree completion set by the Graduate College
  • For international teaching assistants set by the Graduate College and Iowa State University.

Each set of language requirements has its purpose and exemption criteria.

Note 1: Nonnative speakers of English are considered those whose first language is not English. English may be considered a student’s first language if they have been raised in an environment where English was the first language learned and spoken from childhood, and English is the only official language of their locality and nation. 

Note 2: You may satisfy the English proficiency requirement if you have completed a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an English-medium institution in an English-speaking country. These countries recognize English as an official language: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Micronesia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Sudan, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

English Proficiency for Graduate Admission

All nonnative speakers of English (see Note 1 above) applying to Iowa State University are required to meet the English Proficiency for Admission requirement. 

Purpose: Demonstrate minimum English language proficiency for admission 

Applicants who are nonnative speakers of English must demonstrate English language proficiency in one of the following ways: 

  1. Submit official scores from one of the following English language exams. The minimum scores accepted by the ISU Admissions Office and Graduate College are:
    • Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) 79 (for exams taken before January 21, 2026); 4.5 (for exams taken on or after January 21, 2026)
    • Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) 550 
    • IELTS 6.5 
    • Pearson Test of English (PTE) 53 
    • Duolingo English Test: 115

Note: The scores above are the minimum standards set by ISU Admission Office and the Graduate College; however, graduate programs may set higher minima. Both the minimum standards accepted for graduate admission and the standards set by the target graduate program must be met.

Official TOEFL exam results must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to Iowa State electronically. Our school code is 6306. 
Official IELTS and PTE results should be sent directly by the testing agencies to the Office of Admissions, Iowa State University, 100 Enrollment Services Center, Ames, IA 50011-2011. 

      2. Earn a bachelor’s, Master's, or Doctoral degree from a country where English is the only official language. For a list of such countries, please contact the Office of Admissions admissions@iastate.edu.

This policy can be found in Graduate College Handbook Chapter 1.3.3 English Proficiency.

Additionally, information about test scores and exemptions can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page. 

For questions about the English Proficiency for Admission, please contact the Office of Admissions, grad_admissions@iastate.edu. 

English Requirement for Graduate Degree Completion - To Complete in the First Year of Graduate Study

All admitted graduate students who are nonnative speakers of English (see Note 1 above) are required to complete the Graduate College's English Requirement for Graduate Degree Completion.  

Purpose: Demonstrate minimum English language proficiency needed to succeed academically in graduate studies.

To meet the English Requirement for Graduate Degree Completion, admitted graduate students who are nonnative speakers of English must demonstrate their proficiency in one of the following ways: 

  1. Take the English Placement Test (EPT). Students are required to take the EPT at the beginning of their first semester.
    • A student who does not pass the EPT is assigned to one or more courses in the ENGL 990 or ENGL 1010 series.
    • This coursework must be completed during the first year of graduate study.
    • There is no cost for the test. 
  2. Meet the EPT exemption criteria.

This policy can be found in Graduate College Handbook Chapter 4.4.3. 

Additional information about the EPT can be found on the English Placement Test website. 

For questions about the EPT or the ENGL 990 or ENGL 1010 courses, please contact the EPT Office ept@iastate.edu. 

For questions about the Graduate College English Requirement, please contact the Graduate College grad_college@iastate.edu.

English for Teaching Requirement for International Teaching Assistants

Iowa State University and the Graduate College have an English language requirement for international students who are nonnative speakers of English (see Note 1 above) and are offered a teaching assistantship. These students are considered international teaching assistants (ITAs).

Purpose: Demonstrate ability to use the English for teaching purposes and comply with the Iowa Board of Regents Policy 3.21 English Language Proficiency (Oral Communication Competence).

ITAs can meet the English for Teaching requirement in one of the following ways: 

  1. Be exempt
    • Based on English language background
      • be a citizen of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, or the United Kingdom with English as their first language
      • have a minimum of two years of experience as faculty teaching at a higher education institution where English is the medium of instruction
      • met a similar English requirement for ITAs at other U.S. universities
    •  Based on English proficiency scores
      • TOEFL Speaking 25 or higher (prior to 2026); TOEFL Speaking 5.5-6.0 (since 2026)
      • IELTS Speaking 7.5 or higher
      • PTE Speaking 75 or higher
      • Duolingo Conversation 145 or higher
  2. Enroll in the English Communication Practice program and engage in language practice through flexible individual English speaking consultations and peer speaking practice group sessions 
    • Based on English proficiency scores
      • TOEFL Speaking 23-24 or higher (prior to 2026); TOEFL Speaking 5.0 (since 2026)
      • IELTS Speaking 7.0
      • PTE Speaking 65-74
      • Duolingo Conversation 130-140
  3. Take GRST 5400 (D or C/B) English for Teaching Purposes speaking course
    • Based on English proficiency scores
      • TOEFL Speaking 20-22 (prior to 2026) or 4.0-4.5 (since 2026) for section D; TOEFL Speaking 19 and below (prior to 2026) or 3.5 and below (since 2026) for section C/B 
      • IELTS Speaking 6.5 for section D, 6.0 and below for section C/B
      • PTE Speaking 53-64 for section D; 53 and below for section C/B
      • Duolingo Conversation 120-125 for section D; 115 and below for section C/B

                 The Oral English Certification Test (OECT) may be required at the end of GRST 5400 section B and C.

More information can be found here: