Proof of English Proficiency

Proof of English Proficiency Requirement

Note: Students taking full-time online programs are not eligible for U.S. student visas. Degree programs that are fully online or that only offer online courses in the first semester are not eligible for I-20 issuance.  International students in F-1 or J-1 status are not eligible to enroll in Binghamton University’s Exclusively Online Programs. If you are an international student in a different status in the U.S., or if you plan to engage in an online program from outside the United States, contact the Online Programs Office prior to submitting your application with any questions about your eligibility to enroll.

Although all coursework for these programs is offered online, some programs may require field placements or internships that cannot be completed in your home country. Contact the department to discuss if it is possible to complete the required field placement or internship components in your home country.

What You Need to Know:

  • International applicants may demonstrate English Language Proficiency using TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS, Pearson PTE Academic and the Duolingo English Test. Additional details regarding test score guidelines may be found below.
  • All Proof of English Proficiency test scores should be delivered to the Office of Online Admissions electronically from the official examiner. Scores should not be sent directly to the academic department.
  • Some academic departments require higher minimum scores than listed below. View program-specific admission requirements pages for details. Be sure to schedule your test with consideration for your academic program's application deadline. Note: It can take up to 2 full weeks for the testing agency to process your order and deliver your scores to Binghamton University.
  • English Language Proficiency waivers may be available to applicants who meet one or more criteria, which can be found below.

Test Score Guidelines:

TOEFL iBT: Binghamton University requires a minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the internet-Based Test (iBT).

  • TOEFL iBT MyBest scores are accepted.
  • The following TOEFL iBT tests are accepted:
    • TOEFL iBT test (taken at a test center),
    • TOEFL iBT Home Edition,
    • TOEFL iBT Paper Edition.

To learn more or to register for the test, visit the TOEFL website. To submit a score report, use Binghamton University's code: 2535.

TOEFL Essentials: Binghamton University requires a minimum TOEFL Essentials score of 9.

  • TOEFL Essentials MyBest scores are accepted.

To learn more or to register for the test, visit the TOEFL Essentials website. To submit a score report, use Binghamton University's code: 2535.

IELTS: Binghamton University requires a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with no band below 5.0.

  • The IELTS Online option is also accepted

To learn more or to register for the test, visit the IELTS website. Requests for IELTS score delivery to Binghamton University's Online Admissions Office must be submitted directly to the test center where you took the IELTS test.

Pearson PTE Academic: Binghamton University requires a minimum Pearson PTE Academic score of 53.

  • The PTE Academic Online option is also accepted

To learn more or to register for the test, visit the Pearson PTE Academic website. To submit a score report, select "Binghamton University - State University of New York" from the score delivery menu.

Duolingo English Test: Binghamton University requires a minimum Duolingo score of 105.

To learn more or to register for the test, visit the Duolingo English Test website. To submit a score report, select "Binghamton University (SUNY)" from the list of institutions.

Waiver Eligibility

A waiver for the proof of English proficiency requirement is available to applicants who meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria at the time of enrollment into a graduate degree program at Binghamton University:

  • The applicant is a citizen or permanent resident, from a country in the waiver list, where English is the official language and where English is the language of instruction. Waiver eligible countries are restricted to the following: United States, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Gambia, Tanzania and some Canadian provinces.
  • The applicant is expected to receive (or has received) a bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution located in a country on the waiver list. Waiver eligible countries are restricted to the following: United States, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Gambia, Tanzania and some Canadian provinces.
  • The applicant has completed at least two years of full-time study at an accredited higher education institution, from a country in the waiver list, where English is an official language and where English is the language of instruction. Waiver eligible countries are restricted to the following: United States, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Gambia, Tanzania and some Canadian provinces. For applicants in this category please contact the Online Admissions Office to receive a waiver, as you may be required to certify that high school education was completed from an institution wherein the medium of instruction was English.
  • The applicant is a current Binghamton University student.

Applicants who have not met one of these criteria, but will become eligible for a waiver of the English Language Proficiency requirement at the time of enrollment into a graduate degree program at Binghamton University, have two options:

  1. Certify their English proficiency by submitting official scores from one of the tests listed above, or
  2. Apply without certifying their English Language Proficiency. If an applicant is admitted without certifying their English proficiency, their offer of admission will be provisional until they submit qualifying scores or they have confirmed with the Office of Graduate Admissions that they are eligible for a waiver. Once eligibility is verified, the admission will be switched from provisional to regular status. Please note that applicants in provisional admission status are not eligible to receive an I-20/DS-2019 immigration document.

If you are unsure whether or not you meet the eligibility requirements for a waiver for the proof of English Language Proficiency requirement, email the Office of Online Admissions.