Harvard English requirements at a glance
Undergraduate rules come from Harvard College's international applicants page; graduate rules from the Harvard Griffin GSAS English proficiency page. Harvard's professional schools (Business, Law, Kennedy, Medicine and others) run their own admissions and are not covered here.
| Level | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT | Duolingo | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard College (undergraduate) | Not required (optional) | Not required (optional) | Not required (optional) | Not stated by Harvard College |
| Harvard Griffin GSAS (PhD, AM, SM) | 7.0, Speaking 6.5 | 5, Speaking 4.5 (old scale 95, Speaking 23) | Not accepted | Not accepted |
Undergraduate: Harvard College does not require IELTS
Harvard College says first-year and transfer applicants "are not required to take an English proficiency exam". You may still submit IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo scores for review, and self-reporting is allowed. These tests cannot be used to meet Harvard's standardized testing requirement, which is the SAT or ACT (with AP, IB, A-level or national exam results only when those are not accessible). The one exception: Visiting Undergraduate Students program applicants must take TOEFL or IELTS. No minimum score is published. See Harvard College.
Know your target? Check where you stand
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock and see your score per skill before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
Take a free scored IELTS mock →Graduate: Harvard Griffin GSAS minimums
Non-native English speakers prove proficiency in one of three ways: an undergraduate degree from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction, a TOEFL iBT of 5 overall with Speaking 4.5 (95 and 23 for tests before 21 January 2026), or IELTS Academic 7 with Speaking 6.5. GSAS accepts only TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic and says alternate language tests are not accepted; a master's degree does not count as proof. Some degree programs ask for higher scores.
Validity is two years: for fall 2027 entry, tests taken no earlier than 5 January 2025. Home and online versions of TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic are accepted, MyBest scores are not, and scores must arrive officially (TOEFL code 3451; IELTS by e-delivery). A waiver petition exists only for degrees from US institutions where much of the program was taught in English. See the GSAS page.
Student visa and next steps
The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement Harvard sets for admission, which leads to your Form I-20. For the wider picture of studying in the US with each test, see IELTS for the USA and PTE for the USA.
Requirements change between admission cycles. Check the Harvard Griffin GSAS page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar.
Frequently asked questions
Does Harvard accept IELTS?+
Yes. Harvard College does not require it but you may submit it. Harvard Griffin GSAS accepts IELTS Academic with a minimum of 7 overall and 6.5 in Speaking.
Does Harvard accept PTE?+
Harvard Griffin GSAS accepts only TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic, so PTE is not accepted for its programs. Harvard College does not mention PTE because it requires no English test at all.
Does Harvard accept Duolingo?+
Harvard College lets you send Duolingo results as optional material. Harvard Griffin GSAS does not accept Duolingo.
Is IELTS Online accepted by Harvard GSAS?+
Yes. GSAS says you may submit scores from the home or online version of TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic.
Can I get an English waiver for Harvard GSAS?+
You are exempt if your undergraduate degree is from an institution where English is the primary language of instruction. A master's degree does not count. A petition is possible only for US degrees where a significant part was taught in English.
Keep reading
Related
Verified against the linked official sources on 4 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy