What IELTS score do you need for SMU (Southern Methodist University)?

Lyle says one of the TOEFL, PTE, IELTS or Duolingo must meet its minimum, and home-based tests are eligible on approval. SMU's graduate guide, however, says international applicants for whom English is a second language must complete a TOEFL or IELTS test, and that Lyle visa students must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. If you plan to use PTE or Duolingo, confirm with Lyle first. Departments may request scores even from applicants eligible for a waiver. See the graduate guide.

Lyle may offer conditional admission to applicants who meet the academic requirements and submit a TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo score below the minimum; they complete the Intensive English Program before Lyle graduate courses. A waiver applies to a bachelor's or master's from an English-language institution in, or citizenship of, listed countries such as Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Singapore, the UK and the US. India is not on the list. See Lyle admissions.

SMU accepts the Duolingo English Test, TOEFL and IELTS for undergraduate admission, and says some applicants may have the requirement waived; ask your admission counselor whether you qualify. No minimum score is stated. The admitted Class of 2028 averaged TOEFL 103 and IELTS 7.7. See the international checklist.

The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement SMU 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 SMU Lyle application page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar.