What IELTS score do you need for the University of Houston-Clear Lake?

UHCL accepts the TOEFL iBT (79 for tests taken before 21 January 2026, 4 for tests on or after that date), IELTS 6.0, PTE 53, Duolingo 115 or completion of ELS level 112. Graduate applicants can also use a GRE Verbal score in the 11th percentile or higher. The TOEFL institution code is 6916. Scores must be no more than two years old and must come directly from the testing company. See UHCL graduate admission.

The graduate page lists countries for "English proficiency waiver consideration" as recognised English-speaking countries. The list includes India, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, the Philippines, Singapore, Cameroon and Uganda as well as the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada (except Quebec). Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh are not on it. For freshmen, the same kind of list is headed "English proficiency met", so students educated in a listed country meet the requirement. See UHCL freshman admission.

For graduate applicants the wording is consideration, not an automatic exemption, and the page points to the academic catalog for waiver rules. If you studied in India, ask International Admissions to confirm the waiver in writing before you decide not to test.

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