What IELTS score do you need for UNC Charlotte?

Any graduate applicant whose native language is not English must submit an official TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score sent by the testing agency. The minimums are TOEFL iBT 4.5 on the new 1–6 scale (tests taken before 21 January 2026 are accepted at the previous 83 while still valid for two years), IELTS 6.5 overall and Duolingo 115. TOEFL MyBest scores are accepted if you send all your individual scores. Completing ELTI Level 5 with a B (80%) or higher also qualifies.

You are exempt after at least one academic year of post-secondary study in the US or an approved country within five years of your start term, or one full calendar year of English-heavy professional work there. Approved countries include Australia, Canada except Québec, Kenya, Nigeria, the Philippines, Singapore and the UK; India is not on the graduate list. Applicants who miss the minimum cannot be admitted, but may enroll at ELTI and apply once proficient. See graduate international admissions.

Full undergraduate admission needs TOEFL iBT 70 (14 per section), IELTS 6.0 (5.0 per section), Duolingo 105, PTE Academic 48 (35 per section), SAT EBRW 500, ACT Critical Reading 19 or ELTI Level 5, among other routes. Scores are valid for two years, and meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission.

You do not need to submit proof if you are applying for conditional admission through ELTI, or if you are a citizen of and currently studying in a country on UNC Charlotte's exempt country list, which includes India. See proof of English proficiency.

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