University of Minnesota English requirements at a glance
Sources: the Graduate School's English language proficiency page and exemption list, and the Twin Cities Office of Admissions' English proficiency information. Graduate exam dates must fall within two years of your program start date.
| Level | IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT | Duolingo | PTE Academic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate, spring and summer 2027 entry | 6.5; Writing and Reading 6.5 | 4.5; Writing and Reading 4.5 (old scale 79; Writing 21, Reading 19) | 115; Writing and Reading 115 | 59; Writing and Reading 59 |
| Graduate, fall 2027 entry onward | 6.5; Writing and Reading 6.5 | 4.5; Writing and Reading 4.5 (old scale 79; Writing 21, Reading 19) | 120; Writing and Reading 120 | 59; Writing and Reading 59 |
| Undergraduate (Twin Cities) | 6.5; Writing 6.5 | 4.5; Writing 4.5 | 120; Writing 120 | 59; Writing 59 |
Graduate: IELTS 6.5 with Writing and Reading 6.5
The University requires all applicants to demonstrate English language proficiency, and these are minimums: programs may set more. Accepted tests are TOEFL iBT (test centre or home; MyBest scores are not considered), IELTS Academic (test centre or home; One Skill Retake is not accepted), Duolingo, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced (180 overall, Writing and Reading). Official scores must come from the testing agency. See English language proficiency.
Conditional graduate admission is not stated by the University of Minnesota's Graduate School. Check your program's own page, because it is your responsibility to know its English requirement before you apply.
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You are exempt with secondary school in the US or a listed country, or with at least 16 semester (24 quarter) credits, excluding ESL, completed within the past two years while living in the US or a listed country. The list includes Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore and the UK; India is not on it. See the exemption list.
Undergraduates also need the Writing subscore; Carlson School of Management will not admit applicants who miss either the overall or the Writing score, while some programs admit lower scores (AZ-hold figures of IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 4.0, PTE 50–58 and Duolingo 105–115) with a supporting English course. India is not on the undergraduate exempt list either. A limited number of fall first-year applicants get conditional admission with a year at the Minnesota English Language Program; transfers do not. See undergraduate English proficiency.
Student visa and next steps
The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement the University of Minnesota 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 University of Minnesota Graduate School English proficiency page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score do I need for an MS at the University of Minnesota?+
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with Writing and Reading subscores of 6.5. Your program may require more.
Does the University of Minnesota accept Duolingo?+
Yes. Graduate applicants need 115 overall, Writing and Reading for spring and summer 2027 entry, and 120 from fall 2027. Twin Cities undergraduates need 120 with Writing 120.
Does the University of Minnesota accept PTE?+
Yes. PTE Academic 59 with Writing and Reading subscores of 59 for graduate admission, and 59 with Writing 59 for undergraduates.
Are Indian students exempt from IELTS at the University of Minnesota?+
No. India is not on the exemption list. Recent full-time study of at least 16 semester credits in the US or a listed country can exempt you.
How old can my IELTS score be for the University of Minnesota?+
For graduate admission, the exam date should be within two years of your program start date.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for the USA
- TOEFL to IELTS converter
- UW–Madison IELTS requirement
- Iowa State IELTS requirement
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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