University English requirements

What IELTS score do you need for Webster University?

Webster University asks undergraduate and graduate international applicants for the same scores: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 80 iBT (550 ITP) or Duolingo 110. Citizens of listed countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Singapore are exempt, and academically qualified students who fall short can receive ESL-contingent acceptance with English courses first.
  • Checked against official sources · 14 October 2026
  • 4 sections
  • IELTS

Webster English requirements at a glance

Source: Webster's international admission process page for its St. Louis area campuses.

LevelIELTS AcademicTOEFL iBTDuolingoPTE Academic
Undergraduate6.080 (ITP 550)110Not in score table
Graduate6.080 (ITP 550)110Not in score table

One standard for both levels

Webster's score table lists TOEFL 80 iBT or 550 ITP, IELTS 6.0 and Duolingo 110 for undergraduate and graduate applicants alike. PTE Academic has no score in the table. Instead of a test, you can show one academic year of high school or college coursework in English at a regionally accredited US institution within the past two years (ESL courses do not count), or completion of ELS Language Center's English for Academic Purposes or Level 112. Transfer students with a successful year at a US university can have the requirement waived. See international admission.

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Exempt countries and ESL-contingent acceptance

Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Canada (except Quebec), Fiji, the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, the UK, Zambia, Zimbabwe and several other listed states are exempt. India and Pakistan are not on the list.

Academically qualified students who are not yet proficient may receive ESL-contingent acceptance and be placed in Webster's English as a Second Language courses.

Student visa and next steps

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

Minimum vs competitive score

Where Webster University publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.

Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.

If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.

Frequently asked questions

What IELTS score do I need for a master's at Webster University?+

IELTS 6.0, the same as for undergraduates.

What Duolingo score does Webster accept?+

Duolingo 110 at both levels.

Can I join Webster without IELTS?+

If you are academically qualified but short of the score, you may get ESL-contingent acceptance and take English courses first.

Are Nigerian applicants exempt at Webster?+

Yes. Nigeria is on Webster's list of exempt countries.

Keep reading

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Verified against the linked official sources on 14 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.

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