English language proficiency requirement
Proof of English language proficiency is required for all students who completed more than half (at least 7 years) of their primary and secondary education in schools: a) where English was not the language of instruction, and b) in countries outside the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom. Students who are required to prove English language proficiency are exempt from the World Languages requirement. Determining English language proficiency is at the discretion of UW Bothell.
English language proficiency must be proved by one of the following methods:
- English language proficiency exams
- 90 U.S. college credits
- SAT/ACT & U.S. high school English
- U.S. baccalaureate / master degree
English language proficiency exams
Provide official scores for one of the following exams. The exam must be taken within 2 years of the anticipated enrollment date at UW Bothell. Official scores must be sent directly to UW Bothell from the testing agency (UW Bothell’s institution code for the TOEFL is 9964).
| Requirement | TOEFL iBT Score (prior to Jan. 21, 2026) | TOEFL iBT Score (effective Jan. 21, 2026) | IELTS Score | Duolingo Score | GATEWAY Score | iTEP Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satisfies English language proficiency requirement | 83 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 105 | 475 | 3.9 |
90 U.S. college credits*
Meet ALL FOUR requirements at a regionally accredited institution in the U.S.:
- Earn a minimum 2.75 transferable coursework GPA AND
- Earn a minimum grade of 3.0 in the equivalent of UW ENGL 131 English Composition AND
- Earn a minimum grade of 3.0 in the equivalent of UW ENGL 141 Writing from Research AND
- Complete 90 transferable quarter credits (or 60 transferable semester credits)
NOTE: We strongly recommend completion of requirements 1, 2 and 3 at the time of application. See the University of Washington Equivalency Guide for equivalent English courses at Washington community colleges.
SAT/ACT & U.S. high school English
Complete a minimum of four years of high school English in the United States* with grades of 3.0 or higher each year and earn a minimum score on one of the following tests:
| Qualifying Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 560 |
| SAT Critical Reading (before March 2016) | 500 |
| SAT Writing | 500 |
| ACT English | 21 |
*English composition and literature courses taken in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom may also satisfy the requirement.
U.S. baccalaureate / master degree
Earn a baccalaureate degree with at least 90 transferable quarter credits (or 60 transferable semester credits) completed at a regionally accredited institution in the United States; or earn a master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution in the United States.