English Proficiency Policy and Test Waiver Eligibility

English Language Proficiency Policy

Johns Hopkins University requires graduate students to have adequate English proficiency for their course of study and be able to read, speak, and write English fluently upon their arrival at the university.

International applicants for whom English is not the primary language in the country where they hold citizenship are required to submit English Language Proficiency test scores or, if eligible, apply for the English Language Proficiency Waiver before they can be offered admissions and before a visa certificate can be issued. Be aware, even if an applicant receives a waiver from the Whiting School, it does not necessarily mean they will pass an English proficiency verification in a visa interview.

Accepted Tests

Accepted English Language Proficiency tests include the TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge English exam. The self-reported scores entered directly in the application are unofficial. Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge English scores must be sent electronically to Whiting School of Engineering Graduate Admissions directly from the Testing Agency. Scores will populate directly to your application account. We request applicants do not mail physical test scores to our office.

We do not currently accept other exams to satisfy the requirement for English Language Proficiency. We will not accept scores for the Duolingo English Test or the TOEFL Essentials Test in the application.

TOEFL Exam

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service).

• We accept the TOEFL ITP Level 1 and TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) Home Edition.
• A preferred minimum score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), and 100 (internet-based) is recommended but not required for admission, unless specifically stated by a degree program.
• Use institution code (C559) to send official TOEFL scores electronically from ETS.
• Our application does not require a department code. If prompted by ETS, select the program you are applying to or other/general.
• TOEFL scores older than 2 years are not accepted. Official test scores must be sent from the Testing Agency at least 3 weeks prior to the score expiration date. Any requests made close to or after the expiration date may not be processed in time.
• Applicants may enter an optional test date for the TOEFL MyBest score but this does not replace or satisfy the self-reported score requirement. The TOEFL MyBest score will populate to an application with a verified score sent from ETS.

IELTS Exam

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) examination is offered jointly by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL), The British Council and IDP: IELTS Australia.

• We accept the IELTS Academic and IELTS Online.
• A preferred minimum IELTS Academic Band Score equal to 7 is recommended but not required for admission, unless specifically stated by a degree program.
• Send official IELTS scores to IELTS Institution Name: Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering, Country: USA.
• IELTS scores older than 2 years are not accepted. Official test scores must be sent from the Testing Agency at least 3 weeks prior to the score expiration date. Any requests made close to or after the expiration date may not be processed in time.

Cambridge English Qualifications

The Cambridge English Qualifications is administered by Cambridge Assessment English, part of the University of Cambridge.

• A preferred minimum score of 185 is recommended but not required for admission, unless specifically stated by a degree program.
• Send official Cambridge scores to Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering, Country: USA.
• We accept the B2 First, C1 Advanced, and C2 Proficiency levels.

Test Score Requirements

Official test scores are required for admission into our graduate degree programs. If an applicant meets the requirements for a waiver, they must apply directly in the application.

Expired Scores – Not Accepted

TOEFL and IELTS test scores expire 2 years from the test date. Official test scores must be sent from the Testing Agency at least 3 weeks prior to the score expiration date.

• At the time of submission, applicants must report valid test scores that are within two years of the test date.
• Once scores have expired with the vendor, it is not possible to verify scores. Applicants who applied with expired self-reported scores will be required to retake the exam and send new verified scores.
• If verified test scores were received in your application before their expiration date, they are considered verified and valid for a submitted application to the current start term only. This includes scores with an expiration date that falls before the application deadline.

Unofficial vs. Official Test Scores

Self-Reported test scores provided by the applicant in the application are unofficial and marked “Received Copy” on the application checklist. Verified test scores sent directly from the testing vendor are official and populate directly to your application and are marked “Received” on the application checklist. Programs will use unofficial test scores for application review while awaiting official test scores.

Official Test Score Delay

Official test scores are not received immediately. There is a waiting period between requesting a vendor to send official scores and when they are marked “Received” on the application.

• For ETS scores (TOEFL), there is a delay of up to 14 days between requesting a vendor to send official scores to when they are marked “Received” on your application checklist.
• For IELTS scores, there is a delay of up to 2-4 weeks between requesting a vendor to send official scores to when they are marked “Received” on your application checklist.

If your name, date of birth, or email differs between your ETS or IELTS account(s) and application account, your scores may need to be manually verified to your application account and marked as “Received” after the 14-day waiting period has ended.

If it has been more than 2 full weeks and your official scores have not been marked as “Received” on your application checklist, contact Engineering Graduate Admissions with the requested information below typed into the body of your email. We are not able to verify scores sent to a different institution code or Johns Hopkins division.

• Application Reference Number
• Full name on your application account
• TOEFL test appointment number (without spaces) to verify ETS scores sent to code C559
• Test Report Form Number to verify IELTS scores send to Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering
• Optional: attach a copy of your TOEFL Score Report or IELTS Test Report Form

Test Waiver Eligibility Policy

The English Proficiency requirement is based on country of citizenship. Some conditions may apply for a waiver of the English Language Proficiency Test requirement.

Explanation of Reasons

The English Proficiency requirement can be waived based on one of the following reasons:

1. Country of Citizenship: Select this reason if you currently hold citizenship in a country where the official language is English, and the country is listed in the chart below.
2. Country of Degree: Select this reason if you completed or will complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a country where the official language is English, and the country is listed in the chart below.

If you (1) do not hold citizenship or (2) have not earned a degree in a country listed in the chart below, you may be eligible to apply for the Language of Instruction waiver:

3.  Language of Instruction: Select this reason if you completed or will complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree at a school in a country where the official language is not English, but where the sole/primary language of instruction, writing, and testing is English. Applicants selecting this reason must provide documentation from the school confirming English Language instruction; documentation can include a certificate, letter, or other official document stating the language of instruction.

List of countries where the official language is English: 

Anguilla	Fiji	Mauritius	Solomon Islands
Antigua and Barbuda	Gambia	Montserrat	South Africa
Australia	Ghana	Namibia	Swaziland
Bahamas	Gibraltar	New Zealand	Tanzania
Barbados	Grenada	Nigeria	Tonga
Belize	Guyana	Papua New Guinea	Trinidad and Tobago
Bermuda	Ireland, Northern	St. Kitts and Nevis	Turks and Caicos Islands
Botswana	Ireland, Republic of	St. Lucia	Uganda
British Virgin Islands	Jamaica	St. Vincent and the Grenadines	United Kingdom
Cameroon	Kenya	Scotland	United States
Canada (except Quebec)	Lesotho	Seychelles	Vanuatu
Cayman Islands	Liberia	Sierra Leone	Wales
Dominica	Malawi	Singapore	Zambia
England	Malta		Zimbabwe

Instructions to Apply for the Waiver

If you qualify for the waiver, you must apply directly in the application. If you are applying as an International Student, this section is dependent on the citizenship field being completed in the “Personal Information” section. If are applying as a US Citizen or Permanent Resident, regardless of your country of origin, you will not see this option available in your application as you are not required to provide English Proficiency.

On the “English Language Proficiency” section of the application:

1. Select “Yes” to answer the question: “Are you applying for an English Proficiency Waiver?”
2. View the explanation of reasons and select the appropriate reason from the dropdown menu: 1) country of citizenship, (2) country of degree, or (3) language of instruction.
3. If applying for the waiver based on eligibility (3) language of instruction, you must provide documentation from the institution(s) confirming the sole language of instruction, writing, and testing is in English at that institution. Select “Choose File” and then select “Upload” before continuing to the next section of the application.