Boston, Massachusetts, US
Berklee College of Music: English test requirements
Berklee publishes recommended minimum English scores rather than hard cut-offs. Undergraduate scores depend on the degree, with a higher set for the BA in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation, and graduate applicants face a general set of recommendations, while the music education master's programmes publish their own, lower figures.
Checked on 2 Nov 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
IELTS
UG from 6.0
PG from 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG from 4 / 72
PG from 4.5 / 91
PTE Academic
UG from 48
PG 73
Duolingo English Test
UG from 110
PG from 120
Undergraduate
Applicants whose first language is not English must submit a test score to complete the application, and the same scores are needed for an I-20. The figures are recommended minimums, in two columns by degree. The requirement can be waived for an IB Diploma (not the IB Bilingual Diploma) or for two years of high school or two semesters of college taught entirely in English.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts in Black Music and Culturee.g. Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts in Black Music and CultureSource for this group | 6.0IELTS Academic is preferred but General Training is also accepted; IELTS Indicator is not accepted. | 4 (new 1-6 scale, exams on or after 21 Jan 2026) / 72 (0-120, exams before 21 Jan 2026)TOEFL Special Home Edition, TOEFL Essentials and TOEFL ITP are not accepted. | 48 | 110 |
| Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovatione.g. Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and InnovationSource for this group | 7.0IELTS Academic is preferred but General Training is also accepted; IELTS Indicator is not accepted. | 5 (new 1-6 scale, exams on or after 21 Jan 2026) / 100 (0-120, exams before 21 Jan 2026)TOEFL Special Home Edition, TOEFL Essentials and TOEFL ITP are not accepted. | 60 | 120 |
“If you have studied for two years of high school or two semesters of college entirely in English, your requirement can also be waived.”
Undergraduate admissions: information for international applicants
Graduate
Required where English is a second language and the undergraduate degree was taught in another language. The general graduate admissions page states TOEFL as a threshold and the other tests as recommendations; the music education programmes publish their own minimums, ask for tests taken within two years of starting, and may waive the requirement after two years of full-time study at an English-speaking college or university.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate programmes (general admissions requirements)Source for this group | 7.5 | 5 (new 1-6 scale, exams on or after 21 Jan 2026) / 100 (0-120, exams before 21 Jan 2026) | 73 | 120 |
| Music education graduate programmese.g. M.M. in Music Education, M.M. in Music Education (Autism Concentration)Source for this group | 6.5 | 4.5 (new 1-6 scale, exams on or after 21 Jan 2026) / 91 (0-120, exams before 21 Jan 2026) | Not on the listThe music education page lists only TOEFL iBT, IELTS and Duolingo. | 120 |
“The institution code for Berklee is 3107.”
Graduate admissions: requirements and supporting materials
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · Undergraduate applicants
Not considered
The how to apply page describes Berklee as test-blind; SAT and ACT scores are not required for admission.
“Berklee is test-blind and does not require SAT or ACT for admission.”
Other tests the university lists
- IB Diploma, excluding the IB Bilingual Diploma (undergraduate waiver)
- Two years of high school or two semesters of college taught entirely in English (undergraduate waiver)
The page says these are not accepted
- TOEFL Special Home Edition (undergraduate)
- TOEFL Essentials (undergraduate)
- TOEFL ITP (undergraduate)
- IELTS Indicator (undergraduate)
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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