Irvine, California, US
University of California, Irvine: English test requirements
UC Irvine sets one English minimum for undergraduates (IELTS 6.5, TOEFL, Duolingo 115) and a higher, TOEFL and IELTS only minimum for graduate applicants. Undergraduate proof is needed only if the applicant had under three years of English-medium schooling. SAT and ACT are not considered.
Checked on 31 Oct 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 6.5
PG 7
TOEFL iBT
UG 80
PG 4 / 80
PTE Academic
UG Not on the list
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 115
PG Not on the list
Undergraduate
Proof of English is needed when the applicant had less than three years of English-medium secondary schooling, whatever their citizenship. Scores are self-reported in the UC application and official scores are required if admitted. UC does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake or MyBest TOEFL scores. English can also be shown by ACT, SAT, AP or IB English results, or a C or better in a UC-transferable college English composition course. The page lists the IELTS 6.5 line twice.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 or higher | AcceptedOne Skill Retake is not accepted. | |
| TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) | 4.5 or better (effective January 2026) / 80 or better (prior to January 2026) | AcceptedOnly the highest composite score from a single sitting is allowed; MyBest is not accepted. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named on the page. | |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 | AcceptedPrinted as a minimum score of 115. |
“The need for an English proficiency exam is not determined by citizenship, but rather by one's language of instruction within secondary school.”
Undergraduate Admissions: international students
Graduate
Waived if the applicant earned a bachelor's or master's degree from an institution whose sole language of instruction is English, according to the World Higher Education Database. Results older than two years are not accepted. Only TOEFL and IELTS are named. Some programmes set separate spoken-English requirements for teaching assistants.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (including IELTS Online and Indicator) | 7 | no less than 6 on any individual module | AcceptedIELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted. |
| TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) | 4 (new scale, starting January 2026) / 80 (traditional scale) | AcceptedMyBest scores, TOEFL Essentials and TOEFL ITP Plus (China) are not accepted. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named; the page lists only TOEFL and IELTS. | |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not on the listNot named; the page lists only TOEFL and IELTS. |
“All graduate applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency for admissions consideration.”
Graduate Division: applying to UCI (English proficiency)
Admissions tests
SAT / ACT · First-year applicants
Not considered
After enrolment, scores may be used for class placement or some graduation requirements.
“UC Irvine does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship purposes.”
GMAT / GRE · Full-time MBA
Optional
A GMAT, GMAT Focus or GRE score is not required, but applicants who skip it must submit an essay on their MBA readiness. There is no minimum score.
Other tests the university lists
- ACT English Language Arts 24 or higher
- SAT Writing and Language 31 or higher
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 680
- AP English Language or Literature (3, 4 or 5)
- IB English A (Standard Level 6 or 7, Higher Level 5, 6 or 7)
- C or better in a UC-transferable college English composition course
The page says these are not accepted
- IELTS One Skill Retake
- TOEFL MyBest
- TOEFL Essentials (graduate)
- TOEFL ITP Plus for China (graduate)
“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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