GSAS English Proficiency
International applicants whose native language is not English are required to complete and submit to GSAS prior to matriculation their official scores from one of the following accepted English language competency exams:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - GSAS accepts the following TOEFL tests:
- TOEFL iBT (including the Home Edition and Paper Edition)
- TOEFL Essentials
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)—Cambridge English Proficiency Level
- Duolingo English Test
- PTE Academic
- Cambridge English Qualifications - We accept the B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency exams
Official TOEFL, IELTS, DET, PTE Academic, or Cambridge English Qualifications scores should be sent directly by the testing service to the Office of Graduate Admissions, Fordham University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (our ETS TOEFL score code is #2259).
| Exam | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 100 |
| IELTS | 7.0 band score |
| DET | 120 |
| PTE Academic | 68 |
| Cambridge English Qualifications | 185 Overall Score on the B2, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency exam |
*The Ph.D. in Computer Science, M.S. in Computer Science, M.S. in Cybersecurity, and M.S. in Data Science, and Advanced Certificate in Data Science for Cybersecurity programs will consider applicants with the following scores:
| Exam | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | minimum 85 |
| IELTS | minimum 6.5 band score |
| DET | minimum score of 100 |
| PTE Academic | 59 |
| Cambridge English Qualifications | 176 Overall Score on the B2, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency exam |
Exemptions to the English Language Requirement
Exemptions from this requirement can be requested by the applicant in her/his application, or can be made in writing by the applicant to [email protected]. Exemptions are generally permitted for international applicants who:
- are native English speakers from countries where English is an official language; and/or
- have completed, within the past five years, at least two years of study at an undergraduate or graduate institution in the United States or in a country where English is the official language of instruction.
GSAS retains the right to request language evaluation from any applicant. The Fordham English Language Test (FELT), administered by Fordham’s Institute of American Language and Culture (IALC), may be required for those students whose English proficiency scores do not meet GSAS program requirements. Additional coursework may also be recommended by the IALC.
Students are permitted to register for two GSAS courses during the academic term in which they are completing any IALC-recommended coursework, which generally occurs during their first semester of study.
Please note: Tuition costs associated with the learning of English as a second language are the responsibility of the student and will not be covered by a GSAS tuition scholarship. GSAS merit-based tuition scholarships are not applicable to the costs of additional coursework recommended by the IALC.