TOEFL
Although we do not expect all students who are not native English speakers to be perfectly fluent in English, it is clear that a student with serious language limitations will have great difficulty coping with a new cultural, social and academic environment.
The university and the law school require Official Score Reports of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before admitting an applicant whose primary language is not English. The minimum score required is 100 on the internet based test (IBT), or 600 on the paper based test (PBT). Because of the extensive reading necessary to complete the advanced law degree programs, the law school prefers to admit applicants whose TOEFL scores are above the minimum. Information about test dates and registration procedures is available at most universities and U.S. consulates, on the Internet at http://www.toefl.org/.
TOEFL scores more than two years old at the time of application cannot be considered; applicants must retake the test to present a more recent score. Applicants should register for the TOEFL at the earliest convenient date to ensure the Official Score Report will be received by the Advanced Law Degree Programs office (institution code number 4833 and department code number 03) before the final application deadline for the program for which you're applying. An examinee's confirmation record or photocopies of TOEFL scores are not acceptable.
Exceptions to the TOEFL Requirement
As an exception, students may submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL examinations.You are responsible for providing us with an official test report form (TRF) of your IELTS. The minimum score required by the university is 7 on a 9 point scale (overall score). Remember to order the TRF when you register to take the test. To register for the IELTS, consult the IELTS web site to locate the office of the test center where you plan to take the test.
TOEFL waivers may be requested if either of the following criteria apply: 1) if you have attended a US university for full time study for a minimum of one academic year with a 3.0/B average or higher, or 2) if you have earned a degree from a foreign university in which the sole language of instruction is English. These criteria must be verified by official academic records.
To request a waiver, you will need to fill out the Certificate of English Language Proficiency form which can be found in the supplementary materials of the electronic application. You will be asked to provide documentation that English was the sole mode of instruction at your university. Once we receive these documents, your request will be reviewed.
