All international applicants and applicants whose first language is not English must be able to be proficient in English as a condition for regular admission to Michigan State University.
Such applicants will be required to demonstrate their proficiency by meeting certain minimum standards.
The English competency tests (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE A, etc.) are designed to give graduate program admissions committees some information to judge potential for success. A reasonable level of English competency (reading, listening, speaking, and writing) are important skills for student success in the nationally- competitive MSU graduate education environment.
It is our collective responsibility to ensure, as best we can, the potential for success, by using these standard test scores, which are backed up with considerable research on reliability, in the admissions process.
Applicants should have all test scores sent from the testing agency directly to Michigan State University Most testing authorities are able to send scores electronically. In the rare case that a physical copy must be sent, it should be sent to; Office of Admissions; Hannah Administration Building; 426 Auditorium Road, Room 250; East Lansing, Michigan 48824-2604.
Provisional admission status will continue until university minimum language proficiency requirements for English (regular admission proficiency) are attained. Provisionally admitted students are required to take the MSU English Language Test (MSUELT) upon arrival at MSU. The results of the MSU English Language Test determine whether students will:
You may not enroll in full-time academic courses until you meet the university's minimum language proficiency requirement for English.
Provisionally admitted students must take classes at the English Language Center, and restrictions are placed on the number of academic courses that they may take. Any student admitted provisionally because of an English language deficiency must correct that deficiency within one calendar year.
Enrollment in English Language Center courses is NOT negotiable. Any questions regarding the university's minimum language proficiency requirements for English can be answered by the English Language Center; elc@msu.edu; 517-353-0800; https://elc.msu.edu/.
Many programs establish score minimums higher than the MSU standard. The MSU English Language Center provides the necessary expertise for interpretation of the scores and is the Grad School’s partner for this activity.
If a provisionally admitted student is able to take a test that meets our regular admission standards prior to enrollment, we will update their admission status to regular.
English Speaking Countries In most cases, candidates who are citizens from the following countries need NOT be held for proof of English Language Proficiency (ELP). Language of instruction at institution attended must be English.
However, residence in one of the countries or attending school there does not necessarily presume English fluency—a student from China may be living in the U.K. Please be careful to look for a place of birth as well as current country of residence/citizenship.
KLOMPARENS, 2009; WIDDERS 2013, 2017; LEAHY 2020
** Some graduate departments require higher English Language Proficiency scores than the University minimum. Please contact the department for further information.
Educational Testing Service Princeton, NJ 08541 USA
MSU Code: 1465
Regular Admission:
Test taken prior to January 21, 2026:
Test taken after January 21, 2026:
Provisional Admission:
Test taken prior to January 21, 2026:
Test taken after January 21, 2026:
October 2021
This procedure needs to be completed by the department, not the applicant.
The English competency tests (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE A, etc.) are designed to give graduate program admissions committees some information to judge potential for success. A reasonable level of English competency (reading, listening, speaking, and writing) are important skills for student success in the nationally- competitive MSU graduate education environment. It is our collective responsibility to ensure, as best we can, the potential for success, by using these standard test scores, which are backed up with considerable research on reliability, in the admissions process.
The policy of requiring English language test scores, and the minimum University scores for each kind of test (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE A, etc.) acceptable to MSU are established by the University Committee on Graduate Studies. The policy and scores are in the Academic Programs catalog: https://reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Text.aspx?Section=111#s336.
There is a process for automatic waivers and for non-automatic waivers of the requirement of test scores for applicants “whose first language is not English”.
Below is the information you will need to complete the non-automatic waiver form. Please gather this information beforehand to prepare to complete the request.
Testing and Certification Division
The English Language Institute Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
Regular Admission:
Provisional Admission:
English Language Center Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 USA
Regular Admission:
OR
Provisional Admission:
Regular Admission:
Provisional Admission:
Regular Admission:
Provisional Admission:
Regular Admission:
Provisional Admission:
Regular Admission:
Provisional Admission:
To request a non-automatic waiver of these requirements, a graduate program administrator (academic program coordinator, coordinator, director) must submit the form below. See the Required Information section at the bottom of this page to preview the information required.
Upon submission, the form will automatically route in the following order for approval: Graduate Program Director, College Assistant/Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate School.
Upon final approval, the Office of Admissions will be automatically notified and they will waive the requirement for the applicant.
Email updates will be sent with every change in status to the form submitter, the Graduate Program Director, and any others they identify at the end of the form. The GAAD will also be notified of the final outcome. Please contact approvals@grd.msu.edu with questions.
You can find the Power Automate approvals you have received here: https://grad.msu.edu/flow.
Programs are expected to monitor student progress carefully if they receive an English language proficiency requirement waiver.