English Language Requirements
All applicants, regardless of citizenship status, must demonstrate proficiency in English to obtain admission to the University of Houston. To fulfill this requirement, you must satisfy one of the following criteria:
Earn a high school diploma, Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited U.S. high school, college or university.
Completion of a GED does not satisfy the English Language Requirement.
Complete the equivalent of a high school education or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in one of the following countries:
Recognized English-speaking Countries
| American Samoa | Ghana | Saint Kitts & Nevis |
| Anguilla | Gibraltar | Saint Lucia |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Grenada | Saint Helena |
| Australia | Guam | South Africa |
| Bahamas | Guyana | St. Vincent & the Grenadines |
| Barbados | Ireland, Republic of | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Belize | Jamaica | Turks & Caicos Islands |
| Bermuda | Liberia | United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales) |
| Canada (except the Province of Quebec) | Micronesia Islands, Federated States of | United States |
| Cayman Islands | Montserrat | Virgin Islands |
| Dominica | New Zealand | Zimbabwe |
| Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) | Nigeria |
Achieve an Approved English Proficiency Test Score
Take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) or the Duolingo English Test and meet the score requirements below.
| TOEFL (iBT) | IELTS Overall | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | 6.5 | 105 |
TOEFL, IELTS and Duolingo English test scores expire two full years after the test date.
How to Send Test Scores
- Test scores should be sent directly from the testing agency to UH.
- The UH Institution code for TOEFL is 6870. For IELTS and Duolingo English Test scores, the testing agency should send score reports to Undergraduate Admissions.
Complete Qualifying College-Level Courses
Transfer applicants may have their English Language Proficiency Requirement waived by completing 30 or more semester credit hours from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, including the course equivalent to both UH English Composition 1 and 2 (ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302) with a grade of “C” or better.
Intensive English Program
Complete Level 6 of UH’s Intensive English Program at the University of Houston's Language and Culture Center.