International Student Requirements

Applicants who are not native speakers of English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test. A  TOEFL score of 90, an IELTS score of 6.5, and a Duolingo English Test score of 110 are generally advised for Certificate, MA, MS, and PhD applicants. However, we encourage all applicants to review department pages to understand program-specific score requirements, which can vary by department and program. A minimum score of 85 is required for MFA and Post-Baccalaureate Studio Art applicants. 

We strongly prefer that official scores are sent to us by the test provider electronically. Please see the below instructions to send scores electronically:

• Duolingo English Test: Select the option Tufts University – Graduate Programs in Arts, Sciences and Engineering
• IELTS: Select “Account Name”: Tufts University – Arts, Sciences and Engineering
• TOEFL: Select institution code 3901. There is no department code required. All scores sent to institution code 3901 are sent to our office.

Please note: student copies or photocopies of TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores are not accepted.

If an applicant satisfies one or more of the following conditions, they are not required to provide a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score:

• Citizenship of Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean;
• A college or university degree earned in the United States, in one of the countries listed above, or from an institution with English as the medium of instruction prior to submission of this application
• Current enrollment as a full-time student in a degree-granting program in the United States or at an English-speaking school. The student must have successfully completed two consecutive full-time academic years of college or university work prior to the date of anticipated enrollment at Tufts University

If you are an international student, you must confirm your enrollment and pay your deposit by December 1 for spring admission, or April 15 for fall admission. Along with your official letter of acceptance, you will receive links to an International Student Information form and an Estimate of Expenses. The International Student Information form must be completed and returned to the International Center at Tufts. Please do not send these documents until you have been admitted.

You will be asked to verify that you are financially able to cover your educational and living expenses. Living expenses are estimated at $20,000 per year. Tuition charges vary by program. If you have not been awarded financial assistance (not available to certificate students), you will be required to demonstrate your ability to support yourself while at Tufts and pay the expenses for traveling both to and from this country before we will grant you official admission into your program.

International students who need visa assistance are admitted to Tufts University only as full-time students. The Tufts International Center will issue your I-20 form or IAP-66 form and will offer you assistance while you attend Tufts.