English Proficiency & GRE Test Scores: Requirements & Waivers

As you begin preparing your Tufts application, you might be wondering what test scores are required and whether any can be waived. Don’t worry — this post will walk you through everything you need to know.

Step 1: Visit our Requirements and Programs pages to learn what you need to submit

Proof of English proficiency is required for all of our programs, and we accept TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores. However, GRE scores are only required for a few of our programs. While exploring our programs and selecting which to apply to, please make sure you’re able to meet the requirements. Please note that we require official test scores submitted to us directly from the test center. You can find instructions for submitting your official scores on the Requirements page.

While we do offer waivers, they can only be applied in specific cases. This may mean you’re not able to apply to the term you want if you haven’t already met the score requirement.

For example, if GRE General Test scores are required for a program, they can only be waived if you will have earned a degree from an institution located in the U.S. or Canada by the time of enrollment. 

English proficiency scores can be waived if you meet one of the following conditions:

• 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

Step 2: Check your portal

Once you’ve gone over the requirements and started your application, you can log in to your portal  to see what’s missing from your application. See a green or grey check mark? You’re all set, and no further action is required. A green check means we have received the document. A grey check means the requirement has been waived. We do this automatically for you as you fill in information and submit documents. If part of your application is incomplete, you may not see the waiver applied until you submit your application.

Applicants who qualify for waivers should see them applied to their account within 48 hours of submitting their application. If you qualify for a waiver, test scores will not be considered as part of the review and should not be submitted.

Step 3: Still not sure if the requirement has been met? Email us!

We’re happy to help check that everything is correct and give instructions on meeting the requirements. If you’ve already been to the requirements page and you’re not sure what applies to you, tell us a little bit about your situation and we can clarify what you need to do next. Occasionally, if information isn’t filled in right or is incomplete, we aren’t able to automatically grant score waivers. Email us at gradadmissions@tufts.edu to let us know, and we can verify the information and grant the applicable waiver.