English Proficiency Requirements

Undergraduate English Requirements

New international students must provide proof of English proficiency before enrolling. You can review UNO's Undergraduate English Requirements below.

*UNO's school code for Educational Testing Service's (ETS) TOEFL reports is #6420. No department code is necessary.

Graduate English Requirements

English proficiency requirements for graduate programs at UNO vary by department. To explore specific programs and detailed admissions requirements, please visit the Graduate Studies Admissions page.

While individual programs may have higher requirements, the UNO Graduate Council has established the following minimum scores for admission:

Automatic Waivers

English proficiency requirements are automatically waived for applicants who:

1. Have earned a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an institution in the United States, or
2. Have earned (or will be earning) a baccalaureate or advanced degree from a university in one of the pre-approved countries listed here.

For further details or clarification, please contact Graduate Studies.

Alternative Proof of English Proficiency

You may qualify for alternative Proof of English Proficiency if you:

• Completed UNO’s Intensive English Language Program (ILUNO) with scores listed above or permission from ILUNO Director.
• Completed an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from a regionally accredited U.S. post-secondary institution with a 2.5 or higher grade point average (GPA).
• Completed English Composition I and Public Speaking with a grade of C or better from a regionally accredited U.S. post-secondary institution and a 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Additionally, incoming international students may provide proof of graduation from an accredited U.S. college or university with a bachelor's degree or higher as proof of English proficiency (PEP) or provide evidence that education has been completed in an approved English-speaking country.

Visiting exchange students are encouraged to check with their international offices for specific program requirements.

*You may be considered for a PEP waiver by presenting the following:

• Proof of completing at least one university-level English course at an accredited college or university
• For those countries that require students to pass a national examination, high school graduates must submit official national examination results (Ex: West African Exam Council (WAEC), Nigerian Exam Council (NEC), or Kenya Exam Council (KEC). The results must have a “credit” or “pass” mark in the English section.