International Services - [English language proficiency requirements ]
International undergraduate students admitted to Mississippi State University must demonstrate English language proficiency to register for academic courses offered through the colleges. Any of the following scores are acceptable to demonstrate English language proficiency:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS):
- Overall band score of 6.0 or higher
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):
- paper based : 525 or higher
- computer based : 197 or higher
- internet based : 71 or higher
- English portion of the ACT: 19 or higher
- Critical reading portion of the SAT: 480 or higher
Although applicants may meet general language requirements to the university, some departments have established higher English language proficiency requirements. Please view Departmental English proficiency requirements for additional requirements.
Exemption from English Language Proficiency Requirement
Completion of intensive English training or English composition courses at a U.S. college does not waive the IELTS/TOEFL requirement. Only students who are citizens of Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, England, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Monteserrat, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Wales are automatically exempt from this requirement. Citizens of Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, and Swaziland are only exempt if English is listed as the first language on the Senior Certificate.
Admission with English Language Deficiency
International students who fail to demonstrate English language proficiency using one of the approved methods may be admitted, but will be required to enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. Students who successfully complete the English as a Second Language program will be considered to have demonstrated English language proficiency and allowed to register in academic courses offered through the colleges.
