PROPOSED REPEAL OF REG 02.15.2: English Proficiency Requirements for International Applicants

Rationale: We are requesting that this regulation be repealed in response to Chancellor Woodson’s PRR initiative. It is being replaced by a rule of the same name.

Review Process:

___x__ Dean of the Graduate School authorizes transmittal of PRR for review

___x__ General Counsel preliminary review for legal issues

___x__ Administrative Board of the Graduate School (including Faculty Senate Representative) unanimously recommends approval _6/16/2010_. Reconfirmed 3/31/2011.

___x__ Graduate Operations Council 4/7/2010

___x___ General Counsel final review 10/25/2011

___x___ Provost (approval) 11/10/2011

___x___ EOM (review/notification) 11/29/2011

___x___ University Council (review/notification) 1/9/2012

___n/a___ Board of Trustees (review/notification)


Policies, Regulations and Rules / Authority
Dean of the Graduate School
Title
English Proficiency Requirements for International Applicants
Classification
REG02.15.2
PRR Subject
Graduate School
Contact Info
Dean of the Graduate School, (919) 515-7956

History: First Issued: June 1, 2002. Last Revised: March 27, 2008. Additional History Information.

Additional References:
Graduate Administrative Handbook 2.3
Countries Exempt from TOEFL

1. In order to be eligible for admission to the Graduate School, all international applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate proficiency in English at a level necessary to be successful in a graduate program at NC State. This requirement can be met for most applicants in one of the following ways; however, some programs may require additional evidence of English proficiency:

1.1. Provide Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a total score of at least 80 on the Internet-based Test (iBT). Minimum test scores for each section:
listening (15 points)
reading (20 points)
writing (20 points)
speaking (20/23/26 points):

. 20 points - for admission to the Graduate School
. 23 points - for TA appointment where TA has direct verbal interactions with students
. 26 points - for TA appointment where the TA presents lectures in the class or laboratory.

The maximum total score for the iBT is 120 with each section worth 30 points.
1.2. Beginning with applications for the Spring 2009 semester, provide International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores with an overall band score of at least 6.5. Minimum test scores for each section are:

Listing (6.5)
Reading (6.5)
Writing (6.5)
Speaking (6.5 for admission to the Graduate School; 7.0 for TA appointment)

1.3. Be a citizen of a country where English is an official language and the language of instruction in higher education, or
1.4. Have successfully completed at least one year of full-time study in a degree program at a four-year U.S. college or university.

1.5. TOEFL or IELTS test date must be no older than two years (24 months) prior to the beginning of the requested entry term.


English Proficiency Requirements for International Applicants

RUL

Graduate School
Print-friendly version

Authority: Dean of the Graduate School

History: This rule created to replace REG 02.15.2 that was repealed on March 31, 2011. Additional History Information.

Additional References:
Graduate Administrative Handbook 2.3
Countries Exempt from TOEFL
Contact Info: Dean of the Graduate School (919) 515-7956.

1. In order to be eligible for admission to the Graduate School, all non-US citizen applicants (i.e., non-resident aliens and permanent residents) must demonstrate proficiency in English at a level necessary to be successful in a graduate program at NC State. This requirement can be met for most applicants in one of the following ways; however, some programs may require additional evidence of English proficiency:

1.1. Provide Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a total score of at least 80 on the Internet-based Test (iBT). Minimum test scores for each section:
listening (15 points)
reading (20 points)
writing (20 points)
speaking (20/23/26 points):

. 20 points - for admission to the Graduate School
. 23 points - for TA appointment where TA has direct verbal interactions with students
. 26 points - for TA appointment where the TA presents lectures in the class or laboratory.

The maximum total score for the iBT is 120 with each section worth 30 points.
1.2. Beginning with applications for the Spring 2009 semester, provide International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores with an overall band score of at least 6.5. Minimum test scores for each section are:

Listing (6.5)
Reading (6.5)
Writing (6.5)
Speaking (6.5 for admission to the Graduate School; 7.0 for TA appointment)

1.3. Be a citizen of a country where English is an official language and the language of instruction in higher education, or
1.4. Have successfully completed at least one year of full-time study in a degree program at a four-year U.S. college or university.

1.5. TOEFL or IELTS test date must be no older than two years (24 months) prior to the beginning of the requested entry term.

Page 1 of 5