English Proficiency Exams for Graduate Applicants
TOEFL/IELTS/DuoLingo Requirements:
All applicants whose native language is not English must provide a TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo score to be considered for admission to the University of Illinois School of Music unless they qualify for an exemption (see English Proficiency Requirement Exemptions below). Test scores must be dated within two years of the beginning of the proposed admission term. Students applying for the Fall 2027 term should have their scores dated no earlier than August 23, 2025.
Official TOEFL iBT, IELTS, or Duolingo score reports must be submitted by December 1st for full admission consideration. Scores reported after this date will be accepted, but we cannot guarantee full consideration for admission (or an audition, if applicable). Scores will not be accepted after February 1, 2027.
Instructions for Requesting Official Scores
- TOEFL iBT: The traditional TOEFL iBT and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition tests are accepted for admission. Please review the TOEFL iBT Test Centers and Dates page for more information about these tests. Applicants should send their official scores to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign using our institution code number 1836.
- IELTS: The IELTS Academic Test (in person and online) is accepted for admission. Please review the IELTS Test Takers page for more information about this test. Scores should be sent electronically via your testing center to the following account name: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Graduate.
- DUOLINGO ENGLISH TEST: The Duolingo English Test is accepted for admission. Please review the Duolingo Applicants page for more information about this test. Scores should be sent electronically to the following account name: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Graduate Admissions. The Duolingo English Test cannot be used to satisfy the English proficiency requirement for teaching assistants. Students who submit a Duolingo score for admission will need to either take the TOEFL/IELTS at a later date or take the English Proficiency Interview (EPI) upon arrival to campus if planning to hold a teaching assistantship.
- TOEFL SCORES NOT ACCEPTED: We do not accept the TOEFL Essentials test, TOEFL MyBest scores, or IELTS One Skill Retake scores.
Minimum Score Requirements for School of Music Applicants
TOEFL Score Requirements:
For scores on or after 1/21/2026:
- Artist Diploma (AD): 4.0 iBT
- Master of Music (MM), excluding MME and Musicology: 4.5 iBT
- MME; MM Musicology; DMA; PhD: 5.0 iBT
For scores between August 23, 2025 and 1/20/2026:
- Artist Diploma (AD): 79 iBT
- Master of Music (MM), excluding MME and Musicology: 90 iBT
- MME; MM Musicology; DMA; PhD: 96 iBT
NOTE: The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition will be accepted for the 2026-2027 application cycle.
IELTS Score Requirements:
For scores on or after August 23, 2025:
- Artist Diploma (AD): 6.5
- Master of Music (MM), excluding MME and Musicology: 6.5 and must have a score of 6 or higher in all sub-sections of the IELTS
- MME; MM Musicology; DMA; PhD: 7 and must have a score of 6.5 or higher in all sub-sections of the IELTS
Minimum Duolingo Score Requirements:
For scores on or after August 23, 2025:
- Artist Diploma (AD): 110
- Master of Music (MM), excluding MME and Musicology: 120
- MME; MM Musicology; DMA; PhD: 125
NOTE: The Duolingo English Test does not provide sub-score breakouts and cannot be used to satisfy the English proficiency requirement for teaching assistants. (see below)
English Proficiency Exemptions
Applicants Who Hold a 4-Year Bachelor’s Degree from an English-Speaking Country
MM, MME, and AD Applicants:
Non-native English-speaking applicants to the Master of Music, Master of Music Education, and Artist Diploma programs who hold a 4-year bachelor’s degree from an institution located in an approved country (see below) where English is the primary language and at which English is the primary language of instruction will be exempt from English proficiency examinations.
DMA and PhD Applicants:
The University of Illinois School of Music will not waive the proficiency examination requirement for applicants to the DMA and PhD programs who earn only a master’s degree or performer’s certificate/artist’s diploma (and not also a bachelor’s) from an English-speaking institution.
Countries Recognized as Having English as the Primary Language
Illinois Graduate Admissions recognizes the following countries as having English as the primary language: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Scotland, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St. Kitts, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, and Zimbabwe.
Teaching Assistantship Consideration:
Please note that all English proficiency requirements and exemptions listed above are for admission purposes only. Admissions minimums are not equivalent to minimums required for holding a teaching assistantship; and not all exemptions apply for those holding a teaching assistantship.
The University of Illinois Graduate College requires international teaching assistants to show English proficiency. Official scores are required to be submitted directly from the testing agency. All scores must be dated within two years of the beginning of the proposed admission term. Acceptable tests and corresponding minimum scores are available below.
TOEFL iBT:
- Speaking Sub-Section Score: 5.0 (for scores dated after 1/20/2026)
- Speaking Sub-Section Score: 24 (for scores dated prior to 1/21/2026)
IELTS Academic Test:
- Speaking Sub-Section Score: 8
If you have any questions about the English proficiency requirements, please contact the Music Admissions Office.
Visa Processing Information for International Applicants
All applicants who are not a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident will be required to indicate a visa eligibility document that you need.
These requirements must be met by May 15th. To avoid delays in processing your I-20, we recommend that all materials (including official bank statements and Declaration and Certification of Finances form) be submitted on or as close to the December 1st deadline date for all other items. If your materials are submitted in May, your I-20 will NOT be available until mid to late June. All applicants are responsible for the cost of shipment for their I-20s.
For more information, please click here.
Funding Sources
All international applicants requesting visa eligibility documents (I-20 or DS-2019) are required to demonstrate that they have adequate financial resources to cover the cost of their education while in the United States. International applicants should upload proof of funding documentation directly to the online application. Note that this documentation is not required to apply and may be uploaded after you submit your graduate application.
Personal Funds: If the student will provide funding from personal funds, a bank statement with sufficient liquid funding for at least one year’s total cost* is required.
Family/Individual Sponsor Funds: If a family member or other personal sponsor will provide funding, a bank statement with sufficient liquid funding for at least one year’s total cost* is required. Sponsors must also complete the Declaration and Certification of Finances form verifying sponsorship for full length and cost of the program or provide a signed letter of sponsorship detailing the specific amounts and length of sponsorship.
Organization Funds: If an employer, government or other organization will provide funding, a signed letter of sponsorship detailing amounts and length of sponsorship is required.
Multiple funding sources can be used to fully cover the one year’s total cost.*