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English Language Proficiency Exam for PhD Admissions

Applicants to the PhD in Human Centered Design & Engineering who are non-native English speakers are required to demonstrate English language proficiency.

If an exam score is required, the HCDE Department only accepts the ToEFLiBT, IELTS, and Duolingo exams.

Minimum score considered for admission to the HCDE PhD program:

  • TOEFLiBT: 92
  • IELTS: 7
  • Duolingo:120

This exam requirement is waived if the applicant holds a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution where all instruction is in English. Refer to Policy 3.2.1 for additional information. 

Additional Conditions for Teaching Assistant (TA) Employment

The HCDE Funding Guarantee for HCDE PhD students will include opportunities to teach as a TA. Non-native English speakers should familiarize themselves with the Graduate School’s English requirements and teaching policies. HCDE PhD graduate students who are not native speakers of English must meet the criteria in Policy 5.2: Conditions of Appointment for TAs who are not Native Speakers of English to receive an employment offer as a TA. 

According to Policy 5.2, this means satisfying these requirements:

The following requirements must be satisfied before receiving the graduate appointment with teaching duties.

1. Meet the English language proficiency (ELP) requirement as stated in Policy 3.2.

2. Meet the additional spoken English language proficiency requirement in one of the five following ways:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States, or hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution in Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, or the United Kingdom, where English is the medium of instruction. While enrolled at the degree-granting school, the student must be in residence on campus. (Note: A master’s degree does not satisfy this requirement).
  • Hold a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Juris Doctor (JD) from a regionally accredited institution located in the United States where English is the medium of instruction.
  • Demonstrate spoken English proficiency with a test score on file at the University of Washington of at least:
    • 26 on the speaking section of the TOEFL-iBT
    • 7.0 on the speaking section of the IELTS
  • Pass a one-time appeal interview. If a student has one of the scores below on file with the University of Washington, a graduate program can submit an online request for a one-time appeal interview.
    • 23-25 on the speaking section of the TOEFL-iBT.
    • 6.0-6.5 on the speaking section of the IELTS.
    • Note: students who have not satisfied the recommended English proficiency requirements as stated in Policy 3.2 are not eligible for an appeal interview.
    • An appeal candidate must receive an overall score of 34 (out of a possible 45) points to pass and be immediately eligible to assume TA responsibilities without taking ENGL 105.
  • Pass English 105. This course is designed specifically for International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) and is offered by UW’s Academic English Program (AEP). While a student is completing English language proficiency requirements, that student can be assigned teaching duties that do not include direct interaction with students. Such duties can include, but are not limited to, grading, setting up labs, preparing instructional materials, running equipment in classrooms.

Therefore, applicants to HCDE who have a satisfactory Duolingo score, must also take the class English 105 since Duolingo on its own cannot satisfy the requirements for being eligible to TA.

Other info

Test scores must have been obtained within the last two years. This is a UW Graduate Admissions rule and is not flexible. Contact the HCDE academic advising office if official scores were submitted to UW prior to the last two years. 

It may take several weeks for TOEFL scores to show as being "received" by the University of Washington. After applying, periodically log-in to your application profile to check the status of the scores.

The TOEFL institutional code is 4854. If a department code is required, use 99. Applicants using IELTS test scores must submit official scores electronically via the IELTS system (E-TRF), using the University of Washington’s organization ID 365, or selecting "University of Washington - all campuses." An offer of admission cannot be extended prior to the receipt of official scores.