English Language Requirement

Applicants meet the requirement and are not required to submit test scores if:

• English has been a primary language of communication and schooling for you since childhood; or
• You were enrolled for at least one academic year in full-time status in a course of study at an accredited English-medium post-secondary institution in one of the following countries or territories within the past ten years: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, the United States.

Applicants whose circumstance is not listed above are required to demonstrate proof of language proficiency by submitting one of following score reports:

• TOEFL
• IELTS
• CET
• Duolingo

If you believe that your situation does not fall into any of the above-listed scenarios or you have other proof of language proficiency, then you can request an alternative opportunity to meet the English language requirement, please email Harris Credential Programs at harriscredential@uchicago.edu

For the purpose of meeting the English language requirement for credential programs, students may submit either:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or

• College English Test (CET) CET-4/CET-6 or

• Duolingo Test

Applicants are required to upload an unofficial PDF copy of their score report  scores in their application.

If unique circumstances limit your ability to complete one of these tests or you have completed a comparable language assessment, please email us at harriscredential@uchicago.edu. We will work with you for an alternative to demonstrate English language proficiency. 

There is no minimum TOEFL, IELTS, CET or Duolingo score requirement for Harris Credential Programs. We review each application holistically, and your English language ability is one part of the admissions requirement.

We accept unofficial score reports. You are required to upload a PDF version of your TOEFL, IELTS, CET or Duolingo score report directly to your application in the "Test Scores" section. 

If you choose to submit official test scores, then please follow the instructions below. 

TOEFL: If you are taking the TOEFL, request the scores to be sent to 1849 (Harris School of Public Policy).

IELTS: University of Chicago downloads IELTS scores that have been transmitted to our e-download account. Please contact your test center and request that your scores be sent to the following IELTS e-download account:

University of Chicago - Graduate Enrollment
970 East 58th Street, Third Floor
Chicago, IL 60637