DUOLINGO
The University of Pittsburgh Admissions Committee reviews applicants holistically, taking into consideration academic records, SAT/ACT results if applicable, and English language proficiency (ELP) through TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo results.
- TOEFL institutional code: 2927
- Note: Pitt accepts the TOEFL iBT and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores or TOEFL Essentials.
- IELTS: Test results can be submitted directly from the IELTS portal by searching “University of Pittsburgh.” Information about locating test results is available at https://www.ielts.org/en-us/for-test-takers/results.
- Duolingo: Test results can be submitted directly from the Duolingo portal by searching “University of Pittsburgh.”
There are some instances where the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exam requirement may be waived. The waiver process is not automatic in most cases, so students who believe they are eligible for a waiver must contact us following the instructions in the ‘Exceptions’ section below. Students who want to request an ELP waiver must meet both of the following requirements:
- The student has not and will not take any ELP test; AND
- The student meets one of the situations in the ‘Exceptions’ section below.
For the Pittsburgh campus, a 100 or higher TOEFL composite score with subscores of 21 or higher is considered competitive, a 7.0 IELTS with subscores of 6.0 or higher, or a 125 or higher Duolingo score.
Applicants are reviewed holistically, however, and those with a 95-99 TOEFL and a solid academic record will be given strong consideration in the admissions process for the Pittsburgh campus. Applicants with TOEFL scores between 80-94 (6.5 IELTS, 115-120 Duolingo) will most often be considered for admission to a regional campus at Bradford, Greensburg or Johnstown. We recommend that students rank the campuses on their admission application in order of preference.
The University of Pittsburgh only accepts TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date, not MyBest scores. Pitt accepts IELTS Indicator and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition.
All new international students who are admitted and pay an enrollment deposit will be tested for English language proficiency after they arrive on campus. If Pitt’s English Language Institute recommends some study in English as a Second Language (ESL), based on the student’s test results, the student will be required to take the recommended classes.
Waiving the requirement is done on a case-by-case basis, and the Admissions Committee has the discretion to require a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo exam from any student at any time. The exam may be considered for a waiver for the following reasons:
- You have completed 60 or more college credits from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S.
- You are a non-citizen (or non-passport holding) student that has attended a U.S. high school for four years or one of the English language proficiency exempt countries below.
- Your SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score is 660 or higher (27 ACT English subscore), regardless of where you are attending or have attended secondary school.
English Language Proficiency—Exempt Countries
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Botswana
- British Virgin Islands (Anguilla, St. Kitts, and Nevis)
- Canada (all provinces except Quebec)
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Fiji
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Grand Turks and Caicos Islands
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Waiver Instructions: Please send us an email at pitt.admissions@pitt.edu to request an ELP waiver at least 3 business days after submitting your online application. Please make sure to include your full legal name, date of birth, Pitt student ID number (if known), and the reason why you are requesting an ELP waiver in your email. Our Admissions Committee will review your request and will notify you of the result via email within 5 business days.
Source: List recommended by presenters at AACRAO international credential evaluation conference.