How does UNC look at English Proficiency Exams (TOEFL or IELTS)?
Similar to how we view ACT and SAT results, we use the English Proficiency Exam scores as part of our evaluation because we believe that they’re helpful, both to us and to students, when they’re understood appropriately and viewed as part of a larger and much more interesting portrait. For us, testing is always one factor among many — always viewed alongside those many other factors, and never the sole or dominant reason we make our decisions.
We specifically require an English Proficiency Exam for all non-US citizens and non-permanent resident students for whom English is not their first language. We do this because we want to ensure you can thrive here at Carolina: if English isn’t your first language, it’s important to demonstrate that you are ready to jump into a high-level, demanding environment where the coursework is taught in English.
For this requirement, we accept the TOEFL (our TOEFL code is C182) or IELTS. Strong applicants typically score:
- TOEFL or TOEFL iBT Home Edition – 100 or higher
- IELTS Academic – 7.0 or higher