English Language Requirements
If you are an international applicant to the Exchange, Hoakipa, or Independent visiting student program and your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English proficiency. Students who do not meet minimum requirements may be required to enroll in English Language Institute courses alongside regular university courses.
Note: The English language requirements have been updated as of April 9, 2024. The scores below will go into effect from the Fall 2025 application cycle. Exceptions will be made for Spring 2025 applications on a case-by-case basis.
Undergraduate Applicants
| Eligible tests | Minimum total score for admission, English Language Placement Test (ELIPT) required | Minimum total score to waive the English Language Placement Test (ELIPT) |
| TOEFL iBT
MyBest Scores accepted |
61 | 100 |
| TOEFL Essentials | 7.0 | 10.5 |
| TOEFL ITP
Administered by partner institution |
500 | 600 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 (overall band score) | 7.0 (overall band score) |
| Duolingo English Test | 95 | 135 |
| PTE Academic | 44 | 68 |
| Cambridge English Scale
C1 Advanced & C2 Proficiency only |
161 | 185 |
| EIKEN | Pass: Grade 2A, Grade Pre-1, Grade 1 (GSE 2150 or higher) | Not eligible |
| GEPT
High Intermediate or Advanced test |
Pass for both “Listening & Speaking” and “Speaking & Writing” | Not eligible |
Test Variations
Scores from tests taken at home/online, when administered by the test provider following standard procedures, are accepted. Scores based on multiple test administrations (sometimes called “superscores”), such as TOEFL MyBest scores and the IELTS One Score Retake, are also accepted.
Exchange & Hoakipa Visiting Students
Tests must have been taken within the last two years to be considered valid. Applicants for the Exchange or Hoakipa visiting student program are allowed to have their home university exchange coordinator email a copy of their English proficiency test score to the MIX Office (inbound@hawaii.edu) instead of sending an official score via mail or the Educational Testing Service (ETS). However, if the test score appears unofficial in any way, MIX may still request for the official test score to be sent via mail or ETS. For scores sent via ETS, test takers should use institutional code ‘4867’, division ‘undergraduate’.
Independent Visiting Students
Applicants may submit unofficial scores while applying for admission. However, admitted students are required to submit official scores in order to enroll at UHM. Official scores should be sent directly to the Undergraduate Admissions Office. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) code for UHM is 4867, division ‘undergraduate’. Test scores cannot be more than two years old.
Exceptions
Native Language/Mother Tongue:
- Native language/Mother tongue is English
Education:
- Last 6 years of secondary/post-Secondary education in American Samoa, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Guam, Ireland, New Zealand, Saipan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
- Completed 60 transferable semester credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
- Completed all degree coursework at and earned an Associates of Arts degree from a University of Hawaii Community College.
- Completed all degree coursework at and earned a Bachelor or higher degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a recognized college or university in American Samoa, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Guam, Ireland, New Zealand, Saipan, Singapore, or the United Kingdom.
Partner University:
- MIX has agreements in place to waive the admission requirement and/or ELI placement test requirement for students from some partner universities. Please see the table below for more details. Your home university exchange office may also contact us directly at inbound@hawaii.edu if they have any questions.
| Partial Exemption: Not required to provide proof of English proficiency but must take the ELIPT | Full Exemption: Not required to provide proof of English proficiency or take the ELIPT |
Austria:
Finland:
Fiji
Netherlands
Philippines:
Sweden: Any university |
Germany:
Hong Kong:
Norway:
|
English Language Institute (ELI) Placement Test & Course Requirement
If your test score is below the minimum required score to waive the ELI Placement Test and you do not meet the listed exemption criteria, then you must take the ELI Placement Test before the start of the semester. There are no exceptions to this requirement. The ELI Placement Test includes two tests of listening, two tests of reading, and one writing test. Based on the scores of your test, you may be placed into 1-3 required intermediate or advanced ELI courses and would be required to take these courses alongside any other courses you choose to enroll in. If you have any questions about this requirement or concerns about the number of ELI courses you may be required to take, please be sure to ask the ELI Office, or Director or Coordinator about this. You can find their contact details on the ELI website.
Postgraduate Applicants
| Eligible tests | Minimum total score for admission | Minimum total score to waive the English Language Placement Test (ELIPT) |
| TOEFL iBT
MyBest Scores accepted |
61 | 100 |
| TOEFL Essentials | 7.0 | 10.5 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 (overall band score) | 7.0 (overall band score) |
| Duolingo English Test | 95 | 135 |
| Cambridge English Scale
C1 Advanced & C2 Proficiency only |
161 | 185 |
Applicants may submit unofficial scores while applying for admission. However, admitted students are required to submit official scores in order to enroll at UHM. Official scores should be sent directly to Graduate Division Student Services. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) code for UHM is 4867. Test scores cannot be more than two years old.
Test Variations
Scores from tests taken at home/online, when administered by the test provider following standard procedures, are accepted. Scores based on multiple test administrations (sometimes called “superscores”), such as TOEFL MyBest scores and the IELTS One Score Retake, are also accepted.
Exceptions
Received within the last five years a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited/recognized college or university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
English Language Institute (ELI) Placement Test & Course Requirement
If your test score is below the minimum required score to waive the ELI Placement Test and you do not meet the listed exemption criteria, then you must take the ELI Placement Test before the start of the semester. There are no exceptions to this requirement. The ELI Placement Test includes two tests of listening, two tests of reading, and one writing test. Based on the scores of your test, you may be placed into 1-3 required intermediate or advanced ELI courses and would be required to take these courses alongside any other courses you choose to enroll in. If you have any questions about this requirement or concerns about the number of ELI courses you may be required to take, please be sure to ask the ELI Office, or Director or Coordinator about this. You can find their contact details on the ELI website.
Contact Information & Mailing Address
Mānoa International Exchange (MIX)
University of Hawai’i at Mānoa
2600 Campus Road, QLC 206
Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Phone: +1-808-956-4728
Email: inbound@hawaii.edu
