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 score for admission	Minimum 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

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:

MCI Management Center Innsbruck

Finland:

University of Helsinki

Fiji

University of the South Pacific

Netherlands

Leiden University

Philippines:

Ateneo de Manila University

Sweden: Any university

Germany:

WHU Otto Beisheim University

Hong Kong:

City University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Norway:

University of Bergen
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
University of Oslo

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 score for admission	Minimum 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.

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

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