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English Language Requirement Exemptions

There are four conditions for being exempt from taking a standardized test to demonstrate your English proficiency. If one or more of the four exemptions apply to you, please notify your UC Admissions Counselor or email international.admissions@uc.edu to notify our office. We will work with you to waive the English requirements. Final exemption will be determined by the International Admissions Office and the academic departments.

Exemptions

  1. You have taken a full year of high school in the U.S.A. or one of the first-language English countries listed below,* and earned a C grade (or better) in one year of standard English (not ESL). This must be shown on your transcripts.​
  2. You have earned a C or higher on the IGCSE or O-Level English (first language) Exam​
  3. You have passed a full year of IB English Language & Literature or IB English A with IBDP1 HL with 4 or higher, SL with 5 or higher (not English B)​
  4. Completed at least 24 semester hours with a U.S. accredited university and earned a C- or higher in English Composition. 

*First-Language English Countries include:
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Denmark, Dominica, Fiji, Finland, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Scotland, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, Wales, Zambia, Zimbabwe