How do universities set TOEFL score requirements by program or faculty?
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4 Answers
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Faculties pick their own TOEFL floors, tech and grad programs push high, others stay lower. Always read the specific program’s page.
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Universities look at each faculty’s needs, STEM programs often want higher TOEFL because of technical vocabulary, while arts may accept lower scores. Admissions teams set the minimum and sometimes require higher writing or speaking subscores. Check each program’s page for specifics.
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When I applied for grad school, every department had its own TOEFL bar. Engineering wanted 100+, business 95, and humanities accepted 90. I had to submit different score reports depending on the faculty, and some schools even waived the writing section if other parts were stellar. I tracked the requirements on a spreadsheet, comparing Faculty of Science vs. School of Education, because schools publish their expectations on individual program sites. A couple of departments also noted that “preferred” scores were higher than the minimum, so I aimed for the higher number to avoid any risk.
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Universities tie TOEFL expectations to program rigor and outcomes. Competitive fields like computer science or nursing often demand 100+ overall, with speaking and writing thresholds reflecting classroom demands. Liberal arts or interdisciplinary studies might accept 86, 92 overall. Some faculties balance TOEFL with other proof of English, internships, university study history, but the published minimum in each program’s admissions requirements is what you must meet. Admissions offices usually post both required and preferred scores, and departmental staff sometimes add notes about which sections matter most. If a program has clinical placements or team-based work, they’ll highlight speaking/listening scores.
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