Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

The international applicant, whose native language is not English, must complete and have submitted the scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Exceptions to the English proficiency tests include:

* Lifetime residents of Australia, Canada (other than Quebec), New Zealand, United Kingdom, or the United States (other than Puerto Rico).

* Students who have recently and successfully completed at least 30 hours of university level academic studies in one of the countries listed.

* Scores must be sent directly from Educational Testing Services (ETS) to UTPA. Student copies will not be accepted.

* UTPA will not accept residual TOEFL exams taken at another U.S. institution.

* The minimum acceptable total score is 500 for paper/pencil tests and 173 for computer-based tests.

* Students scoring between 500-550 but otherwise meeting departmental requirements, will be required to take prescribed English courses

* If the test date was more than two years ago, the applicant must retake the examination and request that an official report from ETS be sent to UTPA.

* The test bulletin of information and registration forms are usually available at American embassies and consulates, offices of the United States

Information Agency,  or online at www.ets.org.

* The institution code to forward your scores to the University of Texas-Pan American is 6570

* Students who have completed two semesters of freshmen composition and earned a “C” or better are exempt from the TOEFL.