English Language Requirements for MBA Programs

If your MBA will be taught in English and English is not your first language, the school will usually ask for evidence that you can study in it. The rules are set by each school, sometimes by each program, and they can change between intakes. This guide explains the common tests, how scores are reported, and how waivers usually work.

The tests most schools name

TOEFL iBT. Administered by ETS. ETS reports that, from January 2026, TOEFL iBT score reports use a 1 to 6 scale in half-point increments, with section scores for Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing, and an overall score that is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band. ETS states that during a two-year transition period reports also include a comparable score on the earlier 0 to 120 scale, so a school may quote its requirement in either form. ETS also states that scores are valid for two years from the test date and that each institution sets its own score requirements. Because schools are updating their requirements at different paces, check which scale a school uses before comparing.

IELTS Academic. According to IELTS.org, results are given as band scores from 0 to 9, in whole and half bands, for each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, plus an overall band score. Schools usually name the exact IELTS version they accept, so confirm on the school's page that it is the Academic test you need.

PTE Academic. From Pearson. The overall score and each communicative-skill score (Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing) are reported on a 10 to 90 scale, according to Pearson. Pearson explains that the overall score is not a simple average of the skills scores.

Duolingo English Test. According to the test's own materials, scores are on a 10 to 160 scale, in 5-point increments. The test is accepted by many institutions, but not all, and some schools that accept it may ask for additional evidence. Do not assume that a school which accepts the test for one program accepts it for the MBA.

Some schools also accept other tests or certificates. Rely on the school's list, not on a general view of which test is easier.

Score scales differ, so do not compare them directly

The tests above use different scales (for example 1 to 6, 0 to 9, 10 to 90 and 10 to 160). A number from one scale means nothing on another. Test providers and some institutions publish alignment tables to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or to each other, but a school's required score is the one it states. If a school lists a minimum for each test, use that table. If you only have a score from a different test, ask the school whether it will accept it; do not convert it yourself.

What schools can specify

Because language requirements are institutional, the details vary. When you read a requirements page, look for:

• Which tests and versions are accepted, including whether at-home or online test versions are accepted.
• The minimum overall score, and whether there are minimums per section.
• Whether you can combine sections from different sittings ("superscoring") or must reach the minimum in one sitting.
• How old a score can be (validity period).
• Whether a score must be sent directly by the test provider to the school's institution code, and the deadline for receipt.
• The date by which the requirement must be met: at application, at admission or only before enrollment.

Visa authorities can also have their own language standards that differ from a university's. That is a government requirement, so check the official immigration page in the country where you will study.

Language waivers

Many schools offer waivers or exemptions from the English test. There is no common rule, but the pattern is that the school decides according to its published policy. Typical grounds include:

• A previous degree taught and assessed in English, sometimes within a certain number of years and at a certain level.
• Citizenship of a country or residence in a country on the school's list of majority-English-speaking countries.
• A recent period of study or work in English.
• An interview or internal assessment conducted by the school.

Two points deserve emphasis. First, being an international applicant does not by itself trigger a waiver, and being a native speaker of English is not always sufficient. A school may also treat the place where you studied as more relevant than your nationality. Second, a school's list of qualifying countries or institutions is its own decision. For instance, two schools may treat the same country differently. Read the criteria for the specific program and keep proof, such as a degree certificate and a letter confirming the language of instruction, which some schools require.

Waivers are usually granted at the school's discretion. If your case is borderline, contact admissions before you book a test.

Language of instruction and other requirements

A language waiver does not necessarily remove other requirements. If the program has a quantitative test (see GMAT, GRE and test waivers), or an interview, these still apply unless the school says otherwise. Some programs also require a written essay in English, which may be used to assess language skills.

For programs taught in other languages, the school will list its own language certificates and levels. Check the language of instruction for each program, as a school may teach one MBA in English and another in a local language.

Planning

1. Identify which tests each shortlisted school accepts and its minimums.
2. Check your eligibility for a waiver against the written criteria.
3. If you need to test, book early and allow time for score delivery. See MBA application rounds.
4. Keep score reports and official certificates in a folder you can send quickly.
5. Note the validity period, which may expire between application and enrollment.
6. If a school changes its requirements during your application cycle, ask which version applies to you.

Costs for testing are separate from tuition. See Understanding MBA tuition for how to budget fees beyond the program price.

Using this directory

English requirements, minimum scores, validity periods and waiver criteria are set by each school, so check them on the relevant program page and on the school's official website. Program pages in this directory show the source and verification date for each fact. Browse programs by format at full-time, part-time, online or executive, and see countries for study-destination overviews.