Admissions
English Language Requirements
for International Graduate Applicants
Who must take an English Language exam?
- If you are not a citizen of the United States or if your native language is not English, you are required to demonstrate your level of English proficiency.
- Graduate applicants applying for performance degrees (including conducting) who have a degree from a U.S. accredited university may be exempt from this requirement.
- Those applying for the Performance Diploma program are exempt.
- Those applying for degrees in composition, music education, music theory, or musicology must provide a language exam regardless of previous study in the United States.
What are the minimum requirements?
Those applying for degrees in Collaborative Piano, Composition, Conducting, Jazz Studies, Performance, or Piano Pedagogy:
| Test | Minimum Score | Minimum Subscores |
| TOEFL (paper-based) | 550 |
None below 52 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) |
80 |
None below 19 and writing cannot be below 22 |
| Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) |
83 |
None below 80 |
| MSU English Language Test (MSUELT) |
80-85
|
None below 80 |
| 85 | None below 78 | |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | 6.5 | None below 6.0 |
| Pearson Test of English - Academic (PTE A) | 53 | None below 51 and writing cannot be below 59 |
Those applying for a master's degree in music education, music theory, or musicology:
| Test | Minimum Score | Minimum Subscores |
| TOEFL (paper-based) | 570 |
None below 52 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) |
88 |
None below 19 and writing cannot be below 22 |
| Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) |
84 |
None below 80 |
| MSU English Language Test (MSUELT) |
81-85
|
None below 80 |
| 85 | None below 78 | |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | 6.5 | n/a |
| Pearson Test of English - Academic (PTE A) | 59 | None below 51 and writing cannot be below 59 |
Those applying for a doctorate degree in music education:
| Test | Minimum Score | Deadline |
| TOEFL (paper-based) | 580 |
None below 52 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) |
92 |
None below 19 and writing cannot be below 22 |
| Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) |
85 |
None below 80 |
| MSU English Language Test (MSUELT) |
82-85
|
None below 80 |
| 85 | None below 78 | |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | 6.5 | n/a |
| Pearson Test of English - Academic (PTE A) | 62 | None below 51 and writing cannot be below 59 |
The College of Music does NOT offer provisional or conditional language admission. You must meet all College of Music language proficiency requirements, including minimum subscores, to be considered for admission.
