Credential Evaluation for Non-US Institutions
Prospective students who have earned a degree from an institution outside the United States must initiate and pay for their own foreign credential evaluation reports.
All original academic documents, including official transcripts, diplomas, and marksheets, must be sent directly to either International Education Research Foundation (IERF) OR SpanTran (the only two evaluation service providers officially recognized by BYU Graduate Studies) for a credential evaluation.
Request a Detail Report, which includes a comprehensive course-by-course evaluation and calculation of a grade point average (GPA). Do NOT send any official documents to BYU and follow all the instructions as outlined by IERF or SpanTran.
Please note that the completed foreign credential evaluation report will be sent electronically (by the service provider) to BYU and will include a US degree equivalency (if applicable), coursework evaluation, and official grade point average (GPA).
Applications requiring a credential evaluation will not be reviewed without an IERF or SpanTran credential evaluation.
Plan Ahead for Credential Evaluation
For international students, the credential evaluation process can take several weeks to complete. To ensure your application is considered on time, we highly recommend initiating the evaluation process well in advance of the application deadline. This will allow ample time for the evaluation report to be completed and sent directly to BYU by the evaluation service.
English Language Proficiency
Generally, all applicants are required to demonstrate an acceptable level of English language proficiency in order to satisfy the university requirements for graduate admission, unless an applicable exemption or waiver applies.
Only applicants who are citizens of the following countries (or those applicants who have received their bachelor’s degree or higher, from said countries, within the previous 24 months of the intended start date of their respective graduate program) are exempt from this requirement.
| Australia | Barbados | Belize | Bermuda |
| Botswana | Canada | Cook Islands | England |
| Grenada | Guyana | Ireland, Northern | Ireland, Republic of |
| Jamaica | Lesotho | Malta | New Zealand |
| South Africa, Republic of | Scotland | Sierra Leone | Singapore |
| St Kitts and Nevis | St Lucia | Swaziland | United States of America |
| Wales | Zambia |
Acceptable English Proficiency Tests
TOEFL Minimums
- 100 iBT
- 240 CBT (computer-based test)
- 590 PBT (paper-based test)
BYU does not accept the TOEFL ITP test as an English proficiency exam for graduate school.
IELTS Scores
- 7.0 overall band score
- 6.0 band score in each module
GATEWAY (previously the E3PT)
- Achieve a minimum score of 495.
- GATEWAY is offered online anywhere in the world and can be completed any time.
- Test takers need a working webcam, microphone, speakers, a reliable internet connection, and a quiet and well-lit room.
- Information regarding GATEWAY is available here (https://gateway.english3.com/).
- Receive a 25% discount by entering the code “GOFORTHTOSERVE”
Go to BYU Graduate Studies to learn more about these acceptable English proficiency tests.