Eli Whitney Students Program - Information for International Students

International students applying to the Eli Whitney Students Program follow essentially the same procedure and have the same application requirements as other students. The information below could be of specific interest to students applying from abroad or who are not U.S. citizens.

International students generally must have F-1 status to enter the Eli Whitney Students Program and must register as full-time students during their tenure at Yale. A minimum of three Yale credits (i.e. three semester courses) is considered full-time. 

Please note that if your application materials include any documents that are not in English, you must provide an official English translation in addition to the original documents. International candidates must have the proper examining agencies send official copies of any external certifications (e.g. British A-Levels, International Baccalaureate, and others) directly to the Yale Undergraduate Admissions Office. We will also accept copies of international credentials provided by your prior educational institutions (e.g. secondary school, university).

English proficiency exams

Yale requires that non-native English-speakers who have not taken at least two years of their most recent education where English is the medium of instruction submit the results from any of the proficiency tests listed below.

TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language

The TOEFL requires pre-registration for available testing dates. Yale’s most competitive applicants have scores of at least 100 on the internet-based TOEFL.

IELTS International English Language Testing System

The IELTS offers proficiency tests in locations around the world. Pre-registration is required. Yale’s most competitive applicants have IELTS scores of 7 or higher.

Cambridge English Qualifications

Cambridge English exams are available at testing locations around the world. Pre-registration is required. Yale’s most competitive applicants have Cambridge English scores of 185 or higher on the C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency, or B2 First exams.

DET Duolingo English Test

Applicants may submit the Duolingo English Test (DET), which combines an English proficiency test with a brief video interview. Duolingo’s technology and format allows applicants to complete the test at any time or place with internet access. Yale’s most competitive applicants have DET scores of at least 120.

InitialView InitialView

InitialView provides live, unscripted video interviews that candidates may submit to colleges for consideration with other application materials. Interview times must be reserved in advance. There is no scoring associated with these interviews.