University English requirements

What IELTS score do you need for Fairleigh Dickinson University?

Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) asks international applicants to its New Jersey campuses for IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 70 (4.5 on the new scale), PTE 53 or Duolingo 100 for direct admission. Graduate applicants with IELTS 5.5 can enter through the Pre-Master's Program, and academically qualified applicants can get conditional admission with no English test at all.
  • Checked against official sources · 11 October 2026
  • 4 sections
  • IELTS

FDU English requirements at a glance

Sources: International Admissions' English proficiency page, the pathway programs for conditional admission and the Pre-Master's Program page. These cover FDU's New Jersey campuses; FDU Vancouver publishes its own requirements. Official scores must be reported before your first semester. Section minimums and score validity are not stated.

LevelIELTS AcademicTOEFL iBTDuolingoPTE Academic
Direct admission (undergraduate and graduate)6.070 (new scale 4.5)10053
Pre-Master's Program (graduate)5.560 (new scale 4)9050
Pre-University Program (undergraduate)5.050 (new scale 3.5)8045
Conditional admissionNot requiredNot requiredNot requiredNot required

Direct admission: IELTS 6.0

For regular (direct) admission FDU accepts TOEFL iBT 70 or 4.5, IELTS 6, iTEP 3.7, PTE Academic 53, GTEC 1150, E3PT 65, Duolingo 100, FDU's English for Professional Success courses, SAT EBRW 480, ACT English 22 or ELS level 112. See FDU English proficiency.

You are exempt at the time of application after at least two years of study in a listed country, including Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa and the UK, or after English Composition 1 with a C or better at a US college. India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh are not listed. Most new international students are also placement-tested in English during orientation, even if they were exempt at admission.

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Pre-Master's Program and conditional admission

Graduate applicants who meet every academic requirement except English can be conditionally admitted through the Pre-Master's Program. With TOEFL 60–69 or IELTS 5.5 you join the Advanced Pre-Master's Program, which takes one semester and combines English for Professional Success courses with regular academic courses. Applicants who have not taken a test, or score below that, are considered for the Intermediate Pre-Master's Program of intensive English first. You receive an FDU I-20 for the pathway period and a new one for the degree once you finish. See the Pre-Master's Program.

Applicants granted conditional admission who skip the pathway program must submit new scores that meet FDU's regular requirement within one calendar year of the conditional offer. Students who complete a pathway program do not need new test scores. See pathway programs.

Student visa and next steps

The US F-1 student visa sets no English test score of its own. What counts is the requirement FDU sets for admission, which leads to your Form I-20. For the wider picture of studying in the US with each test, see IELTS for the USA and PTE for the USA.

Requirements change between admission cycles. Check the FDU English proficiency page again before you book a test, and check your own program page, which can set a higher bar.

Frequently asked questions

What IELTS score do I need for a master's at Fairleigh Dickinson?+

IELTS 6.0 for direct admission to FDU's New Jersey campuses. With IELTS 5.5 you can start in the Pre-Master's Program.

Can I get into FDU without IELTS?+

Academically qualified applicants can receive conditional admission without an English test, starting with FDU's pathway program after an online placement test.

Are Indian students exempt from IELTS at FDU?+

No. India is not on FDU's list of countries whose study exempts you from a test.

Does FDU accept Duolingo and PTE?+

Yes. Direct admission needs Duolingo 100 or PTE 53.

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Verified against the linked official sources on 11 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.

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