PhD in Higher Education at University of Denver

Students are generally exempt from the English language proficiency test requirement if they have any of the following:

• Secondary/high school diploma from a school where the language of instruction is English.
• Have earned a baccalaureate degree or higher from a formally-recognized/accredited university where the institution's sole language of instruction and examination is English.
• Last 30 semester credits (45 quarter credits) of coursework were successfully completed with a 3.0 GPA or better from a formally-recognized/accredited university where the institution's sole language of instruction and examination is English.
• Successful completion of the appropriate level of intensive English at the University of Denver's English Language Center.

Submit transcripts or other supporting documents with your application materials. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding your eligibility for exemption.

Some graduate programs may offer English Conditional Admission (ECA) to academically qualified non-native English speakers who do not meet the University's minimum English language proficiency requirements during the application process. To apply for a program in an academic department that offers ECA, applicants must indicate on their graduate program application that they wish to be considered for ECA.

ECA students cannot enroll in any regular degree courses prior to meeting the University’s English requirement. In order to be granted regular status in their graduate degree program and become eligible to take academic classes, ECA students must present a departmental qualifying minimum TOEFL, IELTS, C1 Advanced or Duolingo score at least six weeks before the start of their program.

Students who are admitted under the ECA option are not eligible for Graduate Teaching Assistantships until they have met minimum GTA eligibility requirements.

Note: Some units may not accept students under English Conditional Admission.

As our graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) deliver lectures and communicate often with students, you need to demonstrate fluency in English to become a GTA.

• Minimum TOEFL Speaking Section Score: 26 (iBT)
• Minimum IELTS Speaking Section Score: 8
• Minimum CAE Speaking Section Score: 200

Prospective GTAs may be exempted from submitting TOEFL/IELTS/CAE scores if they have earned a baccalaureate degree or higher from a formally-recognized/accredited university where the institution's sole language of instruction and examination is English and have four or more consecutive years of work/instructional experience in countries with an official native language of English and the language of employment/instruction is English.

Note: GTA awards may be revoked or restricted to non-teaching assistantship responsibilities at the discretion of the division if the GTA does not demonstrate sufficient English fluency in the classroom.

Transcripts from institutions outside of the U.S. may be released to Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. to identify U.S. equivalencies of educational qualifications. The transcript review process can take two to three weeks. Be sure to complete your application ahead of time so that your transcripts can be evaluated before your program deadline.

Prior to receiving an admission offer, we encourage non-U.S. citizens to upload or submit a copy of the photograph and legal name page of your passport. We cannot issue your I-20 or DS-2019 without your passport.

We ask that all international students submit a financial verification form. You will need to submit this form along with a bank statement or certificate of deposit showing sufficient liquid funds for your estimated cost of attendance.

You are required to submit these forms and statements in order to be provided with an I-20. You will be prompted to submit this information upon admission.

You need to submit your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Supplement Form. We use this form to verify your information so your I-20 or DS-2019 is accurate. We cannot issue your I-20 or DS-2019 without your SEVIS Supplement Form.

We encourage you to submit this form with your application.