English Language Requirements
New England Conservatory requires international students, or those whose first language is not English, to demonstrate their readiness to pursue programs of higher education in English.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Undergraduate students must document scores of 61 or higher in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); 6.0 or higher in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); or 95 or higher in the Duolingo English Test.
Undergraduate students admitted to NEC with scores below these will be required to enroll in NEC’s Intensive Summer ESL Program prior to starting their degree program at the Conservatory. Following completion of the summer ESL course, students will be given NEC’s English proficiency exam and will be placed in the appropriate ESL level.
Undergraduate students will be placed in ESL study according to the following scores:
| |
TOEFL IBT
|
IELTS
|
Duolingo English Test
|
|
ESL 1
|
61-70
|
6.0
|
95-100
|
|
ESL 2
|
71-79
|
--
|
105-110
|
|
ESL 3
|
80-87
|
6.5
|
115
|
|
Exempt
|
88 and over
|
7.0 and over
|
120 and over
|
At any time during ESL study at NEC, a student may choose to take the official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test wherever and whenever it is administered. On submitting an official score of at least 88 TOEFL, 7.0 IELTS, or 120 Duolingo English Test, the student will not be required to register in future ESL classes at NEC.
English Requirements for Undergraduate Courses and Academic Departments
Before taking any Liberal Arts courses, a student whose native language is not English must submit: 1) a TOEFL score of 88 or higher, or 2) a passing grade in ESL III. LARTS 111a is a pre-requisite for MHST 111a, and both of these courses are pre-requisites for other courses in their respective departments.
Credits
Undergraduate students may apply ESL credits toward certain degree or diploma requirements.
GRADUATE STUDENTS (MM, GD, GC)
Graduate students must document scores of 79 or higher in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); 6.5 or higher in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS); or 110 or higher in the Duolingo English Test.
Graduate students admitted to NEC with scores below these will be required to enroll in NEC’s Intensive Summer ESL Program prior to starting their degree program at the Conservatory. Following completion of the summer ESL course, students will be given NEC’s English proficiency exam and will be placed in the appropriate ESL level.
Graduate students will be placed in ESL study according to the following:
|
|
TOEFL
|
IELTS
|
Duolingo English Test
|
|
ESL 2
|
79
|
--
|
110
|
|
ESL 3
|
80-87
|
6.5
|
115
|
|
Exempt
|
88 and over
|
7.0 and over
|
120 and over
|
English Requirements for Graduate Courses and Academic Departments
Before taking any credited graduate Musicology course, a student whose native language is not English must submit: 1) a TOEFL score of 88 or higher, or 2) a passing grade in ESL III.
Credits
Graduate students earn zero credit for ESL courses.
Students who have completed a full-time, 4-year degree program at an English-speaking college/university may request an exemption from the English proficiency requirement by writing to the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs for Advising.
DOCTORAL STUDENTS
Doctoral students must meet high standards for written English in their entrance examination.