TOEFL Undergraduate Requirements for the Top 50 Best Universities in the World
on February 28, 2020
Studying abroad provides numerous opportunities for your career. If you qualify, you can get the best education possible, and it will give you an edge over your peers in your home country.
But you need to know how to communicate in English well to get accepted. After all, English is the universal language, and every top university in the world uses it as the medium of instruction.
You need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language or the TOEFL to prove that you are adept in using the English language. (You can check this guide for tips to prepare for the TOEFL.)
So depending on your target country, here is a list of the top 50 best universities in the world and their TOEFL undergraduate requirements.
North America
Based on university rankings, North America is home to the best Ivy League universities you can hope for. Although some of these universities don’t have a specific TOEFL minimum, you should still target a high score to improve your chances of acceptance.
Here are the top universities in the North America:
Top 1: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
TOEFL Score: Minimum 90 Internet-Based Required
Recommended: 23 for each section and 100 composite scores (can be higher depending on the department)
Top 2: Stanford University (Top 2)
TOEFL Score: 100 Internet-Based to Target
Note: Stanford doesn’t require a standard TOEFL score, especially if you graduated from somewhere that teaches using English as the medium of instruction.
Although, for non-native speakers, you need to exhibit your English competency. A 100 Internet-based TOEFL Score is safe.
Top 3: Harvard University
TOEFL Score: 100 Internet-Based to Target
Note: Harvard doesn’t require a standard TOEFL score, especially if you graduated from a school that teaches using English as the medium of instruction or a citizen of an English-speaking country.
Although, if you’re taking it, you should aim for at least 100 Internet-based TOEFL score to be safe.
Top 4: California Institute of Technology
TOEFL Score: Minimum 110 Internet-Based Required
Note: Caltech waives the TOEFL requirement when the international applicant’s native language is English or if they studied 2 or more years in a school with English as the medium of instruction.
Top 9: University of Chicago
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required.
Note: The University of Chicago exempts applicants with 2 or more years in a High school or college with English as the medium of instruction.
Top 13: Princeton University
TOEFL Score: 100 Internet-Based to Target
Note: Foreign applicants need to pass the TOEFL unless they studied in an English-speaking school for 3 years or more.
Top 14: Cornell University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required
Note: Cornell University waives the TOEFL requirement if you have taken 4 years in High School, College, or a University with English as their primary language.
Top 15: Yale University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required
Top 16: Columbia University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required
Top 19: University of Pennsylvania
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required
Top 20: University of Michigan
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 23 in Listening, 23 in Reading, 21 in Speaking, and 21 in Writing.
Top 21: John Hopkins University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 26 in Listening, 26 in Reading, 25 in Speaking, and 22 in Writing.
Top 26: Duke University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required
Top 27: University of California, Berkeley
TOEFL Score: Minimum 80 Internet-Based Required
Top 28: University of Toronto
TOEFL Score: Minimum 80 Internet-Based Required with a minimum score of 22 in writing.
Top 32: University of California, Los Angeles
TOEFL Score: Minimum 83 Internet-Based Required
Top 33: McGill University
TOEFL Score: Minimum ranging from 80-100 Internet-Based Required depending on the course. Check this link to find your course requirement.
Top 34: Northwestern University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 80 Internet-Based Required
Top 41: University of California, San Diego
TOEFL Score: Minimum 80 Internet-Based Required
Top 43: New York University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required
Top 46: Carnegie Mellon University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 102 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 25 in all sections.
Top 47: University of British Columbia
TOEFL Score: Minimum 90 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 22 in Listening, 22 in Reading, 21 in Speaking, and 21 in Writing.
Europe
Another home of topnotch universities, Europe offers one of the best educational institutions for you, which is quite cheaper compared to universities in the United States. You can also travel to the whole of Europe while studying. What more can you ask for?
Here are the top universities in Europe:
Top 5: University of Oxford
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 22 in Listening, 24 in Reading, 25 in Speaking, and 24 in Writing.
Top 6: University of Cambridge
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 25 in each section.
Top 7: ETH Zurich University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required
Top 8: Imperial College London
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 22 in each section.
Top 10: University College London
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 24 in Reading, 24 in Writing, 20 in Listening, and 20 in Speaking.
Top 18: University of Edinburgh
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required
Top 22: EPFL – Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
TOEFL Score: 90 Internet-Based Above to Target
Top 29: The University of Manchester
TOEFL Score: Minimum ranging from 80-100 Internet-Based Required depending on the course. Check this link to find your course requirement.
Top 31: King’s College London
TOEFL Score: Minimum 93 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 20 in each section.
Top 38: The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
TOEFL Score: Minimum 100 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 23 in Reading, 24 in Writing, 22 in Listening, and 22 in Speaking.
Top 50: Université PSL
TOEFL Score: 90 Internet-Based Above to Target
Asia
Asia holds the highest population over all the continents. It has a rich cultural heritage to give you a new perspective in life that you can use back when you go home. Not to mention, it has multiple outstanding universities you can choose from.
It’s also a good spot for traveling. So during your downtimes, you can fly to different paradisiacal countries to enjoy your student life. Here are the top universities in Asia:
Top 11: National University Singapore
TOEFL Score: Minimum 93 Internet-Based Required
Top 12: Nanyang Technological University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 90 Internet-Based Required
Top 17: Tsinghua University
TOEFL Score: 100 Internet-Based to Target
Top 23: The University of Tokyo
TOEFL Score: Minimum 90 Internet-Based Required
Top 25: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
TOEFL Score: 100 Internet-Based Required and 24 in Writing
Top 30: Peking University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 90 Internet-Based Required unless you are a Native English Speaker.
Top 35: Kyoto University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 90 Internet-Based Required
Top 36: Seoul University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 80 Internet-Based Required
Top 37: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
TOEFL Score: Minimum 80 Internet-Based Required
Top 40: KAIST- Korean Advanced Institute of Science & Technology
TOEFL Score: Minimum 83 Internet-Based Required
Top 44: Fudan University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 85 Internet-Based Required
Top 49: The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
TOEFL Score: Minimum 80 Internet-Based Required
Oceania
Oceania provides a unique study experience because of the friendly and diverse cultures. First-rate universities will also secure your future career in your home country. Here are the top universities in Oceania:
Top 24: The Australian National University
TOEFL Score: Minimum 80 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 20 in Reading, 20 in Writing, 18 in Speaking, and 18 in Listening.
Top 39: The University of Melbourne
TOEFL Score: Minimum 79 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 13 in Reading, 21 in Writing, 18 in Speaking, and 13 in Listening.
Top 42: The University of Sydney
TOEFL Score: Minimum 85 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 17 in Reading, 19 in Writing, 17 in Speaking, and 17 in Listening.
Top 45: The University of South Wales
TOEFL Score: Minimum 72 Internet-Based Required with minimum scores of 18 in Reading, 17 in Writing, 20 in Speaking, and 17 in Listening.
Top 48: The University of Queensland
TOEFL Score: Minimum 90 Internet-Based Required with a minimum score 21 in Writing.
Note: Some programs might have higher TOEFL requirements.
Conclusion
There you have it. Here are the top universities you can choose from for your career. One last tip. To raise your chances of passing the TOEFL, you can opt to have online English tutoring.
For as low as $2 per session, LingualBox offers high-quality one-on-one online classes with certified English tutors to help you in your TOEFL. With that, good luck finding the best university for you!
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