Test Scores & Transcripts FAQs

A. What is the institution & department code?

A. What are the average TOEFL & GPA scores, & Research Months?

Over the past five years, the students who enrolled in our programs had the following averages:

TOEFL: 105 iBT score
GPA: 3.65
Research Months: 40 Full time person months

Please note that these are averages and are not minimum requirements. When making a decision, we review the entire application not just test scores and GPA.

A. How do I calculate percent effort or Part Time Research into Research Months or person months?

Person months is the metric for expressing the effort you devote to a specific project in the lab. Person months or research months are an important metric to demonstrate prior research experience.

Please visit the link below on how to calculate person months and part time effort in to full time research months.   

How Do You Convert Percent Effort into Person Months?

Over the past few years the incoming class had an average of 40 Full time research months .

A. What are your minimum score requirements?

The University policy states that applicants must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university or equivalent, at least a 3.0 or higher undergraduate weighted mean GPA on a 4.0 scale, and international students must have an iBT/TOEFL 80 or higher,  IELTS 6.5 or higher, or Duolingo 110 or higher. (Minimum score requirements are subject to change).

A. TOEFL/IELTS/DUOLINGO requirements and waivers?

Please visit this site for more information about requirements and waivers:
https://admissions.utah.edu/apply/international/english-proficiency/

University policy states that applicants must have one of the following :

• Duolingo 110 or higher
• iBT/TOEFL 80 or higher
• IELTS 6.5 or higher
• Meet one of the specific criteria listed on https://admissions.utah.edu/apply/international/english-proficiency/ , for example if you are a native English speaking citizen of an approved country.

Please note that class instruction in English does not meet this requirement. Typical English proficiency waivers are:

 - An associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university completed within two years of admittance

- A bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited or ministry of education approved college or university within the past two years from one of the approved countries.

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit the TOEFL, IELTS or DUOLINGO examination for consideration or satisfy requirements that waive the English proficiency requirement. The University Office of Admissions determines exceptions to the English proficiency requirements.

If necessary, the Neurosciecne PhD Program Office will provide a Letter of Support for a English Proficiency Petition for students who have already received and accepted an offer from the Admissions Committee.  Please do not contact individual faculty to request a Letter of Support.

A. TOEFL/IELTS/DUOLINGO requirements and waivers?

Please visit this site for more information about requirements and waivers:
https://admissions.utah.edu/apply/international/english-proficiency/

University policy states that applicants must have one of the following :

• Duolingo 110 or higher
• iBT/TOEFL 80 or higher
• IELTS 6.5 or higher
• Meet one of the specific criteria listed on https://admissions.utah.edu/apply/international/english-proficiency/ , for example if you are a native English speaking citizen of an approved country.

Please note that class instruction in English does not meet this requirement. Typical English proficiency waivers are:

 - An associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university completed within two years of admittance

- A bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited or ministry of education approved college or university within the past two years from one of the approved countries.

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit the TOEFL, IELTS or DUOLINGO examination for consideration or satisfy requirements that waive the English proficiency requirement. The University Office of Admissions determines exceptions to the English proficiency requirements.

If necessary, the Neuroscience PhD Program Office will provide a Letter of Support for a English Proficiency Petition for students who have already received and accepted an offer from the Admissions Committee.  Please do not contact individual faculty to request a Letter of Support.

A. Do I need to send in official test scores?

The University of Utah requires official test scores to be sent into the Office of Admissions. Please see below on how to send your test scores.

• The TOEFL Institution code is 4853. Please allow several days for processing official scores.
• IELTS: Please contact your testing center to have the score sent directly to the University of Utah.
• DUOLINGO: Please log into your duolingo account, select the "Send Results" button next to your test results, and select the University of Utah as the receiving institution.

A. Can I upload in test scores after the deadline?

The Office of Admissions will continue to add official scores to applications as they receive them, regardless of the deadline. Now, applications that are complete by the deadline, including current TOEFL, IELTS or a Duolingo scores, will be given priority and reviewed first.

A. Do you accept in-progress transcripts?

We do accept applications from students where the final degree is still in progress. Please be sure to submit your application before the December 1 deadline with all other required materials and available transcripts in progress. Your final transcripts showing the awarded degree will be required next fall during matriculation if an offer is made and accepted.

A. Do I need to send in official transcripts?

You do not need to send official transcripts to the University until an offer is made and accepted. You will have to upload a copy of your transcripts with your application for the internal review. Please note that the transcripts must display your name, an insignia or header from your institution, and be in English.

A. International Students: Do I need a WES/GPA evaluation?