English Language Proficiency Requirement

On This Page

• English Proficiency
  • Undergraduate Language Requirements
  • Graduate Language Requirements
• Conditional Admission
• Partnered English Language Schools

English Proficiency

If English is not your native language or you have not had three years of your secondary education taught in English, you will be required to provide proof of your English proficiency. Since most classes are taught in English, you must demonstrate your ability to read, write, and speak English.

Chico State reserves the right to require evidence of English language proficiency for all applicants, the adequacy of which shall be at the sole discretion of Chico State.

Undergraduate Language Requirements

All undergraduate applicants whose native language is not English, and who have not attended schools at the secondary level or above for at least three years full time where English is the principal language of instruction must:

• present a qualifying score on a recognized external English language proficiency exam OR
• provide evidence of study in a qualifying country/region OR
• successfully complete qualifying GE courses from an accredited US institution OR
• successfully complete the required level at a partner English Language School

Accepted Exams for Undergraduate Applicants

Bachelor’s English Proficiency Waiver Countries/Regions

Students who have completed three years of full-time academic study at a secondary school or beyond in the following countries:

Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa (English medium schools), Kitts & Nevis, Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United Kingdom, United States, or any international school with US regional accreditation.

Second Bachelor's applicants should refer to the graduate list of waiver countries below.

GE Classes at a US College:

Students who have completed CSU General Education areas A1 Oral Communication and A2 Written Communication at any US regionally-accredited college or university in the US with grades of C or better.

Graduate Language Requirements

All international graduate applicants whose native language is not English, and who have not attended institutions at the post-secondary level for at least three years full time where English is the principal language of instruction must: 

• present a qualifying score on a recognized external English language proficiency exam OR
• provide evidence of study in a qualifying country/region OR
• successfully complete the required level at a partner English Language School

*Some master's programs may require a higher score. Check the department website for information.

Graduate English Proficiency Waiver Countries/Regions

Students who have completed a degree or three years of full-time academic study at post-secondary schools in the following countries:

Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa (English medium schools), St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, the United States (or any international university with US regional accreditation), Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Conditional Admission

Applicants who don’t meet the English language requirements apply for conditional admission by enrolling in a language program at one of our partner schools. When the appropriate language proficiency is reached, students may then begin their academic program at the University.

The advantages to conditional admission?

1. No English language proficiency exam is required! That means, no TOEFL or IELTS score is needed for you to attend.  We will accept successful completion of a partner language school program as a substitute for a TOEFL or IELTS score.
2. You can begin your studies in the US now!  Conditional admission allows you to begin your US classroom experience right away. Studies show language proficiency increases much more rapidly with full language and cultural immersion.

How to Apply for Conditional Admission

Undergraduate Conditional Admission

Students seeking bachelor’s or second bachelor’s degrees, as well as non-degree seeking students, will follow the undergraduate conditional admission process.

1. Submit an application to Chico State via Cal State Apply. Learn how to apply for your academic level.
   
   
2. Complete the application for the language school of your choice. View undergraduate partner schools.
   
   
3. Inform Chico State’s International Admissions that you are choosing the conditional admission option. Contact us at apply@csuchico.edu or +1-530-898-5415
   
   
4. Admission Decision - For students admitted conditionally, Chico State will issue a letter of conditional admission and the English language institution which you will attend will issue your immigration document (SEVIS I-20 form).

If you have any questions during the admission process, please send us an e-mail at apply@csuchico.edu.

Graduate Conditional Admission

Students seeking a master’s degree should follow the graduate conditional admissions process. Note: Not all Graduate programs offer conditional admission.

The following graduate programs WILL consider students for conditional admission:

• Art (Art History, Fine Arts)
• Business Administration (MBA)
• Communication Studies
• Education
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Geosciences
• Kinesiology
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Teaching International Languages

Application Process

1. Submit an application to Chico State via Cal State Apply. Learn how to apply for a master’s degree.
   
   
2. Complete the application for the language school of your choice. View graduate partner schools.
   
   
3. Inform Chico State’s International Admissions that you are choosing the conditional admission option. Contact us at apply@csuchico.edu or +1-530-898-5415.
   
   
4. Admission Decision - For students admitted conditionally, Chico State will issue a letter of conditional admission and the English language institution which you will attend will issue your immigration document (SEVIS I-20 form).

If you have any questions during the admission process, please send us an e-mail at apply@csuchico.edu.

Partnered English Language Schools

Programs Meeting the Undergraduate Language Requirement

• Successful completion of Level 112 at an ELS language Center
• Successful completion of Level 10 at The New England School of English
• Successful completion of the high-intermediate level at Kaplan International Center
• Successful completion of Level 600 at the UC Riverside Extension's Intensive English Program (IEP)
• Successful completion of Level 6 at the UC San Diego English Language Institute
• Successful completion of Level 5 at the University of Southern California Intensive Language Program

Second Bachelor's applicants should refer to the graduate list of partner English Language Schools.

Programs Meeting the Graduate Language Requirement

• Successful completion of Level 7 at the UC San Diego English Language Institute