To study at San Francisco Bay University, you must be able to understand, speak, read, and write in English proficiently. This helps ensure you are ready for classes taught in English.
Who Needs to Show English Proficiency
You need to submit an English test score if:
- English is not your first language, and
- Your most recent education was not taught in English.
Who Is Exempt
You do not need to submit an English test score if:
- You completed high school, college, or university in a country where English is the main language of instruction, or
- You earned a degree from a school where all classes were taught in English.
Examples of countries where English is the main language of instruction include but not limited to:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Canada (except Quebec)
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- South Africa
- Nigeria
- Kenya
- Jamaica
- Philippines
- Singapore
- India (English-medium institutions only)
If you are not sure whether you qualify for an exemption, please contact our admissions team (admissions@sfbu.edu).
How to Request a Waiver
If you believe you meet the exemption criteria, you can request a waiver by:
- Submitting your transcripts or proof of English instruction,
- Requesting a waiver through the admissions office
- Waiting for a decision from our admissions team.
For questions, email us at admissions@sfbu.edu.
English Language Proficiency Tests
San Francisco Bay University accepts a variety of English proficiency tests. When submitting your scores for TOEFL, please use ETS School Code 9626 – San Francisco Bay University. Scores must be sent directly through the official testing portal to be considered valid. The table below provides information about each test, including the minimum score required, the method of delivery, approximate cost, and duration, to help you choose the best option.
| English Test Name | Minimum Score | Sending Method |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL (iBT) | 59 | Official electronic score report must be sent to admissions@sfbu.edu through ETS website – SFBU Code: 9626. |
| TOEFL (Essentials) | 6.5 band | Official electronic score report must be sent to admissions@sfbu.edu through ETS website - SFBU Code: 9696. |
| IELTS (Academic) | 5.5 | Please add “San Francisco Bay University” when registering to share your scores directly with us. |
| PTE Academic / PTE Academic Online | 50 | Request PTE to send the official electronic report directly to admissions@sfbu.edu. |
| iTEP Academic | 3.7 | An official electronic report must be sent to admissions@sfbu.edu directly from iTEP. |
| Duolingo English Test | 100 | Submit the official electronic report through the Duolingo system or send it to admissions@sfbu.edu. |
| Cambridge B2 First | 168 | Request Cambridge to send the official electronic report directly to admissions@sfbu.edu. |