International MSW Applicants

International applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree.

(Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in social work from an international institution must comply with specific requirements to be eligible for Advanced Standing status at the Brown School; additional information can be found here.)

If your educational documentation is not in English, you must also provide a certified English translation.

We will also accept foreign credential evaluation reports from a NACES® member organization such as World Education Services(WES), Educational Credential Evaluators(ECE), or Foundation for International Services (FIS).

International applicants whose native language is not English must provide proof of language proficiency. Preferred standard testing options are the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS). Test scores are valid for two years. Applicants unable to access the TOEFL iBT or IELTS may utilize the Duolingo English Test as an alternative.

Minimum scores:

TOEFL iBT - Preferred: 100; Required: 90

IELTS - Preferred: 7.0; Required: 6.5

Duolingo English Test - Required: 115

Please self-report your test scores in the relevant section of the online application; official scores must be verified by the testing agency before your application can be considered complete.

Official TOEFL Scores: Washington University in St. Louis – School Code 6929

Official IELTS Scores: Washington University in St. Louis Graduate Admissions

Exemption from this requirement is automatically granted to applicants meeting any of the following criteria, as demonstrated in the application:

• Applicant is a citizen of Australia, Cameroon, Commonwealth Caribbean nations, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, Uganda, the United Kingdom, Zambia, or Zimbabwe.
• Applicant has completed three or more years of study in an English-medium academic program at a university in any of the above countries, Canada, Hong Kong, South Africa, or the United States.

International applicants not meeting any of the above criteria for exemption must provide the required test scores.

U.S. federal law requires institutions to certify that international students have adequate financial resources to pay for their expenses while attending school. If admitted to the program, international students must provide a Declaration and Certification of Finances Form and supporting documents as evidence of support to cover educational and living expenses for the academic year. This documentation will be required to accept any offer of admission and initiate the appropriate visa process with Washington University.