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Speech! Speech!

To study at Northern Kentucky University (NKU), it will be necessary for you to fully understand lectures in English from the first day of classes.  If your native language is not English and you are seeking to maintain or obtain F-1 immigration status as a student, you must do at least one of the following:
1. Submit an official score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within the last two years.  The minimum TOEFL scores to be considered for Admission are:
  
   Computer Based: 173 (undergraduate)   213 (post- baccalaureate and graduate)
Paper Based:       500 (undergraduate)  550 (post- baccalaureate and graduate)      
Internet Based:     61 (undergraduate)   79-80 (post- baccalaureate and graduate)
 
NOTE: Graduate students must have an essay score of 4.50 or better.

The computer-based test is available at more than 300 centers, worldwide.  For general information and information on testing centers, visit the TOEFL website or call 1-609-771-7100.  The paper-based tests will be given only where computer-based  tests not available.  You may request a TOEFL Application Booklet from the International Student Affairs Office.  To send your score report to NKU, our TOEFL code is #1574.

  
2. Present documentation of having satisfactorily completed Freshman Composition at an American college in the United States and have an overall acceptable grade point average. You may still be asked to take the TOEFL if it has been several years since you have taken the English courses and/or if you have returned to our home country (Undergraduate).
  
3. Present documentation of having successfully completed Level 109 at an ELS Language Center in the United States (Undergraduate).
  
4. Submit a score of 18 or higher in the English portion of the ACT exam, or 480 or higher in the English portion of the SAT exam.
  
  ACT: 18 (undergraduate)          20 (graduate and post-baccalaureates)
SAT: 480 (undergraduate)       540 (graduate and post-baccalaureates)
  
5.  Submit an official score from the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) taken within the last 2 years. The minimum IELTS scores to be considered for admission are:
  
  Band of 5.0 (undergraduate students)
Band of 6.5 (graduate students and post-baccalaureate)
  
Those Desiring F-1 Student Status:
  
If your primary language is English, you must take the SAT, ACT or Michigan test in order to fulfill NKU’s English proficiency admission requirement.

If your primary language is not English and you are seeking to maintain or obtain F-1 immigration status as a student, you must do at least one of the above to be considered for admission. After acceptance and upon arrival at NKU, all international undergraduate students will be required to take an English placement test on NKU's campus (Michigan test).  The scores will determine placement into English classes as indicated in A through D (see below).

 
  
Exceptions: The following are not required to take any additional English placement tests prior to registration, but the individual department may request that the student do so.
  
1. Undergraduate students who have presented documentation of #2 or #4 above, or those who have presented documentation of meeting or exceeding the graduate level requirements in #1 or #5 above.  
  
2.  Graduate students or post-baccalaureate students who have submitted acceptable graduate level TOEFL, IELTS, ACT or SAT scores (see #1, #4, and #5 above).
  
Permanent Residents, U.S. Citizens and Others NOT Desiring F-1 Student Status:
  
Undergraduate and graduate permanent residents and certain other visa types (e.g. H-1, H-4, L-1, L-2, F-2, E-1, E-2, TN) including U.S. citizens whose native language is not English should file the standard application for admission and will be required to take the NKU-administered Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency.  In this case, unless the student has presented documentation of #1, #2, #3, #4, or #5 above, the Michigan Test is a requirement in order to be considered for admission.  The application for admission must be on file in order to take the English tests and in order to have the scores processed.  Please note that if admission is denied because the Michigan Test score is too low, the $30 application fee cannot be refunded.  Admission by the Michigan Test will be determined by the scores indicated in A through D (see below).  Exceptions to the Michigan Test requirements for undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students in this category are the same as those seeking F-1 status (see above.)
  
English as a Second Language Classes at NKU:
  
NKU does not have a full-time intensive English program, but two upper-level English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are offered each Fall and Spring semester.  No ESL classes are offered during the Summer term.  Because of this, non-native speakers of English are generally not admitted to NKU for the Summer term.

If you are placed into ESL classes, you must successfully pass them in order to move to the next highest level.  A grade of "K" or "F" means that you must re-register for the class and repeat it the very next semester.
  
English Placement Test Results
  
The NKU-administered Michigan Test of English Proficiency and Essay.
  
A. If your score is 80 or higher and you pass the essay portion, you may register for ENG 101 (the upcoming semester or at a later date of your choice).  Graduate students must score at least 80 and pass the essay portion in order to be considered for a graduate program at NKU.  Non-degree students in this category may enroll in any courses as long as the prerequisites have been met.
  
B. If your score is 80 or higher but you do not pass the essay portion, you will be required to take ENG 110 (English for International Students, which focuses on writing skills) on your first semester.  This applies to both degree- and non-degree seeking students.  You may concurrently enroll in other classes.
  
C.  If your score is at least 70 but below 80, you can be accepted into an undergraduate program, but you will be required to take ENG 110 and ENG 112 (offered Fall semester) or ENG 111 and ENG 113 (offered Spring semester) in your first semester.  ENG 110 and ENG 111 focus on the basic techniques of composition; ENG 112 and ENG 113 focus on vocabulary building and particular grammatical features.  Also, in order to focus on developing your English proficiency, you will be limited to 12 credit hours your first semester (usually a total of four classes).
  
D. If your score is below 70 but above 18, you cannot be admitted into a program of study at NKU.  However, with special permission from the instructor of ENG 112/113, you may be admitted as a non-degree student to audit ENG 112/ENG 113.This is the only class you will be permitted to take during your first semester at NKU.  Because class size is limited, permission to audit these classes can only be obtained during the Open Registration Period.
  
For additional Information, please contact:
  
   Dr. Margo Jang  
ESL Instructor, Landrum 542, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099
Phone: (859) 572-5484       Email: jangm@nku.edu
  
  Ms. Jane Bratton
Processing Specialist
University Center 366, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099
Phone: (859) 572-1457       Email:  brattonj@nku.edu
  
   Ms. Maureen Woods
Coordinator of Int'l Admissions
University Center 366, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099
Phone: (859) 572-5748       Email: woodsm@nku.edu