Exchange students are generally required to provide documentation of the ability to speak, read and write the language of the country where the host institution is located. Exchange candidates may also be required to write an essay in the foreign language and include it with their application.

U.S. Colleges

U.S. colleges and universities may require foreign students to provide either an official or institutional TOEFL exam report (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Please contact the prospective host institution to find out whether the institutional exam is accepted. As a general guideline, U.S. institutions require the following minimum TOEFL scores:

Please note these are general guidelines. Specific institutions may require higher or lower scores.

Canadian Colleges

Canadian colleges and universities in English-speaking provinces maintain similar requirements to those of U.S. institutions. In the French-speaking province of Quebec, students may be required to prove French language proficiency. Evidence of French language proficiency may be satisfied in several ways: 1) providing an official home institution transcript which lists each French language course completed and the accompanying grade or score; 2) conducting a written and oral French language interview between the exchange candidate and a French professor at the student's home institution; the French professor must, in turn, provide a letter to the proposed exchange host institution that indicates the student's level of French proficiency; and/or 3) other requirements as determined by the host institution.

Spanish and Latin American Colleges

Spanish-language colleges and universities may also require proof of a student's proficiency in the Spanish language. Institutions may accept exchange students based on the student's official home institution transcript which lists each Spanish language course completed and the accompanying grade or score. To confirm the student's proficiency, students may also be required to complete a written and oral Spanish language exam upon arrival at the host exchange institution. This will assist the Mexican host institution in placing the exchange student in courses appropriate to their Spanish language proficiency.

Reykjavik University

Both Icelandic and English are widely spoken in Iceland. Reykjavik University considers itself a bi-lingual university and offers courses in both languages. Please contact RU for details on available courses and TOEFL requirements.