The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world. Students from all over the world apply through a highly competitive selection process. According to a recent report, 3331 international students were enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. Does MIT accept IELTS score? The short answer is Yes, they do. The rest of this post looks at the minimum score and other eligibility requirements to apply here.
IELTS requirements for undergraduate programs at MIT
There are 54 undergraduate programs. To apply to an undergraduate program all students must take either the SAT or the ACT exam. For non-native English speakers, the results of one of the following English proficiency tests must be submitted.
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
- Cambridge English Qualifications (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)
- PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)
- DET (Duolingo English Test)
For IELTS, a minimum score of 7 is expected. However an IELTS score of 7.5 is recommended considering past admission statistics.

IELTS requirements for graduate programs at MIT
There are 46 departmental graduate programs. To apply, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree. Additional criteria may differ from department to department. Most department require a GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score and an IELTS or TOEFL score. Most graduate programs prefer an IELTS score.
In Chemical Engineering department requires a GRE score. However IELTS/TOEFL is waived off for students from India. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department does not require GRE scores, but requires an IELTS/TOEFL score. Check test score requirements for the department that you apply to for the latest update.
For graduate programs a minimum IELTS score of 7 is expected.
IELTS requirements for management programs at MIT
Management program admissions require GMAT/GRE scores along with IELTS/TOEFL scores. A minimum IELTS score of 7 is preferred.
Covid-19 admission update at MIT
For undergraduate programs ACT and SAT requirements have been suspended. This means that students can apply to an undergraduate program at MIT without appearing for ACT or SAT. However for international students, English proficiency test scores must be submitted. There are no exceptions.
For graduate programs no exceptions have been mentioned. While considerations may be made based on disruptions related to Covid-19, the test requirements seem to be in place as usual.
For management programs GRE/GMAT/IELTS/TOEFL test scores have been exempted. Admissions are made based on the merit of the submitted applications.