How important is a good grasp of English?
English proficiency level beyond advanced intermediate fluency is not a major admission criterion for admission. However, it is the policy of the Graduate School to admit only those students with a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test), or 83 (internet-based test), or a minimum IELTS score of 7.0. and, in practice, applicants with GRE verbal scores below 430 are unlikely to be admitted. Moreover, while English fluency is not critical in the admissions decision, improving English language skills is an important objective for international students, and Duke University will require those with deficiencies to take remedial courses.
