If you have not taken any of the accepted English proficiency exams listed on our website or if your exam is expired or does not meet our minimum requirements, please check if you meet any of the criteria for an EPR waiver or EPR exemption.
You are exempt from the English Proficiency Requirement if:
- If you are from one of countries on our List of Exempt Countries.
- If you enroll exclusively in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. See the List of ESL Courses.
- If your university has been granted an exemption based on an Affiliation agreement. Please check our list of International Registration Centers and ask your international advisor if this may be applicable to you.
Under certain circumstances, international students applying to Berkeley Summer Sessions may request a waiver for the English Proficiency Requirement (EPR). The applicant must be able to provide complete documentation for one of the following types of EPR waivers:
- English is your country’s primary language, but is not on the official List of EPR Exempt Countries. If this is the case, email summer@berkeley.edu explaining that English is the primary or official language spoken in your country and include a website or other supporting documentation that we can use for verification (for example, publications or websites for government departments).
- You currently attend an institution where English is the language of instruction for the majority of courses taught. If this is the case, email summer@berkeley.edu to explain that more than 50% of the courses at your institution are taught in English and provide a website or other documentation that we can use for verification (for example, official university publications such as a course catalogs, brochures, or university website pages). You must also submit an official verification of enrollment at that institution.
- You have attended schools at the secondary level (high school) or above for at least three years full-time, where English is the principal language of instruction. If this is the case, provide copies of your school's records or a graduation diploma along with a verification letter from the school with reference to the number of years studied at the school and English proficiency level. You must also provide a website address for the school.
- You have studied in an English-speaking country for at least one academic year. If this is the case, provide an official or unofficial transcript from that institution.
- Your school official can certify your English proficiency based on their criteria. If this is the case, provide a letter from the school official certifying your English proficiency. The letter should be on the school’s official letterhead and must contain a signature of the school official. Also, provide official verification of enrollment at that school. The letter from the school official may certify both English proficiency and enrollment.
All supporting documents must be written in English.
For more information, please watch the EPR Instructional Video