A stir was caused in the application world a few months ago when news surfaced that the TOEFL test would no longer be accepted as a component of the visa process that accompanied successful applications to top MBA programs in England. This caused some MBA programs based there to announce that they were no longer accepting TOEFL as an element of their admissions process as well. This left applicants scrambling at the time to investigate other tests, such as IELTS.
Shortly after this occurred however, London Business School representatives stated publicly that they could continue taking the TOEFL both as a requirement of admission, and as a part of the visa process. Cambridge Judge, after initially posting on their admissions website that a test other than TOEFL would be required for admission to their program, are now saying that TOEFL is acceptable, both for their own admissions process and for the visa process as well.
Not all school have followed in that lead however. Here's a quick summary of the TOEFL landscape amongst MBA programs in England that I consider the top schools. Each school name can be clicked through to the page on their admissions website that contains instructions on assessing English proficiency.
London Business School:
Accepting TOEFL for admissions, no language requirement needed for the visa
Cambridge Judge:
Accepting TOEFL for admissions, no language requirement needed for the visa
Oxford Said:
Accepting TOEFL for admissions, no word on the language requirement for the visa
Manchester Business School:
Accepting TOEFL for admissions, no word on the language requirement for the visa
Warwick Business School:
apparently not accepting TOEFL for admissions
Cranfield School of Management:
accepting TOEFL, but including a note that the TOEFL is not accepted by the UK Home Office for Tier 4 visas
I am monitoring this situation and will post on it further when I have more information.
John Couke
john.couke@gmail.com
