TOEFL Eligibility Criteria for Indian Students Planning to Study in the UAE
TOEFL has no eligibility restrictions of its own - no age limit, no required qualification, no nationality bar. ETS's only mandatory requirement is a valid, government-issued photo ID (a passport for test-takers in India). The real eligibility question for UAE admission is the score your target university expects: Abu Dhabi University and Canadian University Dubai accept TOEFL iBT 61, while American University of Sharjah requires TOEFL iBT 80. Most UAE universities also accept IELTS or EmSAT as alternatives to TOEFL.
If you're an Indian student planning to study in the UAE, the snapshot above is the short version. The longer version - the one that actually helps you plan - is what your target university pairs with that TOEFL score, and where UAE admissions pages diverge from the generic, US-focused TOEFL guides most students land on first. That's what this guide covers.
Who Is Eligible for the TOEFL Exam?
ETS (Educational Testing Service), the body that conducts TOEFL, does not set formal eligibility criteria. There is no entrance test, no required cutoff percentage, and no restriction based on your academic stream. Specifically:
- No minimum or maximum age.Anyone can register.
- No educational qualification required.You don't need to have finished Class 12 to sit for TOEFL, though most Indian test-takers are in Class 11–12 or already enrolled in an undergraduate program.
- No nationality restriction.Indian citizens register the same way as any other applicant, worldwide.
- A valid, government-issued photo ID is the only hard requirement.See the ID Requirement box under "Documents Required" below for exactly which documents Indian test-takers can and can't use.
Age-related detail: If you're 15 or younger on test day, ETS recommends that a parent or other adult aged 18+ accompany you to sign a release form at the test centre. Both of you need valid ID present. This detail is absent from most competing guides.
Is TOEFL Required for International Students Applying to UAE Universities?
Not always. UAE universities generally accept TOEFL, IELTS, and EmSAT interchangeably to satisfy English proficiency requirements. Some also accept Cambridge, Pearson PTE, or Duolingo, depending on the program. Verified requirements from actual UAE university admissions pages:
- American University of Sharjah (AUS):Minimum TOEFL iBT 80 (shown as 4.5 under the new 2026 band scale on AUS's own admissions page, updated April 2026), IELTS Academic 6.5, or TOEFL iTP 550. AUS's transfer-applicant section additionally lists EmSAT Achieve English 1550 as an accepted alternative - note that this section of their page still references only the old 0–120 scale, so if you're a transfer applicant, confirm directly with AUS admissions which scale applies to your file.
- Abu Dhabi University (ADU):TOEFL iBT 61 (IELTS 5.0) for standard admission; a conditional-pathway route accepts TOEFL iBT 51 (IELTS 4.5), paired with ADU's own preparatory coursework.
- Canadian University Dubai (CUD):TOEFL iBT 61 (IELTS 5.0) for most programs; TOEFL iBT 71 (IELTS 5.5) specifically for the Creative Industries program.
- Khalifa University (PhD applicants):TOEFL iBT 91, and it must be taken at a physical test centre - the Home Edition is explicitly not accepted for this program.
- United Arab Emirates University (UAEU):Third-party sources report a minimum TOEFL score around 70; this figure is not yet independently confirmed from UAEU's own admissions page, so treat it as directional and verify with UAEU admissions before relying on it.
If you completed schooling at an English-medium institution, some universities (UAEU, for instance) will waive the English proficiency requirement entirely - subject to their own documentation conditions on your school's curriculum and country.
TOEFL Score Requirements for UAE Universities
Last verified: July 2026 - scores below are cross-checked against each university's own admissions page where noted; treat this table as a starting reference, not a substitute for checking your target program's live page.
| University |
Minimum TOEFL iBT |
Equivalent IELTS |
Notes |
| Abu Dhabi University (standard track) |
61 |
5.0 |
Standard admission |
| Abu Dhabi University (conditional pathway) |
51 |
4.5 |
Paired with ADU prep coursework |
| Canadian University Dubai (standard programs) |
61 |
5.0 |
Most programs |
| Canadian University Dubai (Creative Industries) |
71 |
5.5 |
Program-specific requirement |
| American University of Sharjah |
80 (4.5 on new 2026 scale) |
6.5 |
TOEFL iTP 550 also accepted |
| Khalifa University (PhD applicants) |
91 |
Not published |
Test-centre only - Home Edition not accepted |
| United Arab Emirates University |
Not confirmed on official page¹ |
Not published |
See footnote |
Score requirements change by intake and program - confirm the live figure on your target university's admissions page before you book your TOEFL date, so you're preparing for the right number.
There is no universal "qualifying" or "passing" TOEFL score - ETS does not define one. Each university sets its own minimum, and some also set separate section-level minimums (for example, a required speaking sub-score). None of the UAE universities checked for this guide currently publish a standalone speaking-score minimum; where one exists, it will be stated on that university's own admissions page, not as a general ETS rule.
Does TOEFL Have a Minimum Percentage Requirement?
No. ETS does not set any percentage or grade cutoff to register for TOEFL - this expectation is often carried over from Indian competitive exams like JEE or NEET, which do work on cutoffs. What does carry a percentage requirement is the university, separately from your English test score. For example, AUS requires a minimum of 65% in the Senior Secondary Certificate (12th standard) for applicants from CBSE, ICSE, or State Board systems, in addition to meeting the TOEFL/IELTS minimum. Your academic percentage and your English test score are two separate admission gates - clearing one does not substitute for the other.
TOEFL Eligibility Documents Required (Indian Test-Takers)
ID Requirement - Read Before You Register: The only accepted primary ID for TOEFL test-takers in India is an original, valid passport. Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, driving licences, and student IDs are not accepted at Indian test centres. Photocopies and expired passports are also rejected - no exceptions.
The name and date of birth on your ETS registration must exactly match your passport. A mismatch can get you turned away at the test centre, with no fee refund.
TOEFL Eligibility Period (Score Validity)
TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years from your test date. If your target UAE intake falls more than 2 years after your test date, you will need to retake the exam.
TOEFL Retake Eligibility
You can retake TOEFL as many times as you want - there is no cap. Current ETS policy requires a minimum 3-day gap between two test appointments; you cannot book a new date within 3 days of an existing one. Older references online citing a 12-day gap reflect a discontinued policy and should be disregarded.
The TOEFL Format Change (2026)
ETS rolled out a redesigned TOEFL iBT on January 21, 2026 - a shorter, adaptive test (roughly 90 minutes) scoring on both the familiar 0–120 scale and a new 1–6 band scale during a transition period. This doesn't affect who is eligible to take the test, but it does explain why some UAE university pages (like AUS's own transfer-applicant section) still show only the old scale. If a published score looks outdated or unclear, contact that university's admissions office directly rather than assuming.
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