J-Hold

What Is the J-Hold?

Instituted by The Graduate School, the J-Hold is placed on certain graduate students’ records and requires them to demonstrate English proficiency or enroll in a required English as a Second Language (ESL) course within their first year of graduate study. This ensures that all graduate students have sufficient English proficiency to be successful at UT Austin.

Note: The J-Hold is different from ITA English Screening and Certification.

How Is the J-Hold Removed?

1. Check J-Hold Status

   Students can check whether they have a J-Hold on their Registration Information Sheet or in the "Important Info" section of MyUT. Students with a J-Hold on their record will not be able to register for classes until the hold is modified or removed by our office. 

   A J-Hold is placed on international students with low English test scores. Students who do not submit English language test scores at the time of admission are also given a J-Hold.

   Students with a J-Hold will have one of the following:

   1. J-Hold for speaking - student has low English test scores for speaking: TOEFL iBT speaking section score below 22 (120 point scale) or 4.5 (6.0 point scale); IELTS Academic speaking section score below 6.5; or DET speaking section score below 130
   2. J-Hold for writing - student has low English test scores for writing: TOEFL iBT writing section score below 22 (120 point scale) or 4.5 (6.0 point scale); IELTS Academic writing section score below 6.5; or DET writing section score below 130
   3. J-Hold for speaking and writing - student has low English test scores for both speaking and writing or did not submit English test scores

   Contact our office by email if you are unsure why the J-Hold has been applied.

2. Submit Additional English Proficiency Scores

   UT only keeps one official DET, IELTS Academic, or TOEFL iBT score on a student's record. Email our office if you have the required scores on another test taken within the last 24 months. Scores must be sent to The University of Texas at Austin by the testing agency (self-reported scores are not accepted). Contact our office by email if you are unsure which J-Hold is on your record.

   • Speaking Exemption: TOEFL iBT 22+ (120 point scale) or 4.5+ (6.0 point scale) in speaking; IELTS Academic 6.5+ in speaking; DET 130+ in speaking
   • Writing Exemption: TOEFL iBT 22+ (120 point scale) or 4.5+ (6.0 point scale) in writing; IELTS Academic 6.5+ in writing; DET 130+ in writing

   Students who meet the exemption criteria on an alternative English proficiency test will have the J-Hold removed from their record and have no required ESL course(s).

3. Confirm Required ESL Course(s)

   For students that do not have English proficiency scores that meet exemption criteria, further coursework in English is required within the first year of graduate study due to insufficient English proficiency. If the requirements for additional English coursework are not fulfilled in the first semester of study, the J-Hold appears for the second semester. 

   J-Hold Speaking Course - ESL 388S

   Students are required by the Graduate School to take ESL 388S: Oral Communication within their first year of graduate study.

   J-Hold Writing Course - ESL 388W

   Students are required by the Graduate School to take ESL 388W: Academic Writing within their first year of graduate study.

4. Register for ESL Courses

   See the ESL Courses for Graduate Students webpage for ESL course descriptions, sections, and unique numbers. ESL courses are offered in fall and spring semesters only.

   Students may register for these courses through the registrar up until the 5th class day (make sure to check for students' assigned individual registration times). After 5th class day, students should email our office for course registration. We do not enroll students in ESL courses after 12th class day.

   ESL courses are taken on a Credit/No Credit basis. They count as 3 credit hours for purposes of full-time enrollment but do not count toward students' degree requirements. Students are limited to one ESL course per semester. ESL courses cost the same amount as any other 3-credit course in a student’s department. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why are certain international students given a J-Hold?

  International students admitted to The University of Texas at Austin must submit either an official TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test (DET) score report demonstrating an adequate knowledge of English. 

  1. A J-Hold is automatically placed on international students who submitted English proficiency documentation below the required threshold for either speaking and/or writing skills:
     1. TOEFL iBT speaking and/or writing section score below 22 (120 scale) or 4.5 (6-point scale)
     2. IELTS Academic speaking and/or writing section score below 6.5
     3. Duolingo English Test (DET) speaking and/or writing section score below 130
  2. International students who did not submit required English language proficiency test scores at the time of admission are automatically given a J-Hold.
  3. A student’s department requested that the English Language Center place a J-Hold on a particular student.
• Are any international students exempt from the J-Hold requirement?

  International students who are from a qualifying country are exempt from the J-Hold requirement. Additionally, students are exempt from the J-Hold requirement if they possess a bachelor’s degree from an institution in the U.S. or a qualifying country. The J-Hold requirement is not waived for students who have earned a master's—but not a bachelor's—degree from a similar institution.

  Qualifying Countries

  • American Samoa
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Canada (except Quebec)
  • Dominica
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Grand Cayman
  • Guyana
  • India
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Singapore
  • Trinidad/Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • United Kingdom
  • U.S. Pacific Trust
• What test scores are needed for a J-Hold exemption?

  UT only keeps one official TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or DET score on a student's records. Email our office if you have the required scores on another test taken within the last 24 months. Scores must be sent to The University of Texas at Austin by the testing agency (self-reported scores are not accepted). 

  • Speaking Exemption: TOEFL iBT 22+ or 4.5+ in speaking; IELTS 6.5+ in speaking; DET 130+ in speaking
  • Writing Exemption: TOEFL iBT 22+ or 4.5+ in writing; IELTS 6.5+ in writing; DET 130+ in writing
• I have a J-Hold, but I'm not sure if it is for speaking or writing. What should I do?

  Some students are required to complete both the speaking and the writing ESL courses, while other students need only either the speaking course or the writing course. 

  Contact our office by email to confirm the J-Hold type. 

• I am required to take both ESL 388S and ESL 388W. What should I do?

  Students who are required to take both the Academic Writing (ESL 388W) and Oral Communication (ESL 388S) courses only need to register for one course in their first semester. They may take the other course in the second semester. Students must receive credit for both courses within one year of study.