TOEFL and GRE Suspended, US Sanctions Hinder Iranian Students

Iranian students hoping to pursue studies abroad are facing new obstacles after TOEFL and GRE examinations were suspended within the country following changes to United States (US) sanctions regulations.

“My entire plan depends on these exams,” a TOEFL participant in Tehran told DW. He noted that he had spent months preparing for doctoral programme applications, contacting professors, and gathering documents, despite facing internet disruptions and other challenges.

ETS, the US-based organisation that administers both exams, announced the suspension in Iran after the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) froze General License G, which previously allowed certain educational services to continue operating in Iran. “After OFAC suspended General License G, ETS immediately ceased the administration of TOEFL and GRE exams in Iran,” the organisation stated in an official notice.

ETS added that Iranian nationals can still take the exams outside of Iran and that the organisation is seeking ways to resume testing within the country. TOEFL is a US-based English proficiency test accepted by universities worldwide, while the GRE is a standardised test required by numerous postgraduate programmes, particularly in the US and Canada.

Since the conflict involving Iran escalated in late February 20226, the US has further expanded sanctions on Iranian trade and exports. This policy has exacerbated various disruptions to the Iranian economy. There is currently no certainty as to when the exams will be held again. An institution in Iran that administers TOEFL told DW that new registrations have been halted following the recent changes to sanctions. The institution added that the suspension is likely temporary, but no date has been set for its resumption.

This uncertainty poses a serious problem for students approaching university and scholarship application deadlines. Many have spent months preparing and incurring application-related costs. The suspension of TOEFL follows previous issues with the administration of IELTS, the British equivalent, in Iran. An IELTS centre in Tehran told DW that difficulties related to sanctions regarding money transfers were a primary obstacle to continuing the exams.

Some Iranian applicants previously travelled to countries such as Turkey and Armenia to sit for the IELTS. Now, TOEFL and GRE participants may be forced to do the same. The costs for applicants are rising. Alireza, who is preparing applications for a university in Italy, said the TOEFL suspension disrupted the backup plan he had prepared after IELTS became unavailable. “European universities usually accept IELTS. However, because IELTS was suspended in Iran, after intensive communication with the universities, they agreed to allow (Iranian students) to meet requirements through equivalent TOEFL results,” Alireza told DW.

“But now TOEFL is also suspended in Iran. Travelling to neighbouring countries just to take an exam is very expensive, especially given Iran’s current economic conditions,” he added. Other participants told DW that taking exams in Turkey or Armenia involves paying for travel and at least one night’s accommodation, in addition to the exam fees. For students hoping for scholarships or full funding, these additional costs can be a significant burden.

In response, Iranian TOEFL and GRE participants have launched an online petition urging ETS to restore access to both exams. The petition states that thousands of students are losing access to tests necessary for university admission, scholarships, postgraduate programmes, and other academic opportunities. Many have spent months preparing, paying fees, and organising application schedules based on specific exam dates.

“Students should not lose years of preparation or the opportunity to pursue higher education simply because access to required exams is suddenly halted,” the petition reads. Nargis, an affected applicant, noted that the petition is circulating in various Telegram groups used by language learners and students applying abroad. “I doubt this petition will have an impact,” she said,