English Language Proficiency Requirements
Universities require English Proficiency Test scores from any student whose English language skills are in doubt. English Proficiency Tests determine whether a student has the English skills they need to study at university. Many universities do not admit students until the English Proficiency Requirement has been satisfied.
For details about English language proficiency requirements for Canadian universities, please refer to the chart of “English Language Proficiency Requirements for Ontario Universities” and “Outside Ontario University Admissions – Fall/September Entry 2019” in the last few pages in this handout. If you have any questions about the testing at CIC, go see Ms. Rebecca Last in the External Testing Office in Room 159.
The most popular tests you can take are:
- TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language (www.ets.org/toefl)
- IELTS – International English Language Testing System (www.ielts.org)
- CAEL – Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (www.cael.ca)
- MELAB – Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/testing/melab/)
- COPE – Certificate of Proficiency in English (www.copetest.com) (can only be taken at U of Toronto campus and recognized for admissions to U of Toronto three campuses)
| INSTITUTION | TOEFL (iBT) | IELTS | MELAB | CAEL | Other tests or equivalent requirements |
| Algoma U | 79-80 | 6.0 | 90 | 60 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| Brock U | 88 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, YELT, PTE,*Higher results required for Education |
| Carleton U | 86 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| U of Guelph | 89 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 4 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE |
| Lakehead U | 80 | 6.5 | 85 | 60 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, *Higher results required for Nursing |
| Laurentian U | 88 | 6.5 | 80 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE |
| McMaster U | 86 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE |
| Nipissing U | 86 | 6.5 | 90 | 60 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE |
| Ontario College of Art&Design (OCAD) | 84 | 6.5 | N/A | 70 | 4 years full time academic study in an Eng. speaking edu. system, COPE, PTE |
| U of Ottawa | 86 | 6.5 | 90 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE |
| Queen’s U | 88 | 6.5 | 90 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE |
| Ryerson U | 83 – 93 | 6.5 | 85 – 90 | 60 – 70 | 4 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE |
| U of Toronto | 100 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 4 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, COPE |
| Trent U | 86 | 6.5 | 85 | 60 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE |
| U of Ont. Institute of Technology (UOIT) | 83 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | ENG4U 70% for CIC students, 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE, *Higher results required for Education and Nursing programs |
| U of Waterloo | 90 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 4 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE |
| Western University | 83 | 6.5 | 80 | 60 | Both ENG3U & ENG4U at 75% or higher, 4 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE, *Higher results required for some programs and campuses |
| Wilfrid Laurier U | 83-90 | 6.5-7.0 | 85 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE |
| U of Windsor | 83 | 6.5 | 85 | 60 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, PTE |
| York U | 83 – 100 | 6.5-7.5 | 85 | 70 | Both ENG3U & ENG4U at 75% or higher, OR ENG4U 80% or higher (Only for application to LA&PS), 4 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, YELT |
| INSTITUTION | TOEFL iBT | IELTS | MELAB | CAEL | Other tests or equivalent requirements |
| Acadia U | 90 | 6.5 | 80 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| U of Alberta | 86 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| U of British Columbia | 90 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in a Canadian high school, or 4 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system outside of Canada |
| Bishop’s U | 90 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| Brandon U | 80 | 6.5 | 80 | 60 | 70% in ENG4U OR 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| U of Calgary | 86 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, *Higer results required for Education and Nursing |
| Cape Breton U | 80 | 6.5 | 85 | 60 | 2 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| Concordia U | 90 | 7.0 | 85 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| Dalhousie U | 90 | 6.5 | 81 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| U of Lethbridge | 80 | 6.0 | 80 | 60 | 80% in ENG4U OR 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| U of Manitoba | 86 | 6.5 | 80 | 60 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| McGill U | 90-100 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 4 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| Memorial U | 79 | 6.5 | 85 | 50-60 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| Mount Allison U | 90 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| Mount St. Vincent U | 86-92 | 6.5 | 80-84 | 60 | |
| U of New Brunswick (Fredricton) | 92-100 | 6.5 | N/A | 70 | 1 year full time academic study in a Canadian high school with 70% in ENG4U, 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| U of New Brunswick (St. John) | 85 | 6.5 | N/A | 60 | |
| U of Northern British Columbia | 90 | 6.5 | 80 | 70 | 70% in ENG4U OR 5 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| U of Prince Edward Island | 80 | 6.5 | 80 | 60 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system, *Higer results required for Education and Nursing |
| U of Regina | 80 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 3U and 4U ENG during 2 years of study in CAN/US OR 80% in ENG4U; *Higer results required for Nursing |
| Saint Mary’s U | 80 | 6.5 | N/A | 60 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| U of Saskatchewan | 86 | 6.5 | 85 | 70 | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| Simon Fraser U | 88 | 6.5 | N/A | N/A | 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system with 75% in ENG4U |
| St. Francis Xavier U | 92 | 6.5 | 90 | 70 | 2 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| St. Thomas U | 89 | 6.5 | 80 | 60 | |
| U of Victoria | 90 | 6.5 | 90 | 70 | 86% in ENG4U OR 4 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |
| U of Winnipeg | 80 | 6.5 | 80 | 60 | 70% in ENG4U OR 3 years full time academic study in an English speaking education system |