English language requirements

English is the language of instruction at the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. Success in our programs requires a high level of English language proficiency.

Do you need to take a language test?

You need to provide an English language test score if

  • your first language is NOT English -- AND --
  • your four most recent years of full-time education have NOT been in an English-language school system.

Exceptions

You may be exempt from submitting English language test scores if you meet one or more of the following exceptions.

You've studied in Canada and your first language is English

You are not required to provide an English language test score if

  • your four most recent years of full-time education have been in Canada AND
  • your first language is English.

You’re a Francophone Canadian

You are not required to provide an English language test score if

  • you are a bilingual Francophone Canadian OR
  • your first language is French and you have completed four or more years of full-time studies in a high school in Canada.

You’ve studied in an English-language school

You are not required to provide an English language test score if

  • your first language is not English AND
  • your four most recent years of full-time education were taught in an entirely English-language school system either in Canada or in another country.

You must submit the following by À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's document deadline to be considered for this exemption.

  • Official transcripts which indicate language of instruction for all classes OR
  • An official hardcopy letter from your previous schools' principal(s) confirming which years you were enrolled and the language of instruction.
    • This must be sent directly from your school(s), verifying that all of your subjects (excluding language courses) were taught entirely in English. The letter must include your full name, date of birth, and years attended. Emailed letters will NOT be accepted. You may be required to provide a passing English language test result if your official letter does not meet our English language requirements.

Full-time English as a Second Language (ESL) programs do not qualify you for this exemption and cannot be included in the number of years of full-time education in an English-language school system.

Deadlines

Test results must be received by À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's document deadline. Exemptions will not be granted if you’re unable to take a test by our deadline. Required academic English courses cannot be used in place of taking an English language test.

If you suspect that you do not meet the English proficiency requirements, please arrange to take a test as soon as possible to meet the deadline.

Required English language scores

  • Tests that do not appear on this chart are not accepted for admission consideration.
  • Official test scores must be sent by the testing agency directly to À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's Office of the Registrar.
  • Emails, faxes, and student copies of test scores are not accepted for admission.
Test Minimum score How to send test results
, including Home Edition and Paper Edition – Test of English as a Foreign Language

TOEFL MyBest Scores and TOEFL Essentials will not be used to meet our English language requirements.
  • 90 overall
  • 25 writing, 25 speaking

À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's institution code is 0996 and our department code is 00.

If you have taken multiple tests you'll need to submit results for each test.

– International English Language Testing System

IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted by À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.
  • 6.5 overall
  • 6.5 writing, 6.5 speaking, 6.0 reading, 6.0 listening
 We accept the electronic Test Report Form (TRF). À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's e-transfer institution name is University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ – Undergraduate OR University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Admissions.
(including PTE Academic Online) – Pearson Test of English
  • 63 overall
  • 65 writing, 65 speaking
 Send your Score Report Code or Registration ID to myapplication@uwaterloo.ca.
(C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)
  • 180 overall
  • 176 writing, 176 reading, 176 speaking, 176 listening
 Go to the Candidate Results Online portal, input your ID and secret number then click on "Send my result."

Tests completed after July 1, 2024 require an overall of 120 with Literacy and Production scores of 125 for direct entry to a À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ program.

Requirements for tests completed before July 1, 2024 are an overall score of 120 and with minimum Literacy and Production scores of 110.

Results will not be accepted without subscores.

You must log in to your affiliated account and select University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ – Undergraduate as a recipient institution.
English for Academic Success (EFAS) – offered by À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's English Language Institute
  • 75% overall in 400 levels
  • 75% in each of academic, oral, and writing
 Your scores will be sent to us automatically by the English Language Institute.

Notes

If you completed your four most recent years of full-time education in an English-language school system and you also provide a failing English language test score, we reserve the right to withdraw your Offer of Admission or to place you in the BASE program.

We reserve the right to withdraw an offer of admission if you fail to meet the minimum English language requirements for the program to which you have applied.

All English language tests will be verified for authenticity. If evidence of fraudulent documentation is found, we reserve the right to cancel your application or revoke any offer of admission.

A minimum overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum band score of 6.0 or better in all components, is also acceptable for admission.

How do you know if we've received your test scores?

Please request that the test centre send your test scores directly to the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. When we receive your official language test score from the testing centre, the application checklist in your applicant portal account will be updated. 

Unofficial results (which we can use to make an admission decision) will not appear in the applicant portal (only official results will). 

How recent do your test scores need to be?

Your English language scores are valid if completed on or after May 1, 2023. Any test taken prior to May 1, 2023, will not be used when reviewing your application.

Start earning a À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ degree while improving your English

Students taking a selfie with a glass walled building behind

Not sure you’ll meet À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ's English language test scores? Or you already know that you don't? You could still study at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ.

Our Bridge to Academic Success in English (BASE) program lets you start working towards a À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ degree, improve your English skills, and develop valuable academic skills to set you up for success at university – and at a fraction of the normal tuition for international students.

How do you join BASE? Apply to your preferred À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ program and if you qualify, you'll receive an offer of admission to BASE.

Start a À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ degree while improving your English →

Questions?

Questions about English language requirements or other admission requirements can be sent to myapplication@uwaterloo.ca.