ADMISSIONS
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
The English Language Proficiency requirement is designed to ensure that you have the best opportunity for success in your university studies. To apply to undergraduate programs, you must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency (ELP) prior to admission, regardless of citizenship or country of origin.
Your primary language is defined as the language in which you are most proficient. It is your language of instruction in the last three years of formal study as well as the language you use at home for daily written and oral communication.
If your primary language is English, you meet the ELP requirement. All other applicants must demonstrate fulfillment of ELP by presenting the appropriate requirements for their program and admission intake.
MacEwan University reserves the right to use discretion to determine an applicant’s language proficiency.
Check individual websites for the following programs
The following programs have unique English language proficiency requirements. Review ELP criteria on the program website:
2025/26 criteria
If you are applying to start an undergraduate program other than those exceptions listed above in Fall 2025 or Winter 2026, you must demonstrate proficiency according to the following criteria. Test scores more than two years old will not be accepted for admission.
Testing
Minimum overall band score of 115.
IELTS–Academic
You must meet the minimum overall score and the minimum score in each band.
| Section/Band | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 6.5 |
| Listening | 5.5 |
| Reading | 5.5 |
| Speaking | 5.5 |
| Writing | 5.5 |
Internet-Based Test (iBT)
You must meet the minimum overall score and the minimum score in each section.
| Section/Band | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Total Score | 86 |
| Listening | 21 |
| Reading | 21 |
| Speaking | 21 |
| Writing | 21 |
TOEFL uses the following institutional code when sending documents to MacEwan University: 0720
Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL)
You must meet the minimum overall score and the minimum score in each band.
| Section | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70 |
| Listening | 60 |
| Reading | 60 |
| Speaking | 60 |
| Writing | 60 |
PTE - Academic
You must meet the minimum overall score and the minimum score in each band.
| Section | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 59 |
| Listening | 56 |
| Reading | 56 |
| Speaking | 56 |
| Writing | 56 |
Cambridge English: Advanced/Proficiency
You must meet the minimum overall score and the minimum score in each skill.
| Section/Skill | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 180 |
| Listening | 165 |
| Reading | 165 |
| Speaking | 165 |
| Writing | 165 |
High school courses
English Language Arts 30-1 (or equivalent)
Minimum final blended grade of 75%.
Minimum grade of 5 in English A1 or A2, or minimum grade of 6 in English B.
International Baccalaureate uses the following institutional code when sending documents to MacEwan University: 001763
Minimum grade of 4.
Advanced Placement uses the following institutional code when sending documents to MacEwan University: 5976
English language or literature
GCE Advanced Level or GCE Advanced Subsidiary Level or GCSE or IGCSE Level
Minimum grade of B.
Post-secondary courses
Six (6) credits of transferable, university-level English Language or Literature completed at a recognized English language institution. Minimum grade of B+. If more than one course is presented a grade of B+ is required in each course.
MacEwan University ENGL 086 and ENGL 087
OR
MacEwan University ERDW 085 and ESPL 085 and EOPT 068
Minimum grade of B- in each course.
University of Alberta EAL 140 and EAL 145
or
EAP 136 and EAP 137
Successful completion of each course.
Previous education in English
Successful completion of three or more years of full-time education in English (excluding English as a Second Language) in Canada or another country. Must include Alberta Grade 12 (or equivalent) where secondary education is the highest level, or if a combination of secondary and post-secondary education is used. English must be recognized as the official/primary language of the instruction.
Successful completion. The degree must be from a recognized post-secondary institution where English is the official/primary language of instruction.
Exemptions
An applicant who is completely bilingual and fluent in English is entitled to submit a written petition to the Office of the University Registrar providing evidence that the applicant’s English language proficiency exceeds the specified minimum levels, and requesting exemption from the English language proficiency (ELP) requirement.
If you are fully bilingual and fluent in English, your petition should detail:
- your background;
- your educational and personal experience with English;
- the language of instruction throughout your schooling and the language you use at home and on a daily basis;
- why you believe that an exception to the requirement is warranted in your situation.
Attestations from former English instructors and reports of any standardized English language proficiency tests may be supportive of your petition.
The Admissions Unit of the Office of the University Registrar will review the petition for possible waiver. A successful petition will not guarantee admission to another institution.