Bachelor Degrees (excluding Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
If your primary language* is not English, you must present one of the following:
*Primary language will be defined as the language in which the applicant is most proficient. The primary language must also be the applicant’s language of instruction in the last three years of study as the applicant’s language for daily written and oral communication.
| Tests | Required Score | Website | |
| 1 | IELTS - Academic International English Language Testing System |
Minimum overall band score of 6.5 and a minimum score of 5.5 in each component | ielts.org |
| 2 | TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language |
86 iBT (internet-based) and a minimum score of 21 on all 4 sections of reading/listening/speaking/writing or 580 PBT (paper-based) with a minimum score of 50 in each component | toefl.org/infobull |
| 3 | CAEL Canadian Academic English Language Assessment |
Minimum overall band score of 70 and a minimum score of 60 in each band | cael.ca |
| 4 | PTE -Academic Pearson Test of English |
PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 59 and a minimum score of 56 in each band | pearsonpte.com |
| 5 | Cambridge English: Advanced or Cambridge English: Proficiency Cambridge English Language Assessment |
Minimum overall score of 180 and a minimum score of 165 in each skill | cambridgeenglish.org |
| Educational Experience | Required Score | Website | |
| 6 | Alberta English 30-1 or ELA 30-1 | 75% (final blended grade) | |
| 7 | IB (International Baccalaureate) Higher Level English A1, A2 or English B |
6.0 (minimum grade) | ibo.org |
| 8 | AP (Advanced Placement) - English College Board Exam | 4.0 (minimum score) | collegeboard.org/ap |
| 9 | ENGL-086 ELP for University Reading and Writing AND ENGL-087 ELP for University - Listening and Speaking [formerly ENGL-0106] - Completed at MacEwan University or Global Village, Calgary |
B- (minimum grade in each course) | macewan.ca/usi |
| 10 | ERDW-085 Reading and Writing for Academic Purposes and ESPL-085 Speaking and Listening for Academic Purposes and EOPT-068 Research Writing (formerly ESLG-085/ESLG-0105): Completed at MacEwan University | B- (minimum grade in each course) | macewan.ca/esl |
| 11 | EAL 140 and EAL 145: Completed at University of Alberta or Canadian College of English Language | Successful completion of both courses and a minimum score of 50 in the Speaking Test | extension.ualberta.ca |
| 12 | 6 credits of transferable university level English Language and Literature course(s) | B+ (minimum grade in each course) | |
| 13 | An O-level, GSCE or IGCSE English Language or Literature course | B (minimum grade) | |
| 14 | Previous post-secondary degree | Completed a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution where English is the primary language of instruction and in a country where English is the principal language | |
| 15 | Three years of full-time education in English | Successful completion of 3 years of full-time education in English: a) In Canada including the grade 12 year. This can be a combination of secondary and post-secondary education b) In another country where English is recognized as an official language of instruction c) At a recognized school/institution which uses English as the primary language of instruction | Enrolment in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses or programs will not be included in the calculation of three years of full time study. Enrolment must be in a regular high school or post-secondary credit program. Failing grades/courses will not be counted when calculating full time attendance. Only courses with passing grades will be considered. |
| 16 | Three years of full-time instruction in a school/institution in Canada in which the major language of instruction is other than English, but where the level of English proficiency required for graduation is equivalent to that in English language schools/institutions in Canada | Successful completion | |
An applicant who is completely bilingual and fluent in English shall be 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 language proficiency requirement. If you are fully bilingual and fluent in English, your petition should detail this -- 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 International Admissions Unit of the Office of the University Registrar will review the petition for possible waiver. Successful petition will not guarantee admission to another institution.
Certificates, Diplomas and Applied Degrees (excluding Psychiatric Nursing Diploma)
If your primary language* is not English, you must present one of the following:
*Primary language will be defined as the language in which the applicant is most proficient. The primary language must also be the applicant’s language of instruction in the last three years of study as the applicant’s language for daily written and oral communication.
| Tests | Required Score | Website | |
| 1 | IELTS - Academic International English Language Testing System |
Minimum overall band score of 6.0 and a minimum score of 5.5 in each component | ielts.org |
| 2 | TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language |
76 iBT (internet-based) and a minimum score of 18 on all 4 sections of reading/listening/speaking/writing or 550 PBT (paper-based) | toefl.org/infobull |
| 3 | CAEL Canadian Academic English Language Assessment |
Minimum overall band score of 60 and a minimum score of 60 in each band | cael.ca |
| 4 | PTE -Academic Pearson Test of English |
PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 51 and a minimum score of 49 in each band | pearsonpte.com |
| 5 | EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency | Minimum Grade Pre-1 score | stepeiken.org |
| 6 | Cambridge English: Advanced or Cambridge English: Proficiency Cambridge English Language Assessment |
Minimum overall score of 172 and a minimum score of 165 in each skill | cambridgeenglish.org |
| Educational Experience | Required Score | Website | |
| 7 | Alberta English 30-1 or ELA 30-1 | 65% (final blended grade) | |
| 8 | IB (International Baccalaureate) Higher Level English A1, A2 or English B |
5.0 (minimum grade) | ibo.org |
| 9 | AP (Advanced Placement) - English College Board Exam | 3.0 (minimum score) | collegeboard.org/ap |
| 10 | ENGL-086 ELP for University Reading and Writing AND ENGL-087 ELP for University - Listening and Speaking [formerly ENGL-0106] - Completed at MacEwan University or Global Village, Calgary |
C (minimum grade in each course) | macewan.ca/usi |
| 11 | ERDW-085 Reading and Writing for Academic Purposes and ESPL-085 Speaking and Listening for Academic Purposes and EOPT-068 Research Writing (formerly ESLG-085/ESLG-0105): Completed at MacEwan University | C (minimum grade in each course) | macewan.ca/esl |
| 12 | EAL 140 and EAL 145: Completed at University of Alberta or Canadian College of English Language | Successful completion of both courses. Official Transcripts must be provided. | extension.ualberta.ca |
| 13 | 6 credits of transferable university level English Language and Literature course(s) | C- (minimum grade in each course) | |
| 14 | An O-level, GSCE or IGCSE English Language or Literature course | C (minimum grade) | |
| 15 | Previous post-secondary degree | Completed a two-year diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution where English is the primary language of instruction and in a country where English is the principal language | |
| 16 | Three years of full-time education in English | Successful completion of 3 years of full-time education in English: a) In Canada including the grade 12 year. This can be a combination of secondary and post-secondary education b) In another country where English is recognized as an official language of instruction c) At a recognized school/institution which uses English as the primary language of instruction | Enrolment in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses or programs will not be included in the calculation of three years of full time study. Enrolment must be in a regular high school or post-seco ndary credit program. Failing grades/courses will not be counted when calculating full time attendance. Only courses with passing grades will be considered. |
| 17 | Three years of full-time instruction in a school/institution in Canada in which the major language of instruction is other than English, but where the level of English proficiency required for graduation is equivalent to that in English language schools/institutions in Canada | Successful completion | |
An applicant who is completely bilingual and fluent in English shall be 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 language proficiency requirement. If you are fully bilingual and fluent in English, your petition should detail this -- 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 International Admissions Unit of the Office of the University Registrar will review the petition for possible waiver. Successful petition will not guarantee admission to another institution.
Therapist Assistant Program – Speech Language Pathologist Assistant Major Spoken English Proficiency
If your primary language* is not English, you must present one of the following:
*Primary language will be defined as the language in which the applicant is most proficient. The primary language must also be the applicant’s language of instruction in the last three years of study as the applicant’s language for daily written and oral communication.
| Tests | Required Score | Website | |
| 1 | IELTS - Academic International English Language Testing System |
Minimum overall band score of 7.0 on Speaking | ielts.org |
| 2 | TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language |
Minimum score of 26 on iBT (internet-based) Speaking. | toefl.org/infobull |
| 3 | CAEL Canadian Academic English Language Assessment |
Minimum score of 70 on sub-test for Speaking | cael.ca |
| 4 | PTE -Academic Pearson Test of English |
PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 71 for Speaking. | pearsonpte.com |
| 5 | Speaking Test Administered through University of Alberta Extension | Minimum score 50 | elp.ualberta.ca or elpinfo@ualberta.ca / Tel: (+1)780.492.3036 / Tel: (+1)780.492.5530 |
| 6 | Cambridge English: Advanced or Cambridge English: Proficiency Cambridge English Language Assessment |
Minimum score of 188 in Speaking | cambridgeenglish.org |
| Educational Experience | Required Score | Website | |
| 7 | 6 years of full-time education in English | Successful completion of 6 years of full-time education in English in Canada or the equivalent in another country where English is the principal language. Such education must include Alberta Grade 12 (or equivalent level) and can combine secondar y and post-secondary training | |
| 8 | Previous post-secondary degree | Completed a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution where English is the primary language of instruction and in a country where English is the principal language | |
Based on policy C5010 Admissions, no petitions or waivers will be considered for the Spoken English Proficiency requirements.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing (diploma) Program
If your primary language* is not English, you must present one of the following:
*Primary language will be defined as the language in which the applicant is most proficient. The primary language must also be the applicant’s language of instruction in the last three years of study as the applicant’s language for daily written and oral communication.
| Tests | Bachelor of Science in Nursing Required Score | Psychiatric Nursing Diploma Required Score | Website | |
| 1 | IELTS - Academic International English Language Testing System | Minimum overall band score of 6.5 and a minimum score of 5.5 in Reading and Writing, 6.0 in Listening, and 7.0 in Speaking* | Minimum overall band score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 6.5 in Reading, 7.0 in Writing, 7.5 in Listening, and 7.0 in Speaking | ielts.org |
| 2 | TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language | 86 iBT (internet-based) and a minimum score of 21 in Reading and Writing, 23 in Listening, and 26 in Speaking* | 98 iBT (internet-based) and a minimum score of 21 in Reading, 27 in Writing, 27 in Listening, and 23 in Speaking | toefl.org/infobull |
| 3 | CAEL Canadian Academic English Language Assessment | Minimum overall band score of 70 and minimum scores of 60 in Reading and Writing, and minimum scores of 70 in Listening and Speaking* | Minimum overall band score of 80 and minimum scores of 70 in Reading, 80 in Writing, Listening and Speaking | cael.ca |
| 4 | PTE -Academic Pearson Test of English | PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 59 and minimum scores of 56 in Reading and Writing, 58 in Listening, and 71 in Speaking* | PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 68 and minimum scores of 61 in Reading, 68 in Writing, 75 in Listening, and 68 in Speaking | pearsonpte.com |
| 5 | MELAB Michigan English Language Assessment Battery | Minimum overall score of 85, a minimum score of 85 in Reading and Writing, 90 in Listening, and 4 in the Speaking Test* | Minimum overall score of 85 and a minimum score of 4 in the Speaking Test | lsa.umich.edu/eli/testing/melab |
| 6 | Cambridge English: Advanced or Cambridge English: Proficiency Cambridge English Language Assessment | Minimum overall score of 180 and a minimum score of 165 in Reading and Writing, 172 in Listening, and 188 in Speaking* | Minimum overall score of 188 and a minimum score of 180 in Reading, 188 in Writing, 195 in Listening and 188 in Speaking | cambridgeenglish.org |
Educational Experience
Only applicants to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing may present one of the following:
| Educational Experience | Required Score | Website | |
| 7 | ENGL 086 ELP for University – Reading and Writing and ENGL 087 ELP for University – Listening and Speaking Completed at MacEwan University or Global Village Calgary (formerly ENGL-086 – 10 credits, ENGL-0106) | B- (minimum grade in each course) | macewan.ca/usi |
| 8 | ERDW-085 Reading and Writing for Academic Purposes and ESPL-085 Speaking and Listening for Academic Purposes and EOPT-068 Research Writing Completed at MacEwan University (formerly ESLG-085/ESLG-0105) | B- (minimum grade in each course) | macewan.ca/esl |
| 9 | EAL 140 and EAL 145 and Speaking Test Completed at University of Alberta or Canadian College of English Language | Successful completion of both courses and a minimum score of 50 in the Speaking Test | extension.ualberta.ca |
*Note: The speaking requirement can also be met by successfully completing the Speaking Test (administered through University of Alberta Extension) with a minimum score of 50. Official transcripts must be provided. Refer to www.elp.ualberta.ca or contact at elpinfo@ualberta.ca / Tel: (+1)780.492.3036 / Tel: (+1)780.492.5530.
Based on policy C5010 Admissions, no petitions or waivers will be considered for the above requirements.
