Language Requirements
Our language proficiency policies exist to ensure students have the requisite skills to succeed in the university learning environment.
In order to verify your International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test results, we require an electronic copy of your Test Report Form which can be uploaded through UAlberta Launchpad after you apply. Please make sure that the electronic copy is legible and it contains your Test Report Form number.
Note: Fulfillment of one of the listed requirements does not guarantee admission. The University of Alberta reserves the right to use discretion in determining language proficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
For certain programs (see below), applicants must meet English Language Proficiency/Spoken English Proficiency before they are evaluated. We recommend submitting your documentation to fulfill this requirement as soon as possible.
If you are done attending, you must meet English Language Proficiency and/or Spoken English Proficiency prior to an evaluation being completed.
If you are currently attending, your application will be evaluated prior to English Language Proficiency and/or Spoken English Language Proficiency being met, but if you are meeting the language requirement by showing a minimum of three or six years of full-time education in English and are still currently attending, you may wish to consider taking a language test in order to fulfill this requirement sooner.
Programs that require the fulfillment of English Language Proficiency and/or Spoken English Proficiency prior to an evaluation being completed:
- Open Studies
-
Doctor of Pharmacy (Entry to Practice) (this program is for post-secondary applicants only)
You will see in your checklist that there are two different items related to English Language Proficiency and/or Spoken English Proficiency. One checklist item is for the English Language Proficiency test result that you reported in your application (you will not have this item if you reported meeting English Language Proficiency and/or Spoken English Proficiency using coursework or years of study). The other checklist is for the English Language Proficiency and/or Spoken English Proficiency requirement itself and includes a note regarding how it will be fulfilled after we have reviewed your documents and scores.
When you submit your test score, that checklist will be marked as complete right away, but it can take us several weeks to verify the test results and mark the checklist item as complete. This wait is normal. Please double check that you have met the requirement using the method you reported and you have submitted all the required documents for an evaluation. If you meet our minimum score, then we appreciate your patience!
- High school transcripts (Grades 10, 11, 12, or equivalent) need to be received directly from the issuing institution either via mail or electronically to transcripts@ualberta.ca.
- Junior high transcript copies (Grades 7, 8, 9, or equivalent) can be uploaded to Launchpad.
- For students studying in Alberta: we will receive your Grade 10-12 transcripts directly from Alberta Education. If you need to submit junior high transcripts, please ensure that you request these from your junior high directly.
If at the time of assessment your test result does not meet the requirement, a new checklist will appear on your Launchpad, asking you to submit new official test scores. When this happens you must submit a new test result in order to meet the requirement.
You will receive a message via email notifying you that you have not successfully met English Language Proficiency and/or Spoken English Proficiency test requirements.
Here is a list of institutions exempt from needing to meet English Language Proficiency.
In the majority of cases, if your non-exempt institution is located in a foreign country that is not on the exempt countries list, you would not be able to meet English Language Proficiency using your years of education, even if the language of instruction at your school is in English. The only exception to this would be schools that meet the appropriate accreditation requirements which will be determined by the Admissions department. In these cases we strongly encourage students to complete an acceptable English Language Proficiency test to ensure that they can meet the requirement.
Update to Admissions Process
The Duolingo English Test will be made available to all applicants to undergraduate and graduate programs as an additional option to demonstrate English Language Proficiency. This option is currently valid through the 2028-2029 admission cycle.
Minimum Duolingo English Test score required by University of Alberta:
- 120 for English Language Proficiency, with no subscore below 100
- 140 for Spoken English Proficiency, with no subscore below 120
Applicants who are required to demonstrate English Language Proficiency and intend to fulfill that requirement using English Language Arts 30-1 will only be able to do so if they write the diploma exam. If students don’t write the diploma exam, they will be required to demonstrate English Language Proficiency (ELP) with acceptable via other acceptable methods. The chart below outlines specific examples of ELP exams and requirements.
International applicants should visit undergraduate international admissions for further information.
For some programs in the Education and Health Science-related fields, Spoken English Proficiency is also required.
For more information, see Table 2 below.
How to Meet Language Requirements
Exam-based
There are several ways you can demonstrate ELP. Some of the most common methods are listed below. The best way to provide test scores is to have the testing centre submit them directly to the University of Alberta. Once test scores are received and processed, your Launchpad checklist status will be updated. You do not need to upload additional copies through Launchpad.
Note: Test scores more than two years old will not be accepted. An English language test must have all skills tested in one sitting. In case UAlberta receives notifications from a test administrator that your test scores are no longer valid (e.g. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic scores being on hold/revoked), we reserve the right to revoke your admission offer made by using the invalid test results.
For more details see Table 1 below or check the University Calendar »
Table 1: ELP Exams and Requirements
| Method | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Written Exams | |
|
TOEFL Internet-Based Test (iBT) |
Total score of 90 with no section less than 21 |
| IELTS (Academic) In-person or IELTS Online |
Overall band score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 |
| Canadian Academic English Language Assessment - CAEL (paper) or CAEL CE (online) | A score of at least 70 |
| Duolingo English Test | At least 120 for English Language Proficiency, with no subscore below 100 |
| CanTEST (Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees) | At least 4.5, with no part lower than 4 |
| CAE (Certificate in Advanced English, also known as Cambridge English: Advanced) | At least 180, with no less than 170 in each skill |
| CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English, also known as Cambridge English: Proficiency) | At least 180, with no less than 170 in each skill |
| PTE (Academic) (Pearson Test of English Academic) | At least 61, with no less than 60 in each communicative skill |
| High school course work | |
| English Language Arts 30-1 (Alberta or NWT) | 75% or higher (final blended grade includes the diploma or provincial exam mark) |
| IB English A1, A2, A Literature, or A Language & Literature | 5 or better |
| IB English B | 6 or better |
| AP English | 4 or better |
| GCE Advanced Level (A-level) or Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-level), GCSE, IGCSE or O-level English Language or Literature course | B or better |
| All India Senior Secondary School Certificate (ISSC) Functional English, issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education | 80% or better |
| All India Senior Secondary School Certificate (ISSC) Core English, issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education | 75% or better |
| Indian School Certificate (ISC) English, issued by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) | 75% or better |
| Post-secondary course work | |
| ✮6 credits of university-level English studies completed at a recognized English-language institution (must be transferable as 6 credits of English at the University of Alberta) | B+ or better |
| University of Alberta EAP 136 and 137 | Successful completion |
| Previous education in English | |
| Three or more years of full-time education in English (excluding ESL) in Canada or another country or institution where English is recognized as the official/primary language of instruction | Successful completion - must include Alberta Grade 12 (or equivalent) if secondary education is the highest level completed, or if a combination of secondary and post-secondary is used |
Table 2: Spoken Exams and Requirements
| Spoken exams | |
| TOEFL Internet-Based (iBT) | Minimum score of 26 in the Speaking section |
| IELTS (Academic) | Minimum score of 7.5 in the Speaking section |
| Previous education in English | |
| Six years of full-time education in English in Canada or another country or institution where English is recognized as the official/primary language of instruction. | Successful completion - must include Alberta Grade 12 (or equivalent) if secondary education is the highest level completed, or if a combination of secondary and post-secondary is used. |
Bridging Program
The Bridging Program is designed for applicants who meet all other admission requirements for their program of choice, except for English Language Proficiency (ELP). The Bridging Program allows eligible students to complete the ELP requirement by taking English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses during their first year of study, while also being eligible to enrol in academic courses and earn credit toward their degree. Not all programs offer the Bridging Program.
See the Bridging Program page for more details.