English language proficiency

You must provide proof that you are proficient in the English language to attend UVic.

You are exempt from this requirement if:

• English is your primary language
• you’ve spent the last three years before coming to UVic in an English-speaking country
• you have a degree from a designated English-speaking country
• you have a degree from a recognized institution at which the language of instruction is English (please clearly indicate this in your application, if applicable)

Official test score reports must be sent directly to UVic by the testing agency.

We cannot accept test scores more than two years old.

PLEASE NOTE: The EPLS department requires higher language proficiency scores than those required by Graduate Admissions and Records.

Minimum test scores

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

We require a minimum score of 95 from the internet-based TOEFL (IBT). We accept the TOEFL iBT taken at a test centre or the iBT home edition.

You must also score at least 21 points each in the listening, speaking, reading and writing sections.

We require a minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL.

UVic's TOEFL institution code is 0989.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

We require minimum overall band score of 7.0 on the IELTS. No individual component can have a score lower than 6.5. We will only accept results from the Academic IELTS.

CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment)

• a score of at least 70 with no component below 60

Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE – Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (CPE- Certificate of Proficiency in English)

• a score of at least 180 with no component below 170

MET (Michigan English Test)

• a score of at least 64 with no section less than 60

PTE (Pearson Test of English)

• a score of 65 with no skill less than 60