English Proficiency Requirements

You will be required to present evidence of English Proficiency if:

  • your primary or first language is not English, and
  • your have had less than four years of full-time secondary school or post-secondary study, demonstrating satisfactory academic progress, in an English-language school system.

The University reserves the right to deny admission to you if you do not demonstrate satisfactory facility in English, regardless of academic qualifications.

Francophone Canadian citizens educated in Canada will not be required to meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement. You will also be considered as having met the English Proficiency requirement if you completed the International Baccalaureate diploma where English was the language of instruction. 

Acceptable English Proficiency Tests

Test Competence Level
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6
Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL)

Minimum overall band score of 70

*Please note that the University of Guelph will be accepting the CAEL Online Test for Fall 2021 admission only and will re-evaluate the opportunity for future use

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Internet-based: minimum total score of 89 with no individual scaled score less than 21

TOEFL iBT®  Special Home Edition

Internet-based: minimum total score of 89 with no individual scaled score less than 21

*Please note that the University of Guelph will be accepting TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition for Fall 2021 admission only and will re-evaluate the opportunity for future use

Pearson Test of English (PTE) Minimum overall score of 60 and no score less than 60 for any individual component
Advanced Level of the English Language Certificate Program (ELCP) Successful completion of the University of Guelph, Open Learning Advanced Level of the English Language Certificate Program (Levels 9 and 10).
Cambridge English: C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency Minimum overall score of 176 with no band less than 169.
Duolingo English Test*

Minimum overall score of 110

*Please note that the University of Guelph will be accepting Duolingo English Test scores for Fall 2021 admission only and will re-evaluate the opportunity for future use

 
If you contact the Educational Testing Services (ETS), ask to have your TOEFL result sent to Admission Services. The Institution Code for the University of Guelph is 0892.