English Language Proficiency Standards and GRE Requirements

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must present evidence of competency to pursue studies in the English language prior to being extended an unconditional offer of admission. English language proficiency tests taken more than two years prior to application will not be considered. Unless otherwise stated, the score is the minimum on each part of the examination. Minimum scores must be achieved in a single sitting of the test (i.e., scores across multiple instances of a test may not be used to satisfy minimum component requirements).

Minimum acceptable English language proficiency scores for applicants to programs in the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies are:

  • CAE (Certificate in Advanced English): B
  • CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment): overall 70, with 60 on the speaking sub-test
  • CEL (UBC Certificate in English Language): 600
  • CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program)
    CELPIT-A (Academic Reading and Writing): 4L
    CELL (Listening): 4L CELTOP (Speaking): 4L
  • CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English): C
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System - Academic): 6.5 with no part less than 6.0
  • MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery): 85 final score, with 3 in the speaking test
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English - Academic): 65 overall score, with 60 reading, 60 writing, 60 listening, and 60 speaking
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
          either the paper based test: 55 each for reading, listening, and writing, with 4.0 on the
          Test of Written English (TWE);
          or the internet-based test: 90 overall score, with 22 reading, 21 writing, 22 listening, and
          21 speaking

Individual graduate programs may require higher English language proficiency scores, and may require minimum scores on individual components of the test. Translations between the TOEFL scores shown below and results from other tests will be made by the graduate programs concerned, taking guidance from the tables provided by the respective testing agencies: CAEL, CELPIP, IELTS, MELAB and PTE.

Note: The table below receives regular updates throughout the year and outlines the minimum component score.

TOEFL and GRE Requirements

Program Reading/Writing/Listening/Speaking - Component Scores for Internet-based TOEFL Internet-based TOEFL Overall   GRE
Adult Learning and Education (M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Adult Learning and Global Change (M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Ancient Culture, Religion, and Ethnicity (M.A.)   100    
Anthropology (Ph.D., M.A.) 25/25/22/22 100    
Architecture (M.A.S.A., M.Arch.)   100    
Archival Studies (M.A.S.)   100    
Archival Studies and Library and Information Studies (M.A.S./M.L.I.S.)   100    
Art Education (M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Art History (Ph.D., M.A.)   100    
Art History (Critical and Curatorial Studies) (M.A.)   100    
Atmospheric Science (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 22/22/22/23 100   Yes1,3
Audiology and Speech Sciences (Ph.D., M.Sc.)   100    
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 27/29/27/24 106   Yes5
Bioinformatics (Ph.D., M.Sc.)   100    
Biomedical Engineering (Ph.D., M.A.Sc.)   93    
Botany (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Business Administration, Accounting (Ph.D.)   100   Yes2
Business Administration, Finance (Ph.D., M.Sc.B.)   100   Yes2
Business Administration, Management Information Systems (Ph.D., M.Sc.B.)   100   Yes2
Business Administration, Management Science (Ph.D.)   100   Yes2
Business Administration, Marketing (Ph.D.)   100   Yes2
Business Administration, Organizational Behaviour (Ph.D.)   100   Yes2
Business Administration, Strategy and Business Economics (Ph.D.)   100   Yes2
Business Administration, Transportation and Logistics (Ph.D., M.Sc.B.)   100   Yes2
Business Administration, Urban Land Economics (Ph.D.)   100   Yes2
Cell and Developmental Biology (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 22/22/22/22 100    
Chemistry (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 23/22/23/22 92   Yes
Children's Literature (M.A.)   100    
Cinema and Media Studies (Ph.D., M.A.)   100    
Civil Engineering (Ph.D., M.A.Sc.) 22/25/22/21 100   Yes1,3
Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology (M.A.)   100    
Classics (Ph.D., M.A.)   100    
Community and Regional Planning (M.C.R.P.)   100    
Computer Science (Ph.D., M.Sc.)   100    
Counselling Psychology (Ph.D., M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22     Yes7
Craniofacial Science (Ph.D., M.Sc.)   93    
Craniofacial Science and Diploma in Endodontics (Ph.D./Dip., M.Sc./Dip.)   93    
Craniofacial Science and Diploma in Orthodontics (Ph.D./Dip., M.Sc./Dip.)   93    
Craniofacial Science and Diploma in Pediatric Dentistry (Ph.D./Dip., M.Sc./Dip.)   93    
Craniofacial Science and Diploma in Periodontics (Ph.D./Dip., M.Sc./Dip.)   93    
Craniofacial Science and Diploma in Prosthodontics (Ph.D./Dip., M.Sc./Dip.)   93    
Curriculum and Leadership (M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Curriculum Studies (Ph.D., M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Design, Technology and Society (Ph.D.)   95    
Economics (Ph.D., M.A.) 22/22/22/22 93   Yes6
Educational Administration and Leadership (M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Educational Leadership and Policy (Ed.D.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Educational Studies (Ph.D., M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Electrical and Computer Engineering (Ph.D., M.A.Sc.)   100    
English (Ph.D., M.A.)   104    
Experimental Medicine (Ph.D., M.A.) 22/22/22/22 96    
Film Production (M.F.A.)   100    
Film Production and Creative Writing (M.F.A.)   100    
Forestry (Ph.D., M.Sc., M.A.Sc., M.F., M.I.F., M.S.F.M., M.U.F.L.) 23/24/23/22 100    
Genetic Counselling (M.Sc.) 26/28/26/23 103    
Genome Science and Technology (Ph.D., M.Sc.)   100    
Geography (Ph.D., M.A., M.Sc.)   100    
Geological Engineering (Ph.D., M.A.Sc.) 22/22/22/23 100    
Geological Sciences (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 22/22/22/23 100    
Geophysics (Ph.D., M.Sc., M.A.Sc.) 22/22/22/23 100    
Health, Outdoor, and Physical Education (M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Health Science (M.H.Sc.)   100    
Higher Education (M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Home Economics Education (M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Interdisciplinary Oncology (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 22/24/22/22 100    
Journalism (M.J.)   104    
Kinesiology (Ph.D., M.A., M.Sc., M.Kin., M.H.P.C.T.L.) 23/24/23/26 96    
Landscape Architecture (M.L.A., M.A.S.L.A.)   100    
Language and Literacy Education (Ph.D.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Law (Ph.D) 25/25/25/25 100    
Laws (Common Law) (LL.M.(CL)) 25/25/25/21 100    
Laws (LL.M) 25/25/25/25 100    
Laws in Taxation (LL.M. in Taxation) 25/25/25/21 100    
Library and Information Studies (M.L.I.S.)   100    
Library, Archival and Information Studies (Ph.D.)   100    
Literacy Education (M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Mathematics (Ph.D., M.Sc.)   100    
Mathematics Education (M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Measurement, Evaluation, and Research Methodology (Ph.D., M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92   Yes7
Mechanical Engineering (Ph.D., M.A.Sc.)   93   Yes1
Media and Technology Studies Education (M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Medical Genetics (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 24/26/24/24 100    
Microbiology and Immunology (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 25/25/25/25 100    
Modern Languages Education (M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Museum Education (M.M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Music Education (M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Neuroscience (Ph.D., M.Sc.)   100    
Nurse Practitioner (M.N.)   100    
Nursing (Ph.D., M.S.N.)   100   Yes7
Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (M.Sc.)   100    
Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.)   100    
Oceanography (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 22/22/22/23 100    
Oceans and Fisheries (Ph.D., M.Sc.)   100    
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Ph.D., M.Sc.)   100   Yes4
Pharmaceutical Sciences (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 22/22/22/22 100    
Pharmacology (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 22/22/22/22 100    
Philosophy (Ph.D., M.A.)   100    
Physical Therapy (M.P.T.)   100    
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences (M.P.T./Ph.D.) 23/23/23/23 100    
Planning (Ph.D., M.A.P., M.Sc.P.)   100   Yes1
Political Science (Ph.D., M.A.) 22/25/22/23 92   Yes3,6
Population and Public Health (Ph.D., M.Sc.)   100    
Psychology (Ph.D., M.A.)       Yes7
Public Health (M.P.H.)   100    
Public Health and Nursing (M.P.H./M.S.N.)   100    
Public Health and Diploma in Dental Public Health (M.P.H./Dip.)   100   Yes4
Public Policy and Global Affairs (M.P.P.G.A.) 22/22/22/22 100    
Rehabilitation Sciences (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 23/23/23/23 100   Yes7
Rehabilitation Sciences (M.R.Sc.) 26/28/26/23 108    
Religious Studies (Ph.D., M.A.)   100    
Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 22/22/22/22 100    
Resources, Environment and Sustainability (Ph.D., M.A., M.Sc.) 24/24/24/24 100    
School and Applied Child Psychology (Ph.D., M.A, M.Ed.) 22/22/25/25 100    
Science Education (M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Social Studies Education (M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Social Work (Ph.D., M.S.W.)   93    
Society, Culture, and Politics in Education (M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Sociology (Ph.D., M.A.) 25/25/22/22 100    
Special Education (Ph.D., M.A., M.Ed.)       Yes3
Statistics (Ph.D., M.Sc.)   100    
Teaching English as a Second Language (Ph.D., M.A., M.Ed.) 22/22/22/22 92    
Theatre (Ph.D., M.A.)   100    
Visual Art (M.F.A.)   100    
Women+ and Children’s Health Sciences (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 22/22/22/22 100    
Zoology (Ph.D., M.Sc.) 22/22/22/22 97    

1 Not mandatory, but strongly recommended.

2 Or GMAT.

3 Ph.D. program only.

4 Applicants from outside North America only.

5 Applicants with a degree from a university outside of Canada and the USA only.

6 Applicants with a degree from a university outside of Canada only.

7 Required for some applicants. See the degree program entry for detailed information.

 


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