Ottawa, Canada
Carleton University: English test requirements
Undergraduate and graduate applicants each face one university-wide set of minimums. Undergraduate applicants who fall short may be offered admission with an English as a Second Language requirement (lower scores in a second table), but not to several named programmes. Graduate departments may ask for more.
Checked on 31 Oct 2026 against the university's own pages. Universities change their requirements, and some courses ask for more. Always confirm on the university's page before you book a test or apply.
Applicants from Nigeria
Nigeria is on the undergraduate list of countries where three years of study in English may qualify an applicant for an exemption from a test. Pakistan and India are not on that list. The page says: “You may qualify for an exemption if you have studied in English for at least three years”
IELTS
UG 6.5
PG 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG 4.5 / 86
PG 86
PTE Academic
UG 55
PG 60
Duolingo English Test
UG 120
PG 125
Undergraduate
Table 1 scores allow admission with no further ESL requirement. A second table (Table 2) lists lower scores that lead to admission with compulsory Academic ESL courses: IELTS 5.0 (4.5 in each band), TOEFL iBT 3.0 (2.5 in each band) for tests after 21 Jan 2026 or 51 before, PTE 31, Duolingo 80, CAEL 40, Cambridge 154. The page says applicants admitted that way cannot enter Architectural Studies, Entrepreneurship, Health Sciences, Humanities, Industrial Design, Information Technology, International Business, Journalism, Journalism and Humanities, Media Production and Design, Nursing, Public Affairs and Policy Management or any post-baccalaureate diploma. Carleton's TOEFL and IELTS institution number is 0854.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | minimum 6.0 in each band | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 (tests after 21 Jan 2026) / 86 (tests before 21 Jan 2026) | new scale: minimum 4.0 in each band. Old scale: minimum 22 in writing and speaking, 20 in reading and listening | Accepted |
| PTE Academic | 55 | minimum 47 in each communicative skill | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 | minimum 110 in writing, 110 in reading, 110 in speaking, 105 in listening | Accepted |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | 176 or above | minimum 169 in each component | Accepted |
| CAEL | 70 | minimum 60 in each band | Accepted |
“Carleton may request a test from any applicant, regardless of academic background.”
English as a Second Language (undergraduate admissions)
Graduate
One set of minimums for all graduate programmes. Applicants whose most recent degree and transcripts are from a Canadian institution are exempt unless a programme requires otherwise. The page warns that some graduate programmes require higher scores and the applicant must check the programme. IELTS One-Skill Retake and TOEFL MyBest Scores are accepted. The Oxford ELLT is accepted for Iranian applicants as a temporary measure.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (including IELTS Online) | 6.5 | minimum 6.0 in each band | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) | 4.5 overall (exams on or after 21 Jan 2026) / 86 (exams before 21 Jan 2026) | new scale: minimum 5.0 in writing, 4.5 in reading, listening and speaking. Old scale: 20 in reading and listening, 22 in speaking and writing | Accepted |
| PTE Academic (including PTE Online) | 60 | minimum 60 in each communicative skill | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 125 | minimum 120 in each integrated sub-score | Accepted |
| CAEL / CAEL CE | 70 | minimum 60 in each band | Accepted |
“some graduate programs may require a higher level of understanding of the English language and will have higher ESL requirements.”
English as a Second Language (graduate studies)
Other tests the university lists
- Oxford ELLT, overall 7 with no skill below 6 (temporary measure for Iranian applicants who cannot obtain another accepted test; graduate)
The page says these are not accepted
- IGCSE English as an Additional Language (undergraduate)
- IB Higher Level English B (undergraduate)
- Letters from universities stating that English was the medium of instruction (graduate)
“Not on the list” means the test does not appear on the university page we checked. It does not mean the test is refused: the course page or the admissions office may still accept it, so ask them.
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