Montreal, Canada
Concordia University: English test requirements
Undergraduate applicants meet one set of minimums, though seven named programmes ask for higher scores on their own pages. Graduate minimums are set by faculty (Arts and Science, Fine Arts, Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, John Molson School of Business, School of Graduate Studies), and many programmes 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.
IELTS
UG 6
PG from 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG 4.0 / 70
PG from 4.5 / 85
PTE Academic
UG 50
PG from 57
Duolingo English Test
UG 105
PG from 120
Undergraduate
One table applies, with an asterisk: Child Studies, Creative Writing, Early Childhood and Elementary Education, English and Creative Writing, English and History, Professional Writing and Teaching English as a Second Language require higher scores, given on each programme page (not checked). Results must be under two years old when applying. Depending on the score, a placement test after admission may lead to ESL courses. TOEFL institution code 0956. Applicants currently based in Iran may use the Oxford ELLT.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (One Skill Retake and IELTS Online accepted) | 6 | no component under 5.5 | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT (including Special Home Edition) | 4.0 (tests from January 2026, new scale) / 70 (earlier tests) | new scale: no section below 3.5 | AcceptedMyBest scores are accepted. |
| PTE Academic | 50 | minimum of 46 in speaking and writing | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 105 | no subscore under 90 | Accepted |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | C1 Advanced: 175; C2 Proficiency: 190 | no part under 165 | Accepted |
| CAEL (and CAEL Online) | 50 | no part under 50 | Accepted |
“You must write an English language proficiency test regardless of citizenship, unless you meet one of the following conditions below”
Undergraduate English language proficiency
Graduate
Minimums are set per faculty. Several programmes ask for higher scores than their faculty minimum (the page lists them, for example Communication Studies at IELTS 7.5, Art History PhD at TOEFL 106). Admission with required English courses is offered below the minimum in most faculties, and below a floor there is no admission. Institution code 0956 for TOEFL; MyBest scores are accepted. Applicants currently based in Iran may use the Oxford ELLT. The department can confirm what a programme needs. Exempt countries: the graduate exempt-countries page lists countries where three full years of university study exempt an applicant from showing English or French proficiency, and the main graduate page adds four years of secondary study in a listed country where English is the main language of instruction. Nigeria is on the list; India and Pakistan are not. The undergraduate exemption list (three years of secondary or post-secondary study) has no South Asian country and does not include Nigeria. The university can still require a test.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Arts and Sciencee.g. Applied Linguistics (MA), Chemistry (MSc, PhD), Economics (MA, PhD), Communication StudiesSource for this group | 6.5at least 6.5 in each of the four componentsOverall 6.5 with no part under 6.0 can lead to admission with English courses at some programmes; below 6.0 no admission. Some programmes need up to 7.0 or 7.5. | 4.5 (tests from January 2026) / 86 (earlier tests)new scale: no section below 4.0. 0-120 scale: no part under 20 in each of the four componentsA score of 79-85, or any part under 20, can lead to admission with English courses at some programmes; below 79 (or below 4.0 on the new scale) no admission. | 61no part under 5352-60, or a part under 53, can lead to admission with English courses; below 52 no admission. | above 120no subscore minimum in the general table; some programmes ask for 125 or parts of 110-120Below 120 no admission. |
| Faculty of Fine Artse.g. Art History (MA, PhD), Film and Moving Images (MA, PhD)Source for this group | 6.5at least 6.5 in each of the four componentsArt History and Film and Moving Images programmes ask for 7.0 or 7.5 overall with no part under 6.5. | 4.5 (tests from January 2026) / 86 (earlier tests)new scale: no section below 4.0. 0-120 scale: no part under 20Art History and Film and Moving Images programmes ask for 95 or 106 on the older scale. | 61no part under 53 | above 120no subscore minimum in the general tableArt History and Film and Moving Images programmes ask for above 125. |
| Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Sciencee.g. Aerospace (MEng)Source for this group | 6.5no band minimum stated for full admissionOverall 6.0 with no part under 5.5 leads to admission with required English courses ENCS 5721 and 6721; Aerospace MEng needs 6.5 in all bands. | 4.5 (tests from January 2026) / 85 (earlier tests)new scale: no section below 4.0. 0-120 scale: at least 20 in each of the four components75-84 or any part under 20 leads to required English courses; below 75 no admission. Aerospace MEng needs 88 with no component under 22. | 57no part under 5350-56 leads to required English courses; below 50 no admission. | 120 or higherno subscore minimum stated110-115 leads to required English courses; below 110 no admission. |
| John Molson School of BusinessSource for this group | 7.0no part below 6.5Below 7.0 no admission. | 4.5 (tests from January 2026) / 90 (earlier tests)new scale: no section below 4.0. 0-120 scale: no part under 20 in each of the four componentsBelow 90 (or below 4.0 on the new scale) no admission. | 61no part under 53 | 120no subscore minimum statedBelow 120 no admission. |
| School of Graduate StudiesSource for this group | 6.5at least 6.5 in each of the four componentsOverall 6.5 with no part under 6.0 can lead to admission with English courses; below 6.0 no admission. | 4.5 (tests from January 2026) / 86 (earlier tests)new scale: no section below 4.0. 0-120 scale: no part under 20 in each of the four components79-85 or any part under 20 can lead to admission with English courses; below 79 no admission. | 61no part under 5352-60 can lead to admission with English courses; below 52 no admission. | 120no subscore minimum statedBelow 120 no admission. |
Faculty of Arts and Science, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency 180; CAEL 70
Faculty of Fine Arts, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency 180; CAEL 70
Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency 180; CAEL 70
John Molson School of Business, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency 180; CAEL 70
School of Graduate Studies, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency 180; CAEL 70
“Some programs require a higher minimum score.”
Graduate English language proficiency (minimum scores by faculty)
Other tests the university lists
- Oxford ELLT, temporary measure for applicants currently based in Iran (undergraduate overall 6 with 6 in each component; graduate overall 7 with 6 in each component)
“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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