Montreal, Canada
McGill University: English test requirements
Undergraduate TOEFL minimums depend on the faculty (three groups); other tests share one set of minimums. Graduate admission accepts only TOEFL, IELTS or a McGill certificate: Duolingo and PTE are explicitly not accepted, and 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.
IELTS
UG from 6.5
PG 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG from 4.0 / 79-80
PG 4.5 / 86
PTE Academic
UG from 65
PG Not accepted
Duolingo English Test
UG from 125
PG Not accepted
Undergraduate
TOEFL minimums vary by the programme the applicant applies to, and the Duolingo minimum is higher for B.Ed. (TESL) and B.Com.; IELTS, PTE, CAEL and Cambridge are the same for all. Results must be sent directly to McGill by the testing body (applicants cannot upload them), and electronic delivery is strongly preferred; IELTS must be electronic. The page warns that TOEFL minimums can change at any time. TOEFL institution code 0935-00.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education (TESL), Managemente.g. B.Ed. (TESL), B.Com.Source for this group | 6.5individual components 6.0 or betterRegular Academic and UKVI versions accepted; electronic results only; One Skill Retake not accepted. | 5.0 (new 1-6 scale, tests from 21 Jan 2026) / 100 (0-120, tests up to 20 Jan 2026)1-6 scale: Reading 4.5, Listening 4.5, Writing 4.5, Speaking 4.0. 0-120 scale: each component 21 | 65individual components 60 or better | 130 (page: 130 for B.Ed. (TESL), B.Com.)no subscore minimum listed |
| Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Architecture, Arts, Education, Engineering, Nursing, Science and the other programmes in the same table rowe.g. Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (including Dietetics and Human Nutrition), Architecture, Arts, B.A. and Sc., Education, Engineering, Nursing, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Religious Studies, Science, Social WorkSource for this group | 6.5individual components 6.0 or betterRegular Academic and UKVI versions accepted; electronic results only; One Skill Retake not accepted. | 4.5 (new 1-6 scale) / 90 (0-120)1-6 scale: Reading 4.5, Listening 4.5, Writing 4.5, Speaking 4.0. 0-120 scale: each component 21 | 65individual components 60 or better | 125no subscore minimum listed |
| Musice.g. Schulich School of MusicSource for this group | 6.5individual components 6.0 or betterRegular Academic and UKVI versions accepted; electronic results only; One Skill Retake not accepted. | 4.0 (new 1-6 scale) / 79-80 (0-120)no separate component minimums given | 65individual components 60 or better | 125no subscore minimum listed |
Education (TESL), Management, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency C1 Advanced grade B or better; C2 Proficiency grade C or better; CAEL (paper, computer and online) 70
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Architecture, Arts, Education, Engineering, Nursing, Science and the other programmes in the same table row, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency C1 Advanced grade B or better; C2 Proficiency grade C or better; CAEL (paper, computer and online) 70
Music, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency C1 Advanced grade B or better; C2 Proficiency grade C or better; CAEL (paper, computer and online) 70
“Note that the Institutional versions of the tests below are not accepted.”
Undergraduate English language proficiency
Graduate
School-wide minimums. The catalogue says the department may require higher scores, so check the programme page. Revised February 2026.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | no component minimum stated | AcceptedPage says a band score of 6.5 or greater. |
| TOEFL iBT | 4.5 (new 1-6 scale, from Jan 2026) / 86 (0-120, taken before Jan 2026) | 1-6 scale: Reading 4.5, Listening 4.5, Writing 4.5, Speaking 4.0. 0-120 scale: no less than 20 in each component | AcceptedInstitutional TOEFL not acceptable. |
| PTE Academic | – | Not acceptedThe catalogue states PTE is not accepted for graduate programmes. | |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not acceptedThe catalogue states the Duolingo English Test is not accepted for graduate programmes. |
“The McGill graduate department to which you are applying may require higher test scores.”
Graduate admissions and application procedures (course catalogue)
Other tests the university lists
- McGill Certificate of Proficiency in English (Language and Culture, English for Professional Communication, or Bilingual Professional Communication; undergraduate)
- Oxford ELLT, overall 7 with 6 in components (undergraduate)
- McGill Certificate in Proficiency in English or in English for Professional Communication (graduate)
The page says these are not accepted
- Institutional versions of the tests
- IELTS One Skill Retake (undergraduate)
- Paper IELTS report forms sent by test centres or candidates (undergraduate)
- Applicant-uploaded results (undergraduate)
- TOEFL MyBest scores (undergraduate)
- PTE Academic (graduate)
- Duolingo English Test (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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