Hamilton, Canada
McMaster University: English test requirements
Undergraduate applicants all face one set of minimums, with separate scores for the McMaster English Development (MELD) diploma and a seven-week STEP bridging certificate. The School of Graduate Studies publishes no school-wide scores: each graduate programme sets its own.
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 6.5
PG Not on the list
TOEFL iBT
UG 4.5 / 86
PG Not on the list
PTE Academic
UG 60
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG 120
PG Not on the list
Undergraduate
One set of minimums applies to direct entry. Applicants who miss them but meet every academic requirement can be offered a place conditional on the MELD diploma (8 months) or the STEP certificate (7 weeks), each with its own scores listed on the page (MELD overall scores are lower; STEP overall scores are lower or the same as direct entry with different sub-score minimums). Results are typically valid for two years; IELTS, Duolingo and TOEFL must be sent electronically by the testing body. TOEFL institution code 0936, IELTS organisation ID 114599. Exemption from testing is at the university's discretion and is not automatic. TOEFL figures are printed for tests taken before and from 21 January 2026.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (and Academic UKVI) | 6.5 | no component (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening) below 6.0 | AcceptedIELTS One Skill Retake is accepted. |
| TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) | 4.5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026) / 86 (tests before 21 Jan 2026) | new scale: 4.0 in Reading, Writing and Speaking and 4.5 in Listening. 0-120 scale: 20 in each of the four components | Accepted |
| PTE Academic | 60 | minimum of 60 in Writing and Speaking | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 | Reading 115, Writing 125, Listening 110, Speaking 115 | AcceptedPage says this is for all direct-entry undergraduate programmes. |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | 180 | minimum of 176 in each component | Accepted |
| CAEL (centre-based and online) | 70 | no component below 60 | Accepted |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 | minimum of 65 in each of the four components | Accepted |
“McMaster only accepts the tests listed below for English language proficiency.”
Undergraduate English proficiency
Graduate
The School of Graduate Studies page gives no scores. It tells applicants to review each programme's website because programmes may have extra English requirements and may ask for a test. Applicants state in the application whether their degree was taught and assessed in English. No test is named on this page, so the tests below are not listed.
The scores for this level are set course by course. The tests below are the ones the university lists; check the exact scores on your course page (course finder).
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | – | Not on the listNot named on the school-wide page; each programme sets its own requirement. | |
| TOEFL iBT | – | Not on the listNot named on the school-wide page; each programme sets its own requirement. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot named on the school-wide page; each programme sets its own requirement. | |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not on the listNot named on the school-wide page; each programme sets its own requirement. |
“Please review program websites as some programs may have additional ELP Admissions requirements”
School of Graduate Studies: how to apply
Other tests the university lists
- McMaster English Development (MELD) diploma, conditional route with lower test scores (undergraduate)
- Summer Transition through English Prep (STEP) certificate, conditional route (undergraduate)
The page says these are not accepted
- TOEFL Essentials (undergraduate)
- TOEFL MyBest scores (undergraduate)
- Canadian citizenship, or a Grade 12 English credit, on its own (undergraduate)
“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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