Calgary, Canada
University of Calgary: English test requirements
Undergraduate minimums come in three groups: Education, Nursing and all other programmes (Law, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Graduate Studies are checked with those faculties). Graduate study has one faculty-wide set of minimums, but programmes 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 4.5 / 86
PG 4.5 / 86
PTE Academic
UG from 60
PG 59
Duolingo English Test
UG from 120
PG 125
Undergraduate
The calendar sets three columns: Werklund School of Education, Faculty of Nursing and all other undergraduate programmes. Applicants to Law, Graduate Studies, Cumming School of Medicine (except Bachelor of Health Sciences and Bachelor of Community Rehabilitation) and Veterinary Medicine must check with those faculties. TOEFL is printed on the 0-120 scale (tests before 21 January 2026) and the new scale (tests from 21 January 2026). Applicants can instead meet the requirement through school or university study in English, certain English course grades, or the Academic Communication Certificate. TOEFL school code 0813. Exempt countries: the undergraduate page lists countries of study where three years of secondary school in English can meet the requirement without a test; India and Nigeria are on that list and Pakistan is not.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Undergraduate ProgrammesSource for this group | 6.5no band minimum stated | 4.5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026) / 86 (tests before 21 Jan 2026)no sub-score minimum stated | 60no skill minimum stated | 120no sub-score minimum stated |
| Faculty of Nursinge.g. NursingSource for this group | 7.0no bands below 7.0 | 5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026) / 92 (tests before 21 Jan 2026)new scale: no sub-score below 4.5. 0-120 scale: minimum of 23 in each sub-score | 65no skill score below 65 | 130no integrated sub-score below 130 |
| Werklund School of Educatione.g. EducationSource for this group | 8.0no bands below 7.0 | 5.5 (tests from 21 Jan 2026) / 108 (tests before 21 Jan 2026)new scale: no sub-score below 5.5. 0-120 scale: minimum of 27 in each sub-score | 80no skill score below 75 | 150no integrated sub-score below 130 |
All Other Undergraduate Programmes, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency 180; CAEL (including CAEL Online) 70
Faculty of Nursing, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency 185
Werklund School of Education, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency 200
“Normally, students will only be admissible if the English Language Proficiency requirements have been satisfied.”
Academic calendar A.12 English Language Proficiency (undergraduate)
Graduate
These are the Faculty of Graduate Studies minimums. Some programmes require higher scores, and some may not accept the Academic Communication Certificate or certain tests. Test scores are valid for two years. The department or programme may waive the requirement in some cases, for example a degree taught in English. TOEFL is printed on the 0-120 scale and the new scale for tests taken after 21 January 2026; institution code 0813 plus the programme code.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 | no section less than 6.0 | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) | 4.5 (tests after 21 Jan 2026) / 86 (earlier tests) | 0-120 scale: no section less than 20. New scale: minimum 4.0 in reading, writing and speaking, minimum 4.5 in listening | Accepted |
| PTE Academic | 59 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 125 | no sub-score below 105 | Accepted |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | 180 | no sub-score minimum stated | Accepted |
| CAEL | 70 | no section less than 60 | Accepted |
“Some programs require scores higher than the Faculty of Graduate Studies minima.”
Graduate regulations: Graduate Admissions (English language proficiency)
Other tests the university lists
- University of Calgary Academic Communication Certificate (minimum B+ in each course; undergraduate and 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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