Windsor, Ontario, Canada
University of Windsor: English test requirements
One Senate policy (revised 9 October 2026) covers undergraduate and graduate English proficiency, with higher Duolingo, CAEL and PTE minimums for graduate applicants. The policy figures are institutional minimums: individual undergraduate and graduate programmes may require higher overall or section scores, which are in the calendars and programme pages.
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 graduate exemption list: a university degree completed within the past two years in a country on the list, where English was the primary language of instruction, removes the test requirement. India and Pakistan are not on that list. The page says: “a university degree at an institution in the country where English was the primary language of instruction, as indicated on our exemption list”
IELTS
UG 6.5
PG 6.5
TOEFL iBT
UG 4.5
PG 4.5
PTE Academic
UG 60
PG 65
Duolingo English Test
UG 115
PG 120
Undergraduate
These are the minimum institutional scores. The policy says specific programmes may require a higher overall score or specific component scores, found in the Undergraduate Calendar and on programme pages (not checked). The policy lists ELIP level III (minimum final grade 75%) as a route, along with transfer credit from English-speaking universities or Ontario colleges, the full IB Diploma with English A at 4 or better, GCSE/IGCSE/GCE English grades, and approved Canadian English language training programmes. Waivers may be granted for three consecutive years of full-time secondary study including English 12U, or two consecutive years of English-medium post-secondary study, in each case within the past two years; an exception may also be granted for at least three years of professional employment in a solely English-speaking environment. The Registrar keeps the list of exempt countries and universities.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or IELTS Online | 6.5 | no band minimum stated in the policy | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT or iBT Home Edition | 4.5 | writing score of 4.0 | AcceptedThe October 2026 policy prints 4.5 with a writing score of 4.0, names no scale and gives no 0-120 figure; Paper-Delivered Test results are assessed individually. |
| PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online | 60 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 | no subscore minimum stated | Accepted |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | 176 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
| CAEL or CAEL At Home | 60 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
“These scores represent the minimum institutional requirement, where specific undergraduate and graduate programs may require a higher overall score”
Senate policy: English Language Proficiency Requirement (Undergraduate and Graduate), Central Policies Database, revised 9 Oct 2026
Graduate
The same Senate policy gives higher Duolingo (120), CAEL (70) and PTE (65) minimums for graduate applicants. These are institutional minimums: graduate programmes may require higher overall or component scores, so the programme profile must also be checked. The graduate admissions page also names the ICEAP test for the course-based Master of Education and says test scores are valid for two years from the test date. The requirement may be waived for graduates of an English-medium degree in a listed country within the past two years.
| Test | Overall | Each part | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic or IELTS Online | 6.5 | no band minimum stated in the policy | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT or iBT Home Edition | 4.5 | writing score of 4.0 | AcceptedThe October 2026 policy prints 4.5 with a writing score of 4.0, names no scale and gives no 0-120 figure. |
| PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online | 65 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 | no subscore minimum stated | Accepted |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | 176 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
| CAEL or CAEL At Home | 70 | no section minimum stated | Accepted |
“Applicants must also review any additional admission requirements listed by program in each program's profile in the Graduate Programs Directory”
Senate policy: English Language Proficiency Requirement (Undergraduate and Graduate), Central Policies Database, revised 9 Oct 2026
Other tests the university lists
- University of Windsor English Language Improvement Program (ELIP) level III, minimum final grade 75%
- ICEAP (International Centre for English for Academic Preparation), for the course-based Master of Education only
“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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