Toronto, Canada
York University: English test requirements
Undergraduate applicants have a general set of minimums with higher sets for Nursing, Schulich, Lassonde Engineering and the TESOL Certificate. For graduate study the university sets no school-wide scores: each programme states 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 from 6.5
PG Set by course
TOEFL iBT
UG from 4.5 / 88
PG Set by course
PTE Academic
UG from 60
PG Not on the list
Duolingo English Test
UG from 120
PG Not on the list
Undergraduate
A general table applies to most programmes, and a second table lists faculty and programme rows with their own scores. Scores are valid for two years. York TOEFL institution code 0894. Glendon (bilingual campus) applicants may alternatively meet the French language requirement, which is on the Glendon site. TOEFL iBT Home Edition and IELTS One Skill Retake are accepted with the usual minimums. Consecutive Education applicants should follow the Faculty of Education website, which sets its own requirements and gives no scores on this page.
| Course group | IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | Duolingo English Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General (most programmes)Source for this group | 6.5no section minimum listed | 4.5 (tests from January 2026) / 88 (tests before January 2026)no section minimum listed | 60no section minimum listed | 120no subscore minimum listed |
| GlendonSource for this group | 6.5no section minimum listed; or meet the French language requirement | 4.5 (tests from January 2026) / 88 (tests before January 2026)no section minimum listed; or meet the French language requirement | 60no section minimum listed; or meet the French language requirement | 120no subscore minimum listed |
| Health: Nursinge.g. NursingSource for this group | 7.0no section minimum listed | 5.0 (tests from January 2026) / 94 (tests before January 2026)no section minimum listed | 67no section minimum listed | 130no subscore minimum listed |
| Lassonde School of Engineering: Bachelor of Engineering programse.g. Bachelor of Engineering programmesSource for this group | 6.5no section below 6.0 | 4.5 (tests from January 2026) / 88 (tests before January 2026)no section below 4.0 (new scale) / 20 (old scale) | 60no section below 60 | 120no section below 105 |
| Liberal Arts and Professional Studies: TESOL Certificatee.g. TESOL CertificateSource for this group | 7.0no section below 7.0 | 5.0 (tests from January 2026) / 102 (tests before January 2026)no section minimum listed | Not on the listThe page shows N/A for this programme, with no explicit statement that it is refused. | Not on the listThe page shows N/A for this programme, with no explicit statement that it is refused. |
| Schulich School of BusinessSource for this group | 7.0no section minimum listed | 5.0 (tests from January 2026) / 94 (tests before January 2026)no section minimum listed | 67no section minimum listed | 130no subscore minimum listed |
General (most programmes), other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE, CPE) C1 Advanced: 180; CAEL 60
Glendon, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE, CPE) C1 Advanced: 180; CAEL 60
Health: Nursing, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE, CPE) C1 Advanced: 193; CAEL 67
Lassonde School of Engineering: Bachelor of Engineering programs, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE, CPE) C1 Advanced: 180; CAEL 60
Schulich School of Business, other tests: Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE, CPE) C1 Advanced: 193; CAEL 67
“IELTS General will not be accepted for language proficiency requirements.”
Undergraduate language proficiency requirements
Graduate
York publishes no school-wide scores. Each graduate programme sets its own minimum, so look up the programme in the finder. The page lists TOEFL, IELTS, CAEL and Cambridge (CAE, CPE) as test types. Scores must be no more than two years old. Applicants with a full year at an accredited English-language university may be exempt, though York can still require a test.
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 | – | AcceptedListed as an accepted test; score set by each programme. | |
| TOEFL iBT | – | AcceptedListed as an accepted test (institution code 0894); score set by each programme. | |
| PTE Academic | – | Not on the listNot on the general page; individual programmes may list it. | |
| Duolingo English Test | – | Not on the listNot on the general page; individual programmes may list it. | |
| Cambridge CAE / CPE | – | AcceptedListed as accepted; score set by each programme. | |
| CAEL | – | AcceptedListed as accepted; score set by each programme. |
“Each program identifies the minimum language test score requirements.”
Graduate English language proficiency
The page says these are not accepted
- IELTS General Training
- SAT or ACT scores, applicant letters or senior-level high school English in place of a test (undergraduate)
- ESL course time counted toward the exemption (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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