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English language proficiency

Language proficiency test exemptions

English is the main language of instruction at Concordia University. Applicants who meet one of the following three conditions will be exempted from the English language proficiency test requirement:

  • Completion of a minimum of three full years of study at the undergraduate or graduate level at an accredited university in one of the following countries;
  • Completion of a Quebec Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC) and a university degree at a Quebec university (proof of DEC is required);
  • For John Molson School of Business candidates applying to the professional programs, a minimum of five years’ full-time work experience in an English milieu, and a successful personal interview.

Minimum English proficiency scores for graduate admission by Faculty

Faculty of Arts and Science

Candidates must take the "Academic Module." The Concordia University Language Test Centre offers the IELTS test. For more information on the IELTS test, you may also visit ielts.org. The “IELTS One Skill Retake” is accepted.

IELTS Score (iBT) or
IELTS Indicator

Admission condition

6.5 with at least a score of 6.5 in each of the four components

Some programs require a higher minimum score. See below.

No English language courses required.

Overall score of 6.5 and no part under 6.0

Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.

Scores below 6.0: No Admission
Program-specific IELTS requirements
IELTS Score (iBT) or
IELTS Indicator
Program
Minimum score of 7.0 with 7.0 in writing and at least 6.5 in each of the other three components Applied Linguistics (MA)
Minimum score of 6.5 with no component under 6.5 Chemistry (PhD, MSc)
7.0 score with no component under 6.5 Child Studies (MA)
Minimum overall score of 7.5 Communication Studies (PhD, MA, Diploma)
6.5 overall, no parts under 6.5 Economics (PhD, MA, Diploma)
7.0 score with no component under 6.5 Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies (PhD, MEnv, MSc, Diploma)
7.0 score with no component under 7.0 Human Systems Intervention (MA)
Minimum overall score of 7.0 Youth Work (Diploma)

The Concordia University Language Test Centre offers the CAEL test. For more information on the CAEL test, you may also visit cael.ca.

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CAEL is 70

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CAE is: 180

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CPE is: 180

To ensure your TOEFL results are forwarded directly to Concordia University, you must indicate 0956.00 as the "Institution Code" when you write the test. For more information on the test or to register, visit toefl.org.

TOEFL iBT or
TOEFL iBT Special home edition    

Admission condition

90 or higher and no part under 20 in each of the four components.

Some programs require a higher minimum score. See below.

No English language courses required.

Between 80-89 or any part under 20 Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.
Scores below 80: No Admission
Program-specific TOEFL requirements

TOEFL iBT or
TOEFL iBT Special home edition    

Program

Minimum score of 90 with 27 in writing and at least 20 in each of the other three components

Applied Linguistics (MA)

Minimum score of 90 with no component under 20

Chemistry (PhD, MSc)

Minimum score of 90 with 23 in writing and at least 20 in each of the three other components Child Studies (MA)
Minimum overall score of 106 Communication Studies (PhD, MA, Diploma)
Minimum score of 90 with no component under 20 Economics (PhD, MA, Diploma)
Minimum score of 95 with no component under 20 Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies (PhD, MEnv, MSc, Diploma)
Reading 20, Listening 20, Speaking 26, Writing 24 Human Systems Intervention (MA)
Minimum overall score of 95 Youth Work (Diploma)

For more information on the DET test, you may also visit englishtest.duolingo.com

Duolingo Score (DET)

Admission condition

Score above 120

Some programs require a higher minimum score. See below.

No English language courses required.

  Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.
Score below 120: No Admission
Program-specific DET requirements
DET Score Program
Score above 125 and no parts under 120 Applied Linguistics (MA)
120 overall and no parts under 110 Biotechnology (Diploma)
Score above 125 Chemistry (PhD, MSc)
Score above 125 Child Studies (MA)
Score above 125 Communication Studies (PhD, MA, Diploma)
120 overall and no parts under 110 Economics (PhD, MA, Diploma)
Score above 125 and no parts under 110 Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies (PhD, MEnv, MSc, Diploma)
Score above 125 Human Systems Intervention (MA)
Score above 125 Youth Work (Diploma)

For more information on the test, or to register: pearsonpte.com.

PEARSON

Admission condition

61 or higher and no part under 53

No English language courses required.

Between 52 and 60 or any part under 53

Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.

Scores below 52: No Admission

Faculty of Fine Arts

Candidates must take the "Academic Module." The Concordia University Language Test Centre offers the IELTS test. For more information on the IELTS test, you may also visit ielts.org. The “IELTS One Skill Retake” is accepted.

IELTS Score (iBT) or
IELTS Indicator

Admission condition

6.5 with at least a score of 6.5 in each of the four components

No English language courses required.

Overall score of 6.5 and no part under 6.0

Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.

Scores below 6.0: No Admission
Program-specific IELTS requirements
IELTS Score (iBT) or
IELTS Indicator
Program
Minimum overall score of 7.0 and no part under 6.5 Art History (MA)
Minimum overall score of 7.5 and no part under 6.5
Art History (PhD)

The Concordia University Language Test Centre offers the CAEL test. For more information on the CAEL test, you may also visit cael.ca.

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CAEL is 70

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CAE is: 180

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CPE is: 180

To ensure your TOEFL results are forwarded directly to Concordia University, you must indicate 0956.00 as the "Institution Code" when you write the test. For more information on the test or to register, visit toefl.org.

TOEFL iBT or
TOEFL iBT Special home edition    

Admission condition

90 or higher and no part under 20 in each of the four components

No English language courses required.

Between 80-89 or any part under 20

Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.

Scores below 80: No Admission
Program-specific TOEFL requirements

TOEFL iBT or
TOEFL iBT Special home edition    

Program

Minimum overall score of 95 and no part under 20 in each of the four components
Art History (MA)
Minimum overall score of 106 and no part under 20 in each of the four components

Art History (PhD)

For more information on the DET test, you may also visit englishtest.duolingo.com

Duolingo Score (DET)

Admission condition

Score above 120

Some programs require a higher minimum score. See below.

No English language courses required.

  Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.
Score below 120: No Admission
Program-specific DET requirements
DET Score Program
Score above 125 Art History (PhD)
Score above 125 Art History (MA)

For more information on the test, or to register: pearsonpte.com.

PEARSON

Admission condition

61 or higher and no part under 53

No English language courses required.

Between 52 and 60 or any part under 53

Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.

Scores below 52: No Admission

Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science

Candidates must take the "Academic Module." The Concordia University Language Test Centre offers the IELTS test. For more information on the IELTS test, you may also visit ielts.org. The “IELTS One Skill Retake” is accepted.

IELTS Score (iBT) or
IELTS Indicator

Admission condition

Overall score band of 6.5 No English language courses required.

Overall score of 6.0 and no part under 5.5

Required English Courses:
ENCS 5721 & 6721
Overall scores below 6.0: No Admission
Program-specific IELTS requirements

IELTS Score (iBT) or
IELTS Indicator

Program

Minimum 6.5 in all bands
Aerospace MEng

The Concordia University Language Test Centre offers the CAEL test. For more information on the CAEL test, you may also visit cael.ca.

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CAEL is 70

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CAE is: 180

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CPE is: 180

To ensure your TOEFL results are forwarded directly to Concordia University, you must indicate 0956.00 as the "Institution Code" when you write the test. For more information on the test or to register, visit toefl.org.

TOEFL iBT or
TOEFL iBT Special home edition  

Admission condition

85 with at least a score of 20 in each of the four components No English language courses required.

Between 75-84 or any part under 20

Required English Courses:
Scores between 80-84: ENCS 6721
Scores between 75-79: ENCS 5721 & ENCS 6721
Overall scores below 75: No Admission
Program-specific TOEFL requirements

TOEFL iBT or
TOEFL iBT Special home edition      

Program

Minimum overall score of 88 with no component score lower than 22   Aerospace MEng

For more information on the DET test, you may also visit englishtest.duolingo.com

Duolingo Score (DET)

Admission condition

Score above 115

No English language courses required.

Score between 110 - 115 Required English courses:
ENCS 5721 and ENCS 6721
Score below 110: No Admission

For more information on the test, or to register: pearsonpte.com.

PEARSON

Admission condition

57 or higher and no part under 53 No English language courses required.

Scores between 50-56 and no part  under 53

Required English courses:

Scores between 52-56ENCS 6721
Scores between 50-51ENCS 5721 & 6721

Overall scores below 50: No Admission

John Molson School of Business

Candidates must take the "Academic Module." The Concordia University Language Test Centre offers the IELTS test. For more information on the IELTS test, you may also visit ielts.org. The “IELTS One Skill Retake” is accepted.

IELTS Score (iBT) or
IELTS Indicator

Admission condition

Overall score of 7.0 with no part below 6.5

No English language courses required.

Overall score below 7.0: No Admission

The Concordia University Language Test Centre offers the CAEL test. For more information on the CAEL test, you may also visit cael.ca.

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CAEL is 70

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CAE is: 180

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CPE is: 180

To ensure your TOEFL results are forwarded directly to Concordia University, you must indicate 0956.00 as the "Institution Code" when you write the test. For more information on the test or to register, visit toefl.org.

TOEFL iBT or
TOEFL iBT Special home edition

Admission condition

95 or higher and no part under 20 in each of the four components

No English language courses required.

Scores below 95: No Admission

For more information on the DET test, you may also visit englishtest.duolingo.com

Duolingo Score (DET)

Admission condition

Minimum score of 120

 

 

Upon final review of the candidate’s file and interview process (when applicable), the admissions committee reserves the right to require candidates to take additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test.

Score below 120: No Admission

For more information on the test, or to register: pearsonpte.com

PEARSON

Admission condition

61 or higher and no part under 53

No English language courses required.

Between 52 and 60 or any part under 53

Upon final review of the candidate’s file and interview process (when applicable), the admissions committee reserves the right to require candidates to take additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test.

Scores below 52: No Admission

School of Graduate Studies

Candidates must take the "Academic Module." The Concordia University Language Test Centre offers the IELTS test. For more information on the IELTS test, you may also visit ielts.org. The “IELTS One Skill Retake” is accepted.

IELTS Score (iBT) or
IELTS Indicator

Admission condition

6.5 with at least a score of 6.5 in each of the four components

No English language courses required.

Overall score of 6.5 and no part under 6.0

Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.

Scores below 6.0: No Admission

The Concordia University Language Test Centre offers the CAEL test. For more information on the CAEL test, you may also visit cael.ca.

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CAEL is 70

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CAE is: 180

  • The minimum acceptable score for the CPE is: 180

To ensure your TOEFL results are forwarded directly to Concordia University, you must indicate 0956.00 as the "Institution Code" when you write the test. For more information on the test or to register, visit toefl.org.

TOEFL iBT or
TOEFL iBT Special home edition

Admission condition

90 or higher and no part under 20 in each of the four components

No English language courses required.

Between 80-89 or any part under 20

Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.

Scores below 80: No Admission

For more information on the DET test, you may also visit englishtest.duolingo.com

Duolingo Score (DET)

Admission condition

Minimum score of 120

 

  Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.
Score below 120: No Admission

For more information on the test, or to register: pearsonpte.com.

PEARSON

Admission condition

61 or higher and no part under 53

No English language courses required.

Between 52 and 60 or any part under 53

Some programs offer admission with additional English language courses as determined by a Concordia University placement test. Please contact the Department to confirm your program’s requirements.

Scores below 52: No Admission

Do you have questions regarding admission requirements?

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