English language proficiency

Exceptions

You must write an English language proficiency test regardless of citizenship, unless you meet one of the following conditions below (expand each item for full details). We reserve the right to require the results of an English proficiency test if we determine it is necessary.

The last four years of high school studies and the Diplôme d'études secondaires (DES) (Secondary 5)
OR
Completion of the Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC)

Completion of a minimum of three full years of study in a secondary or post-secondary institution where the sole language of instruction is English. The institution must be accredited by a recognized accrediting body (ex.: Cognia, MSA-CESS, NEASC, CIS).

The last four full years of study in French at a secondary school in Canada (outside of Quebec).

The course Group 1 English (Language A: Literature, Language A: Language and literature, or literature and performance) Higher or Standard Level.

The American, Australian or British Option internationale du baccalauréat (OIB) or the baccalauréat français international (BFI).

GCE/GCSE/IGCSE/O-level English Language or First Language English with a grade of at least “C” or “4”. English as a Second Language with a grade of at least “B” or “6”.

American Samoa
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Dominica

Falkland Islands
Fiji
Ghana
Gibraltar
Grenada
Guam
Guyana
Ireland
Jamaica
Kenya

Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Montserrat
New Zealand
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Africa
St. Helena
St. Kitts & Nevis

St. Lucia
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Tanzania
Trinidad & Tobago
Turks & Caicos Islands
Uganda
United Kingdom
USA
US Virgin Islands

Acceptable tests and scores*

Results must be less than two years old at the time of your application in order to be accepted as proof of language proficiency. Depending on your test score, you may be required to take a placement test after being admitted to Concordia. This placement test will determine whether you need to enroll in English Second Language (ESL) courses while pursuing your degree, usually within the first year.

TEST	MINIMUM SCORE
TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language	TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Special home edition: 70 Tests taken January 2026 or later (new TOEFL score scale): 4.0 with no section below 3.5 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. “MyBest Scores” are accepted.
IELTS International English Language Testing System	6 with no component under 5.5 Candidates must take the “Academic Module.” The IELTS One Skill Retake and IELTS Online are accepted. The Concordia University Language Test Centre offers the IELTS test.
DET Duolingo English Test	105 with no subscore under 90
CAEL Canadian Academic English Language Assessment	50 with no part under 50 CAEL and CAEL Online are accepted, with the same rating scale.
CAE Cambridge C1 Advanced / CPE – Cambridge C2 Proficiency	C1 Advanced: 175 overall with no part under 165 C2 Proficiency: 190 with no part under 165
PTE Academic Pearson English Language Test	50 with a minimum of 46 in speaking and writing

*The following programs below require higher English proficiency scores. Refer to each program page for details.

How to submit test scores

We cannot evaluate your admissions application without your English proficiency test scores. Please upload them as soon as possible. If we are missing your test scores, we will send you an email requesting the scores.

How to upload documents

If we send you an email, you have three weeks to upload a copy of your results. If you are unable to meet that deadline, but you are scheduled to take an English proficiency test, please upload a copy of your scheduled or planned test date.