English Tests Accepted by Canadian Universities: 2027 Guide

Canadian universities use several English proficiency tests for international admissions, including IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, CAEL, Cambridge English qualifications and, at some institutions, Duolingo English Test.

Important: There is no central test deadline. Applicants must check their chosen institution's minimum scores and ensure results arrive before that institution's admission deadline.

What this opportunity offers

Acceptance varies by university, programme and study level. Some universities permit waivers based on prior study in English, while others require recent results from an approved test.

Eligibility and important requirements

Eligibility must be checked against the organiser or university’s own rules. Academic requirements, nationality restrictions, language standards and documentation can differ by course or funding category. Do not rely on a general headline to decide whether you qualify.

Application deadline and current status

There is no central test deadline. Applicants must check their chosen institution's minimum scores and ensure results arrive before that institution's admission deadline.

Where a date belongs to university admission rather than a scholarship, treat those as different processes. An admission offer is not itself confirmation of a scholarship award.

How to apply

Select your degree programme, open its official English-language requirements page, confirm accepted test versions and scores, book the appropriate exam, and arrange for official scores to be sent.

Open the official university or programme website and select the relevant intake.
Read the eligibility, documents, language and funding terms in full.
Check the deadline and time zone before submitting.
Keep a copy of your application and watch for messages from the organiser.

Important checks before you apply

Admission test acceptance should not be confused with Canadian immigration language-test requirements. TOEFL scoring changes in 2026 also make older score charts potentially misleading.

Verify funding, eligibility and deadlines directly with the organiser. Never pay an unofficial agent to secure an award or assume a scholarship is guaranteed.