English language requirements
English language requirements
Test score deadlines
Mailing your test scores
Improving your English
English language requirements
The following English language requirements are in addition to Grade 12 U English (or equivalent) if it is required for the program you are applying to.
You are NOT required to provide an English proficiency test score if you meet the criteria for ONE of the following exceptions:
Exception A
- You have been educated in Canada AND
- your first language is English OR
- you are a bilingual francophone Canadian.
OR
Exception B
- Your first language is not English AND your 4 most recent years of full-time education have been taught in an entirely English-language school system either in Canada or in another country.
- If your 4 most recent years of full-time education have been in a country other than Canada, the following conditions apply:
- Please be aware that official transcripts indicating subjects taught, grades achieved, and language of instruction must be provided by your secondary and/or postsecondary institution(s) to support your claim. We will also consider official letters from the school’s Principal or Head of Guidance verifying that all subjects (excluding language courses) are taught in English.
- The deadlines for us to receive your official documents are listed below.
- Please note that English as a Second Language programs do not qualify you for this exemption and cannot be included as any part of the number of years of full-time education in an English-language school system.
You ARE required to provide an English proficiency test score if
- Your first language is not English AND
- Your 4 most recent years of full-time education have NOT been in an English-language school system.
The following chart lists 6 English proficiency test options that are accepted for undergraduate admission consideration at the University of Waterloo. Choose ONE of the test options and register for a test date well in advance of the deadlines listed below.
Tests that do not appear on this chart are NOT accepted for admission consideration. You must register for ONE of the test options in the following chart:
For all undergraduate programs at Waterloo:
| Choose ONE of the following test options | |||||
| Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) | IELTS | MELAB | CAEL | New Test PTE (Academic) | EFAS |
| 90; writing 25; speaking 25 | 7.0 | 85; 80 per section; for co-op programs: speaking 3 | 70; 60 per band; writing 70; speaking 70 | 63; writing 65; speaking 65 | 80% overall in level 400 (Revised - effective fall 2013 entry: 75% overall in 400 level with 75% in each of academic, oral, and writing) |
Important notes
- Your 4 most recent years of full-time education must be immediately before the beginning of the month you start your studies at Waterloo.
- The English Language requirements stated above are minimum required scores; applicants with higher scores may be given preference during individual selection for some programs.
- Paper-based TOEFL (PBT) – Will be considered on an individual case-by-case basis.
- If you are applying to the Faculty of Mathematics and your scores are below the above levels, you may be eligible for conditional admission through the English Language for Academic Studies (ELAS) program.
- The ELAS program is considered only for Faculty of Mathematics programs and is not considered for admission or transfers to programs in other faculties.
- If your English Language test scores don't meet Waterloo's admission standards, you may still qualify for conditional acceptance. Read about our BASE program. The BASE program is available in all Faculties, except Mathematics which has the ELAS program.
- Individual consideration may be given if either an iBT overall score of 90 (writing and/or speaking of 23 or 24) or an IELTS score of 6.5 (no band below 6.0) is submitted.
- The University reserves the right to withdraw any Offer of Admission if the applicant fails to meet the minimum English language requirements for the faculty to which he or she has applied.
- If you have completed your 4 most recent years of full-time education in an English-language school system and you also provide a failing English language test score, the University reserves the right to withdraw your Offer of Admission or refuse admission.
- The University reserves the right to request an English language test result from any applicant.
Test score deadlines
Your English language test scores must arrive at Waterloo no later than
- December 1, 2012
- if applying for admission to the winter (January) 2013 term
- March 6, 2013
- if applying to Architecture and Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) for the fall (September) 2013 term
- March 28, 2013
- if applying for admission to the spring (May) 2013 term
- March 28, 2013
- if applying for admission to the fall (September) 2013 term
- August 1, 2013 *Online Learning and Part-Time Studies only*
- if applying for admission to the fall (September) 2013 term
Helpful hints
- Complete your test early to ensure that you meet Waterloo's deadline:
- It will take 4-6 weeks for your official test score to reach Waterloo.
- Exemptions will NOT be granted because test dates have become full.
- Please remember that, in addition to the TOEFL, Waterloo accepts 3 other tests:
- All test scores are valid for 2 years from the date you complete the test.
Mailing your test scores
The University of Waterloo requires official test scores for the purposes of admission.
Test scores must be mailed by the testing agency directly to the Office of the Registrar. Faxes and student copies of test scores are NOT accepted for admission to Waterloo.
- Request that the test centre forward your test scores directly to the University of Waterloo.
- For the TOEFL and TSE tests
- Waterloo's Institution Code is 0996
- Waterloo's Department Code is 00
Waterloo's mailing address
ELR Requirements
Office of the Registrar
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Email inquiries may be directed to myapplication@uwaterloo.ca.
Improving your English
Take advantage of the many ways to improve your English before attending Waterloo or while you're a student here.
