ADMISSIONS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS

The English Language Proficiency requirement is designed to ensure that you have the best opportunity for success in your university studies. To apply to undergraduate programs, you must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency (ELP) prior to admission, regardless of citizenship or country of origin.

Your primary language is defined as the language in which you are most proficient. It is your language of instruction in the last three years of formal study as well as the language you use at home for daily written and oral communication.

If your primary language is English, you meet the ELP requirement. All other applicants must demonstrate fulfillment of ELP by presenting the appropriate requirements for their program and admission intake.

MacEwan University reserves the right to use discretion to determine an applicant’s language proficiency.

2025/26 criteria

If you are applying to start an undergraduate program other than those exceptions listed above in Fall 2025 or Winter 2026, you must demonstrate proficiency according to the following criteria. Test scores more than two years old will not be accepted for admission.

Testing

Minimum overall band score of 115.

WEBSITE

IELTS–Academic

You must meet the minimum overall score and the minimum score in each band.

Section/Band Minimum Score
Overall Score 6.5
Listening 5.5
Reading 5.5
Speaking 5.5
Writing 5.5

Website

Internet-Based Test (iBT)

You must meet the minimum overall score and the minimum score in each section.

Section/Band Minimum Score
Total Score 86
Listening 21
Reading 21
Speaking 21
Writing 21

WEBSITE

TOEFL uses the following institutional code when sending documents to MacEwan University: 0720

Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL)

You must meet the minimum overall score and the minimum score in each band.

Section Minimum Score
Overall Score 70
Listening 60
Reading 60
Speaking 60
Writing 60

WEBSITE

PTE - Academic

You must meet the minimum overall score and the minimum score in each band.

Section Minimum Score
Overall Score 59
Listening 56
Reading 56
Speaking 56
Writing 56

WEBSITE

Cambridge English: Advanced/Proficiency

You must meet the minimum overall score and the minimum score in each skill.

Section/Skill Minimum Score
Overall Score 180
Listening 165
Reading 165
Speaking 165
Writing 165

WEBSITE

Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)

Minimum overall score of 85 and a minimum score of 80 in GCVR, Listening, and Writing and a 3 in Speaking Test.

WEBSITE

Test in Practical English Proficiency (EIKEN)

Score of Grade 1.

Website

High school courses

English Language Arts 30-1 (or equivalent)

Minimum final blended grade of 75% (includes the diploma examination mark).

Applicants seeking to use English 30-1 to satisfy their English language proficiency requirement must take the diploma exam for English 30-1.

Minimum grade of 5 in English A1 or A2, or minimum grade of 6 in English B.

WEBSITE

International Baccalaureate uses the following institutional code when sending documents to MacEwan University: 001763

Minimum grade of 4.

WEBSITE

Advanced Placement uses the following institutional code when sending documents to MacEwan University: 5976

English language or literature

GCE Advanced Level or GCE Advanced Subsidiary Level or GCSE or IGCSE Level

Minimum grade of B.

Post-secondary courses

Six (6) credits of transferable, university-level English Language or Literature completed at a recognized English language institution. Minimum grade of B+. If more than one course is presented a grade of B+ is required in each course.

MacEwan University ENGL 086 and ENGL 087

OR

MacEwan University ERDW 085 and ESPL 085 and EOPT 068

Minimum grade of B- in each course.

WEBSITE

University of Alberta EAL 140 and EAL 145

Successful completion of each course.

WEBSITE

Previous education in English

Successful completion of three or more years of full-time education in English (excluding English as a Second Language) in Canada or another country. Must include Alberta Grade 12 (or equivalent) where secondary education is the highest level, or if a combination of secondary and post-secondary education is used. English must be recognized as the official/primary language of the instruction.

Successful completion. The degree must be from a recognized post-secondary institution where English is the official/primary language of instruction.

Exemptions

An applicant who is completely bilingual and fluent in English is entitled to submit a written petition to the Office of the University Registrar providing evidence that the applicant’s English language proficiency exceeds the specified minimum levels, and requesting exemption from the English language proficiency (ELP) requirement.

If you are fully bilingual and fluent in English, your petition should detail:

  • your background;
  • your educational and personal experience with English;
  • the language of instruction throughout your schooling and the language you use at home and on a daily basis;
  • why you believe that an exception to the requirement is warranted in your situation.

Attestations from former English instructors and reports of any standardized English language proficiency tests may be supportive of your petition.

The Admissions Unit of the Office of the University Registrar will review the petition for possible waiver. A successful petition will not guarantee admission to another institution.