It may come as a nice surprise to those who are learning about it for the first time, but not all international students are aware that they can study in Canada without having to take the IELTS exam. International students can now study in Canada without taking the IELTS exam, according to the Canadian Embassy.
An overseas student can choose to study at Canadian institutions in a few different ways without having to take and pass the IELTS exam. Investigating universities that do not require IELTS is the first and simplest step towards becoming a student. Completing an online English language course and submitting the certificate to institutions that accept it is an additional alternative. While the final choice may seem apparent, it is nonetheless important to note. A certificate of English proficiency, such as that obtained from the TOEFL, CAEL, or CanTEST tests (Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees), is required to study in Canada.
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In this article, you will be taken through some of the top universities in Canada and how to get admission there without IELTS.
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Universities in Canada where I can study without IELTS
Although IELTS is preferred by several prestigious universities, other English language assessment methods, such as the recently released Duolingo English Test, are also accepted. In reality, Canadian higher education institutions will accept you without an IELTS certificate if you have attended an English-medium school for four years or longer. A list of Canadian universities that welcome international applicants without an IELTS score is listed below.
1. University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg does not have any requirements regarding IELTS certification. Nonetheless, proof of English language proficiency is required. To be eligible to study at this university, all you need to do is submit an English language competency certificate, even one from Duolingo. Before applying for or beginning your degree program, you can enroll in the University of Winnipeg’s exclusive English Language Program (ELP). The University of Winnipeg website has the official handbook, which offers detailed information on the requirements and exclusions for the language program. This is a fantastic source of information about how to avoid the IELTS.
2. University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan, which is centrally located in Saskatoon, allows international students to register for its courses if they meet the minimal TOEFL test requirements of 19 in each subject area and an overall score of 86. As an excellent alternative to the IELTS, there is the Test of English as a Foreign Language. In addition to passing this exam, applicants to the University of Saskatchewan can also take the CanTEST, or Canadian English test for scholars and trainees, in addition to choosing to register in the institution’s English Language Training program.
CanTEST and IELTS are similar in that they evaluate the same four subskills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Furthermore, it is a face-to-face speaking exam in addition to not being a computerized exam.
3. Brock University
IELTS, often known as the International English Language Testing System, is not required but is accepted by Brock University. Without a doubt, Brock University will accept the TOEFL; the ideal scores are 88 iBT points, with a minimum of 21 in speaking and 580 PBT and 237 CBT (TSE 4.5) and (TWE 4.5) in writing. Additionally, students can get ready linguistically by enrolling in the Brock Intensive English Language Program, which is designed to help international students become more fluent in English.
If you have completed an International Baccalaureate diploma or its equivalent with English as the medium of instruction, you are eligible to apply for admission to any of the UG and PG programs they offer.
4. Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador
To be admitted to Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, international students must provide grades from their last four years of school as proof of their English language ability. Since this exemption is uncommon, students should appropriately confirm the exemptions by getting in touch with the university as soon as possible and letting the appropriate staff members know that their prior degree program was taught in English.
Furthermore, the TOEFL demands a minimum score of 90, with at least 20 in each of the reading and listening sections and at least 25 in the speaking and writing sections. Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador accepts scores from the test.
In addition, the candidate must meet the minimum band scores of 4.5 on the CanTEST’s reading comprehension and hearing comprehension subtests and 4 on the writing portion. Not to mention, a total score of 70 on the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) is required, with at least 60 points in each band and a minimum of 70 in speaking and writing.
5. Carleton University
Official transcripts for the last three years of high school, college, or university studies in English will be needed to enroll in classes at Carleton University without taking the IELTS exam. Certain documents are crucial for proving your fluency in the English language. Among them are:
- Canadian Academic English Language Test, with a total of 70 points
- TOEFL iBT, 86 average score
- Pearson Test of English, 60 points overall
6. University of Regina
One of the following English proficiency exams must be completed by international students to be admitted to the Advanced English for Academic Purposes program:
- TOEFL paper score of 525 or a TOEFL iBT score of 70
- Duolingo score of 95–105
- CAEL score of 50
- IELTS (academic) band score of 6.0
Remember that while students can submit their IELTS results, they have additional options.
7. Cambrian College
Since the IELTS is not required, Cambrian College will assess students’ English proficiency and require them to take additional English language courses before they can start their regular course of study.
8. Concordia University
Since English is the predominant medium of instruction at Concordia University, all prospective students must fulfill one of the three conditions below to be exempt from taking the English language proficiency test:
- Finishing at least three full years of graduate or undergraduate work at a recognized university.
- In addition to passing a personal interview, candidates for the professional programs at the John Molson School of Business must have completed at least five years of full-time employment in an English-speaking setting.
- Attainment of a university degree from a Quebec university and the completion of a Quebec Diploma of Collegiate Studies (DEC) (proof of DEC required).
Why Students prefer not to take the IELTS Exam
In general, a lot of people are reluctant to take the IELTS exam because they think it will hurt their chances of getting into a Canadian university. To be more precise, though, there are four main reasons why students usually decide not to take the IELTS exam:
- Writing short and long essays is a requirement of the IELTS exam framework, which can be difficult for individuals who lack confidence in their writing abilities.
- Some students may find the 223.42 CA application price for the IELTS exam intimidating.
- IELTS may take more than one day to finish because the speaking portion with the teacher is not like previous exam components.
- Since the IELTS speaking portion of the test is administered in person, some students may find it difficult as they may experience anxiety when answering questions.
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