English Proficiency Requirement

Only applicants who already have or are going to receive a degree from any of the following countries are exempt from the English Proficiency requirement: Australia, Botswana, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Singapore, South Africa, Nigeria, United Kingdom, and USA.

Applicants who have not and do not expect to receive a degree from the above named countries are required to fulfill the English Proficiency requirement by providing their results on the Test of English Proficiency.  Applicants are required to:

a.  enter their test scores;
b.  upload a PDF copy of the test scores at the time of application; and,
c.  arrange to send the electronic submission of scores to UBC by December 15.

The test must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of the application. Applicants should arrange to take the test well in advance in order for UBC to receive the test scores by December 15. 

Language Requirements

• TOEFL (Institution Code: 0965) 

  Students are expected to have an overall score of 5.0/6.0 with minimum section scores of Listening 5, Reading 4.5, Writing 4.5, and Speaking 4 (or 100/120 with minimum section scores of Listening 22, Reading 22, Writing 21, and Speaking 21). UBC accepts language test results taken within two years of the application date. As a result, we will continue to see a mix of score formats until early 2028.

• International English Language Testing Service (IELTS)

  A minimum overall band score of 7.0 is required, with a minimum score of 6.5 in each component of the academic (NOT general) IELTS test. Please follow the steps on the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website (click on the IELTS tab) about score submission, so that we can receive your IELTS score electronically.

• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) 

  A minimum overall MELAB score of 85 is required.

• Pearson Test of English (PTE)

  A minimum overall score of 71-72 on the PTE Academic (NOT General) test is required.

• Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL)

  A minimum overall score of 70 is required with 60 on the speaking sub-test.

• Duolingo English Test (DET)

  A minimum overall score of 130 is required, with the minimum component scores: Listening 120, Reading 120, Writing 130, and Speaking 120. 

  NOTE:  GRE is not required.

• Interim:  Oxford English Language Level Test (ELLT) 

We recognize that recent restrictions have created challenges for applicants in Iran trying to access English-language tests such as IELTS, TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test. 

As an interim measure, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will accept the Oxford English Language Level Test (ELLT) for graduate applicants who are currently based in Iran and are unable to access our other accepted English-language tests because of these restrictions. 

The Oxford ELLT Digital test can be completed online from within Iran. Applicants must have a valid and up-to-date Iranian passport issued by the relevant authority. 

More information on Oxford ELLT is available online: https://oxfordellt.com/ellt/ 

For UBC graduate applications, the required Oxford ELLT score is an overall score of 7, with no individual component below 6. The CS-specific English language requirements for the ELLT are still under discussion.

If you are able to access one of UBC’s other accepted English-language tests, you should continue to use one of those options. The Oxford ELLT is being made available specifically as an interim access measure for applicants who are unable to access the other tests due to the current circumstances. 

Submission of Test Results

TOEFL and IELTS test takers can request electronic submission of scores to universities. We accept electronic delivery directly from the test centre to UBC only. For all other tests, an official paper test score report ordered from the testing agency is required. Applicants are encouraged to upload their test results so that their application can be reviewed immediately, rather than waiting for the official report.

• Test results are valid for 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
• TOEFL myBest scores are not accepted for admission at the Vancouver Campus, graduate or undergraduate level. Minimum scores must be achieved in a single sitting of the test (i.e., scores across multiple tests may not be used to satisfy minimum component requirements)
• Only electronic scores are accepted for admission
• All applicants, regardless of their scores, will be reviewed and considered.

FAQs