English Language Proficiency

International students and Permanent Residents of Canada whose first language is not English are required to achieve the following level on a test of the English language.

Exemptions

Some countries and institutions are exempt from English language proficiency testing. You can determine if you need to take an English language test here.

ELP can be demonstrated by possessing a degree or its academic equivalent from an institution that is recognized by the U of A and where the language of instruction is English. Proof that the instruction for the degree was in English may be required.

Requirements

The Department of Biological Sciences graduate program requirements are as follows (These are higher than GPS requirements):

English Language Acceptable Test Scores
Exam Type Score

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (TOEFL iBT, in-person or special at-home edition)

institution code: 0963
department code: 30

Total score of 90 with a score of at least 21 on each of the individual skill areas (internet-based) or equivalent

Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) 

6.5, with at least 6.0 on each test band

Duolingo English Test

120 with no integrated subscore below 100

Some graduate programs in which proficiency in spoken English is especially important may have a higher than minimum English language proficiency requirement of 140 with no subscore below 120

Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)

61 with a minimum band score of 60

Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)

Minimum overall score of 85, with a minimum band score of 80, and a minimum score of 3 on the speaking component (*MELAB no longer used after July 1, 2020)