To study at UFV, you must have a minimum level of English proficiency. Depending on your score, there are three levels of academic admission, two of which include English language upgrading.
Note: We will not be able to process your application if you do not include your proficiency score.
Accepted English proficiency scores
UFV considers three levels of English language proficiency:
- Degree/diploma level
- Qualifying Studies
- English Language Studies (ELS)
Degree/diploma level
You are eligible for our academic undergraduate and graduate programs if you meet IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent), with a minimum band score of 6.0.
To take an undergraduate degree/diploma or graduate program at UFV, you must have a minimum score as follows:
- *IELTS (Academic): score of 6.5 or higher with a minimum band score of 6.0
- ILAC: 3.3 PW or higher
- TOEFL (includes Home Edition): score of 88 or higher (iBT) with no section below 20
- PTE: score of 61 with 60 in writing
- Cambridge: Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - C
- Cambridge: Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) - A
- EIKEN: Grade 1
- English 12 C+ (or recognized Canadian equivalent)
- **DET: score of 110 or higher
View full list of UFV's accepted English language proficiency standards in the academic calendar
*UFV does not accept IELTS Indicator results for admission purposes.
**UFV is accepting the Duolingo English Test (DET) until further notice.
Qualifying Studies
If you do not meet the academic degree/diploma level, you may be eligible for our Qualifying Studies program. After you complete it and received a minimum grade of C+, you may be eligible for degree/diploma academic studies.
In addition to your Qualifying Studies English courses, you can take up to three first-year academic courses within your chosen program (if accepted).
You can apply for the Qualifying Studies academic upgrading program if:
- You do not meet the minimum for the degree/diploma level programs.
- You do meet the minimum for Qualifying Studies.
Minimum scores required for Qualifying Studies
- *IELTS (Academic): score of 6.0 or higher with a minimum band score of 5.5
- TOEFL (includes Home Edition): score of 80 or higher (iBT) with no section below 19
- PTE: score of 56 with 52 in writing
- Cambridge: Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) - C
- Cambridge: First Certificate in English (FCE) - A
- EIKEN: Grade Pre-1
- English 12 C- (or recognized Canadian equivalent)
- **DET: score of 100 or higher
*UFV does not accept IELTS Indicator results for admission purposes.
**UFV is accepting the Duolingo English Test (DET) until further notice.
English Language Studies (ELS)
If you do not meet our Qualifying Studies level, you may be eligible for our English Language Studies (ELS) foundational English and academic upgrading program. After you complete the ELS program, you may be eligible for the Qualifying Studies level. To be eligible for ELS, you must have a minimum IELTS score (or equivalent) of 5.5 with no band score below 5.0.
In addition to your ELS English courses, you can one pre-selected academic course.
There are three levels of ELS. Each level of ELS usually takes one semester.
Note: UFV will not guarantee placement in the Intermediate and Advanced levels.
You can apply for the ELS program if:
- You do not meet the minimum for Qualifying Studies.
- You do meet the minimum for ELS.
Minimum scores required for ELS
University Foundation Level (combined English and academic upgrading)
- *IELTS: score of 5.5 or higher with a minimum band score of 5.0
- TOEFL (includes Home Edition): score of 71 (iBT) with no section below 16
- EIKEN: Grade 2A with CSE 2400 or higher
- PTE: score of 46 with 44 in writing
- **DET: score of 90 or higher
*UFV does not accept IELTS Indicator results for admission purposes.
**UFV is accepting the Duolingo English Test (DET) until further notice.
Comparable results in CAEL, CanTEST, CLBT and MELAB are also accepted at UFV.