English Language Proficiency Requirements
English is the language of instruction and communication at the University of Manitoba. Accordingly, an applicant whose primary language is not English, or whose previous education has been conducted in another language, must demonstrate a command of English sufficient to meet the demands of classroom instruction, written assignments and participation in tutorials and discussions.


Applicant Categories

  1. Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents and others whose primary language is English
    All such applicants are deemed to be proficient in English by virtue of having lived and been educated in a country where English is a common or primary language.
  2. Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents whose primary language is NOT English
    All such applicants must provide evidence of proficiency in English by meeting the University of Manitoba standards as outlined in the following English Proficiency Options numbered 1-5.
  3. Student Authorization Applicants (Student Visa)
    All applicants who are NOT Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada and whose primary language is not English must provide evidence of proficiency in English by meeting The University of Manitoba standards as outlined in the following English Language Proficiency Options numbered 2-5.

    Please note: the term "primary language" is defined as that language which is most commonly used in homes, communities and daily commerce in your native country. It may or may not be the country's official language or one of the country's official languages or the language of instruction.

English Language Test Score Requirements

If your primary language is not English, you will be required to demonstrate your proficiency in the use of the English language by meeting any of the options 1-8 listed below. Please note that the information in this section applies to students entering undergraduate programs of study. If you are applying for admission to a graduate program, please check their website for information on each program’s English language proficiency requirements.

  1. a) Paper-Based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
    Achieve a minimum score of 550 with no less than 50 (unscaled) in each component.
    OR
    b) Internet-Based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
    Achieve a minimum score of 80 with no less than 19 in each of component.
  2. Achieve minimum scores of 4.5 in Reading, 4.5 in Listening, and 4.0 in Writing on the CanTEST (Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees) .
  3. Achieve a minimum score of 6.5 based upon the Academic Module on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
  4. Achieve a minimum score of 80 on the MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) offered by the University of Michigan.
  5. Achieve a minimum grade of C in the University of Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English.
  6. Achieve a score of 60 or more in the CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment).
  7. Achieve a minimum score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English.
  8. Achieve a minimum of 65% in Level Five of the Direct-Entry English Program (also known as Intensive Academic English Program or IAEP), as taught by the English Language Centre of the University of Manitoba.

Results for most language tests, including TOEFL, IELTS, and CanTEST, expire two years from the test date. Please confirm the validity of your test results.

For more information on English Language Proficiency Requirements follow the appropriate link: