It’s not just the jaw-dropping views or the iconic landmarks — Canada also boasts a range of world-class education institutions, vibrant culture, communities and food that makes you feel right at home. All that consistently makes it one of the most popular study destinations for students from all over the world.
If you’ve got your eye on the Great White North for the next chapter of your studies, you may be required to sit for an English proficiency test both for gaining admission into university or to have your study permit approved by Canada’s immigration, such as the IELTS Academic test.
Attaining a minimum IELTS band score may lead you to enrol successfully into the school or programme of your choice, and also helps if you decide to stay on to work in Canada post-graduation.
Minimum scores for Canadian universities
Should you need an English language requirement as part of your university application, you have to attain a minimum overall score of 6.5 in the IELTS Academic test at either undergraduate or postgraduate level. The overall band score is the average of the four section band scores rounded to the nearest half band.
International students looking to enter a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) will have to provide a provincial attestation letter or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) before applying for a study permit.
Among other study permit requirements for eligibility, you will need a letter of acceptance (LOA) for enrolment into the university as well as a letter of explanation stating your reasons for studying in Canada.
Keep reading for the minimum IELTS scores required by top-ranked universities in Canada.
Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings in 2025
One of the world’s most established metrics, the Times Higher Education world rankings assesses universities based on the following five key performance indicators: teaching, research quality, research environment, international outlook and industry income.
Rank | University | Global rank | IELTS minimum requirement (undergraduate programmes) | IELTS minimum requirement (postgraduate programmes) |
1 | University of Toronto | 21 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
2 | University of British Columbia | 41 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
3 | McGill University | 45 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=4 | McMaster University | =116 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=4 | University of Alberta | =116 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
6 | Université de Montréal* | 125 | - | - |
7 | University of Waterloo | 163 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
8 | University of Ottawa | 191 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
9 | University of Calgary | 201 – 250 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
10 | Western University | 201 – 250 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
11 | Université Laval | 251 – 300 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
12 | Dalhousie University | 301 – 350 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
13 | Queen’s University | 301 – 350 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
14 | Simon Fraser University | 301 – 350 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
15 | University of Victoria | 301 – 350 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
16 | University of Saskatchewan | 351 – 400 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
17 | University of Guelph | 401 – 500 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
18 | University of Manitoba | 401 – 500 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
19 | York University | 401 – 500 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
20 | Carleton University | 501 – 600 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
*At this university, the language of instruction is French and proficiency in English is not an admission requirement.
QS World University Rankings in 2025
The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world rankings is another global premier ranking system that rates universities by institution and subject through academic reputation, citation, faculty to student ratio, employer, international research and sustainability indicators.
Rank | University | Global rank | IELTS minimum requirement (undergraduate programmes) | IELTS minimum requirement (postgraduate programmes) |
1 | University of Toronto | 25 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
2 | McGill University | 29 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
3 | University of British Columbia | 38 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
4 | University of Alberta | 96 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
5 | University of Waterloo | 115 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
6 | Western University | 120 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
7 | Université de Montréal* | 159 | - | - |
8 | McMaster University | 176 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
9 | University of Ottawa | 189 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
10 | Queen’s University at Kingston | 193 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
11 | University of Calgary | 198 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
12 | Dalhousie University | 275 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
13 | Simon Fraser University | 319 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
14 | University of Saskatchewan | 340 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
15 | University of Victoria (UVic) | 349 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
16 | York University | 362 | 6.5 | 7.5 |
17 | Concordia University | 415 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
18 | Université Laval | 423 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
19 | University of Guelph | 456 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
20 | University of Windsor | 547 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
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