Stepping out of your home country to study is a major milestone and a serious investment.
The good news is, Canada has already declared its clear position on welcoming new international students, up to graduate level study. Find out what is required of you to study in Canada, like taking IELTS to meet visa and admission criteria.
Scoring 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.
Most international students starting undergraduate level at 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 with the immigration authority IRCC.
Among other study permit requirements for eligibility, you will need a letter of acceptance (LOA) for enrolment into the university and financial proof for living expenses and tuition. IRCC also recommends 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 2026
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 | McGill University | =41 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
3 | University of British Columbia | 45 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
4 | McMaster University | =116 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
5 | University of Alberta | 119 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
6 | Université de Montréal* | 150 | - | - |
7 | University of Waterloo | =162 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
8 | University of Ottawa | =187 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
9 | University of Calgary | 200 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
10 | Western University | 201 – 250 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=11 | Queen’s University | 301 – 350 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=11 | Simon Fraser University | 301 – 350 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=11 | University of Victoria | 301 – 350 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=14 | Dalhousie University | 351 – 400 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
=14 | University of Saskatchewan | 351 – 400 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=16 | Université Laval | 401 – 500 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=16 | University of Guelph | 401 – 500 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=16 | York University | 401 – 500 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=19 | Carleton University | 501 – 600 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=19 | Memorial University of Newfoundland | 501 – 600 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=19 | Université du Québec* | 501 – 600 | - | - |
=19 | University of Manitoba | 501 – 600 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
=19 | University of Windsor | 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 2026
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 | McGill University | 27 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
2 | University of Toronto | 29 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
3 | University of British Columbia | 40 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
4 | University of Alberta | =94 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
5 | University of Waterloo | =119 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
6 | Western University | 151 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
7 | Université de Montréal* | 168 | - | - |
8 | McMaster University | =173 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
9 | Queen’s University at Kingston | =191 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
10 | University of Calgary | 211 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
11 | University of Ottawa | 219 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
12 | Dalhousie University | 283 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
13 | Simon Fraser University | =308 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
14 | York University | 333 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
15 | University of Victoria (UVic) | =358 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
16 | University of Saskatchewan | 378 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
17 | Concordia University | =465 | 6.5 | 7.0 |
18 | Université Laval | =469 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
19 | University of Guelph | =504 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
20 | University of Windsor | =546 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
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