English Language Proficiency (ELP) for Graduate Students

The ELP requirement must be met prior to registration in a graduate program. The University reserves the right to use discretion in determining adequate levels of language proficiency to ensure success in academic programs. In all cases, the decision of the School of Graduate Studies shall be final.

1. Required Documentation

   All proof of English proficiency must be provided on official academic transcripts or standardized test score reports. Standardized test scores must be valid and verifiable.

2. English Language Proficiency Requirement

   ELP may be demonstrated through successful completion of a baccalaureate or master's degree at a recognized institution in Canada or another country where English is recognized as the primary language (see Recognized Countries, below). The student's work must have been in English.
   OR
   ELP may be demonstrated by any of the following within two years of applying to the University:

   1. Successful completion of a baccalaureate or master's degree at a recognized institution where the language of instruction is English. See www.uleth.ca/ross/admissions/elp_exempt_sgs for a list of recognized institutions. Other institutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The student's work must be in English.

   2. English for Academic Purposes (Must have been completed within two years prior to the date of application).

      1. Successful completion of the Advanced Level of the University of Lethbridge English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program.

      2. A passing grade in an EAP program accepted as a means of satisfying ELP by another recognized Canadian university, and whose ELP requirement is at least as demanding as that of the University of Lethbridge.

      3. A passing grade in an EAP program approved by the School of Graduate Studies.

   3. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL (iBT) or TOEFL iBT Home Edition) with a minimum total score of 86.
      Website: www.toefl.org (University of Lethbridge Destination Institution (DI) code: 0855)

   4. Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS or IELTS Online) test, taken within the last two years, with a minimum overall score of 6.5, and a minimum score of 6.0 in each band. IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted.
      Website: www.ielts.org

   5. Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced (C1 Advanced), with a minimum score of 176, and a minimum 176 in each subscore.
      Website: www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/advanced

   6. Cambridge English Qualifications: C2 Proficiency (C2 Proficiency), with a minimum score of 176, and a minimum 176 in each subscore.
      Website: www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/proficiency

   7. Academic Pearson Test of English (PTE), taken within the last two years, with a minimum overall score of 63.
      Website: www.pearsonpte.com

   8. Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL or CAEL Online) assessment, taken within the last two years, with a minimum overall score of 70.
      Website: www.cael.ca

   9. Duolingo with a minimum score of 115.
      Website: www.englishtest.duolingo.com

   10. Successful completion of the Conditional English Language Proficiency via EAP

       Highly-qualified applicants who do not meet the minimum English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement may be issued a conditional Offer of Admission.
       Conditional admission allows applicants to apply for a study permit (if necessary) and begin their studies in the University's English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program.
       Applicants admitted via the Conditional English Proficiency Admission route may be permitted to begin their studies provided that the ELP requirement is met by another approved means by August 1 for the fall term, November 15 for the winter term, or April 15 for the summer term.
       To be considered for Conditional English Proficiency Admission (ELP), the applicant must:

       1. meet the academic requirements of the desired program;
       2. have a minimum score of 6.0 in each band of the IELTS test; or a minimum overall score of 80 on the iBT TOEFL, (with minimum scores of 16 in each of Listening, Reading, and Speaking, and a minimum score of 18 in Writing), IELTS and iBT TOEFL test must be written within two years of application to the University of Lethbridge; and
       3. be recommended for Conditional English Proficiency Admission by the appropriate graduate Program Committee.

       Applicants admitted via the Conditional English Proficiency Admission route will normally be placed in the Advanced Level of the EAP program, and the University reserves the right to move the applicant to a lower level if deemed necessary.
       Applicants are expected to successfully complete the Advanced Level of the EAP program in the term indicated in their Offer of Admission and begin their graduate program the next available term. Applicants who do not fulfill the ELP requirement during the specified period will have their Offer of Admission rescinded. These applicants may continue in the EAP program and reapply to a graduate program for a future term.
       Upon successful completion of the EAP program, the student will proceed directly into the graduate degree program in the next available term.
       Students admitted via the Conditional English Proficiency Admission route may not make academic progress or engage in academic research toward their desired University of Lethbridge program before the ELP condition from the Offer of Admission is met. The School of Graduate Studies does not provide any financial support for students while they are enrolled in the EAP program.
       Students admitted via the Conditional English Proficiency Admission route are considered to be full-time students while enrolled in the EAP program.

3. Recognized Countries

   For the purposes of administering the ELP requirement for graduate students, the University of Lethbridge recognizes the following as countries where the primary language is English:

   American Samoa Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Australia Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda Canada Cayman Islands Dominica England Falkland Islands Fiji Ghana Gibraltar Grenada Guam Guyana Ireland (Northern) Ireland (Republic of) Jamaica Kenya

   Malta Mauritius Montserrat New Zealand Nigeria Ryukyu Islands St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Scotland Seychelles Singapore South Africa South Pacific Islands Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands United States of America Virgin Islands Wales Zambia Zimbabwe

The ELP requirement must be met prior to registration in a graduate program. The University reserves the right to use discretion in determining adequate levels of language proficiency to ensure success in academic programs. In all cases, the decision of the School of Graduate Studies shall be final.

Note: ELP requirements will be regularly reviewed and may be updated for future years.

1. Required Documentation

   All proof of English proficiency must be provided on official academic transcripts or standardized test score reports. Standardized test scores must be valid and verifiable.

2. English Language Proficiency Requirement

   ELP may be demonstrated through successful completion of a baccalaureate or master's degree at a recognized institution in Canada or another country where English is recognized as the primary language (see Recognized Countries, below). The student's work must have been in English.
   OR
   ELP may be demonstrated by any of the following within two years of applying to the University:

   1. Successful completion of a baccalaureate or master's degree at a recognized institution where the language of instruction is English. See www.uleth.ca/ross/admissions/elp_exempt_sgs for a list of recognized institutions. Other institutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The student's work must be in English.

   2. English for Academic Purposes (Must have been completed within two years prior to the date of application).

      1. Successful completion of the Advanced Level of the University of Lethbridge English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program.

      2. A passing grade in an EAP program accepted as a means of satisfying ELP by another recognized Canadian university, and whose ELP requirement is at least as demanding as that of the University of Lethbridge.

      3. A passing grade in an EAP program approved by the School of Graduate Studies.

   3. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL (iBT) or TOEFL iBT Home Edition) with a minimum total score of 86, with a minimum score of 20 in each section.
      Website: www.toefl.org (University of Lethbridge Destination Institution (DI) code: 0855)

   4. Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS or IELTS Online) test, taken within the last two years, with a minimum overall score of 6.5, and a minimum score of 6.0 in each band. IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted.
      Website: www.ielts.org

   5. Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced (C1 Advanced), with a minimum score of 176, and a minimum 176 in each subscore.
      Website: www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/advanced

   6. Cambridge English Qualifications: C2 Proficiency (C2 Proficiency), with a minimum score of 176, and a minimum 176 in each subscore.
      Website: www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/proficiency

   7. Academic Pearson Test of English (PTE), taken within the last two years, with a minimum overall score of 61, with a minimum score of 60 in each part.
      Website: www.pearsonpte.com

   8. Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL or CAEL Online) assessment, taken within the last two years, with a minimum overall score of 70, with a minimum score of 60 in each component.
      Website: www.cael.ca

   9. Duolingo with a minimum score of 120, with a minimum score of 105 in each of Literacy, Comprehension, and Conversation, and a minimum score of 100 in Production.
      Website: www.englishtest.duolingo.com

   10. Successful completion of the Conditional English Language Proficiency via EAP

       Highly-qualified applicants who do not meet the minimum English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement may be issued a conditional Offer of Admission.
       Conditional admission allows applicants to apply for a study permit (if necessary) and begin their studies in the University's English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program.
       Applicants admitted via the Conditional English Proficiency Admission route may be permitted to begin their studies provided that the ELP requirement is met by another approved means by August 1 for the fall term, November 15 for the winter term, or April 15 for the summer term.
       To be considered for Conditional English Proficiency Admission (ELP), the applicant must:

       1. meet the academic requirements of the desired program;
       2. have a minimum score of 6.0 in each band of the IELTS test; or a minimum overall score of 80 on the iBT TOEFL, (with minimum scores of 16 in each of Listening, Reading, and Speaking, and a minimum score of 18 in Writing), IELTS and iBT TOEFL test must be written within two years of application to the University of Lethbridge; and
       3. be recommended for Conditional English Proficiency Admission by the appropriate graduate Program Committee.

       Applicants admitted via the Conditional English Proficiency Admission route will normally be placed in the Advanced Level of the EAP program, and the University reserves the right to move the applicant to a lower level if deemed necessary.
       Applicants are expected to successfully complete the Advanced Level of the EAP program in the term indicated in their Offer of Admission and begin their graduate program the next available term. Applicants who do not fulfill the ELP requirement during the specified period will have their Offer of Admission rescinded. These applicants may continue in the EAP program and reapply to a graduate program for a future term.
       Upon successful completion of the EAP program, the student will proceed directly into the graduate degree program in the next available term.
       Students admitted via the Conditional English Proficiency Admission route may not make academic progress or engage in academic research toward their desired University of Lethbridge program before the ELP condition from the Offer of Admission is met. The School of Graduate Studies does not provide any financial support for students while they are enrolled in the EAP program.
       Students admitted via the Conditional English Proficiency Admission route are considered to be full-time students while enrolled in the EAP program.

3. Recognized Countries

   For the purposes of administering the ELP requirement for graduate students, the University of Lethbridge recognizes the following as countries where the primary language is English:

   American Samoa Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Australia Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda Canada Cayman Islands Dominica England Falkland Islands Fiji Ghana Gibraltar Grenada Guam Guyana Ireland (Northern) Ireland (Republic of) Jamaica Kenya

   Malta Mauritius Montserrat New Zealand Nigeria Ryukyu Islands St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Scotland Seychelles Singapore South Africa South Pacific Islands Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands United States of America Virgin Islands Wales Zambia Zimbabwe