All undergraduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, are required to fulfill language proficiency requirements. The University of Alberta language proficiency policies exist to ensure students have the requisite skills to succeed in the university learning environment. Fulfillment of the listed requirements does not guarantee admission.
The University of Alberta reserves the right to use discretion in determining language proficiency. In some cases, additional English language testing, conducted by the Faculty of Extension, may be required.
English is the primary language of instruction and communication for all programs at the University of Alberta (excluding our French-language Campus Saint-Jean). All undergraduate applicants to English-speaking and bilingual programs need an adequate level of English Language Proficiency prior to admission regardless of citizenship status or country of origin. English Language Proficiency can be met through coursework, years of full-time study, language tests (like IELTS, Duolingo, etc) or by studying in ELP exempt countries and institutions who satisfy the requirements.
See Table 1 below or the University Calendar for more information on requirements and ways to meet ELP.
Spoken English Proficiency is required in some programs at the University of Alberta, such as the Faculty of Education and in some Health Science-related fields (such as Nursing).
See Table 2 below or the University Calendar for more information on requirements and ways to meet SEP.
French is the primary language of instruction at Campus Saint-Jean. All applicants to Campus Saint-Jean must demonstrate proficiency in both written and spoken French (Compétence dans la langue française).
For more information, see the University Calendar ».
Please note: Some programs in the Faculty of Education and in Health Science-related fields (such as Nursing) will require both English Language Proficiency and Spoken English Proficiency.
Deadline to submit application documents (final official transcript or language exam result):
75% or higher final blended grade (includes coursework and diploma provincial exam marks.)
Completion of the ELA 30-1 diploma exam is a mandatory component.
Evaluated using final official transcripts.
For Alberta students, final transcripts will be automatically sent from Alberta Education to the UofA. No action is required.
For students in NWT, ensure your final transcript is sent directly to the University.
Total score of 90 with no section less than 21
Completion through successful ELP language test results.
See additional information for Submitting ELP/SEP and other considerations below
Successful completion with at least 5 academic, for-credit courses taken per year in those three years.
Alberta Grade 12 (or equivalent) if secondary education is the highest level completed, or if a combination of secondary and post-secondary is used.
We only consider courses that were taken for credit, and we will not consider courses that were failed or English as a Second Language (ESL) and English-language Learner (ELL) courses in the 5 course per year calculation.
Evaluated using Final Official transcripts. Checklist item will remain until evaluation is completed.
Final Official Transcripts
| Post-Secondary Coursework | ||
|---|---|---|
| Method | Requirement | Documentation Required |
| ✮6 credits of university-level English studies completed at a recognized English-language institution (must be transferable as 6 credits of English at the University of Alberta) | B+ or better | Successful completion |
| University of Alberta EAP 136 and 137 | Successful completion | |
| English Language Exams | ||
|---|---|---|
| Method | Requirement | Documentation Required |
| TOEFL Internet-Based (iBT) | Minimum score of 26 in the Speaking section | Completion upon successful ELP/SEP language test results |
| IELTS (Academic) - (International English Language Testing System) In-person or IELTS Online. IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) is not accepted. | Minimum score of 7.5 in the Speaking section | |
| Duolingo English test - this option is valid until 2028/2029 admission cycle | Overall 140 with no integrated subscore below 120. (Individual subscores are not applicable) | |
| Previous Education in English | ||
|---|---|---|
| Method | Requirement | Documentation Required |
| Six years of full-time education in English in Canada or another country or institution where English is recognized as the official/primary language of instruction. | Successful completion - must include Alberta Grade 12 (or equivalent) if secondary education is the highest level completed, or if a combination of secondary and post-secondary is used. | Final Official transcripts. May also require additional information as requested by Admissions. |
Official deadlines for submitting ELP/SEP documentation are August 1 for high school applicants and June 15 for post-secondary transfer applicants, or as soon as possible for students with special cases.
Students with Special Cases:
The following applicants must meet ELP/SEP before their application is evaluated. We recommend submitting your documentation to fulfill this requirement as soon as possible in your application process.
For more information on how to submit ELP/SEP documentation, see Transcripts and Documents.
For students currently studying in Alberta, we will receive your official high school transcripts directly from Alberta Education.
For students in other provinces, territories, or outside of Canada, you are responsible for ensuring your transcripts are sent to the University of Alberta once you have completed your studies.
Official documentation must be sent directly to the Office of the Registrar by mail or to transcripts@ualberta.ca from the issuing institution (high school, postsecondary institution, or governmental organization) directly.
Mailing address:
University of Alberta
Office of the Registrar
Administration Building
Edmonton, AB, Canada
T6G 2M7
Documents issued in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by an official English translation. Only an English translation will be accepted. Translations into any other languages will not be accepted.
If a document is originally issued in French, a translation is not required if you are applying to a program at Campus Saint-Jean. If you are applying to a program on our North Campus or Augustana Campus, an official English translation is required.
If your institution is not able to mail your documents on your behalf, they can seal them into an envelope and you can mail the envelope to the Office of the Registrar yourself.
Faxed documents will not replace the official and complete documents required. U of A reserves the right to require that an original copy be sent by postal mail if the faxed copy does not meet our requirements.
All of the documents submitted in support of your application for admission become the property of the University of Alberta and will not be returned. Do not submit irreplaceable documents unless otherwise requested.
If documents are irreplaceable, please arrange to have them certified and submit only the certified true copies.
Important note: Language test results more than two years old will not be accepted.
There are multiple methods you can submit your language test result to the U of A including, directly from the testing centre, through Launchpad, or through the Student Service Portal.
If you have already received an offer of admission or have completed your studies, you cannot upload documents into Launchpad. Please have your testing centre submit your results directly or submit a copy through our Student Service Portal. Processing times may vary, but please allow 2-4 weeks for processing.
If at the time of assessment your test result does not meet the requirement, you will receive a message via email notifying you that you have not successfully met English Language Proficiency and/or Spoken English Proficiency requirements. A new checklist item will appear on your Launchpad asking you to submit new official test scores.
In case U of A receives notifications from a test administrator that your test scores are no longer valid (e.g. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic scores being on hold/revoked), we reserve the right to revoke your admission offer made by using the invalid test results.
The University of Alberta has five faculties that offer a Bridging Program designed for applicants who meet all other admission requirements for their program of choice, except for English Language Proficiency (ELP). The Bridging Program allows eligible students to complete the ELP requirement by taking English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses during their first year of study, while also being eligible to enroll in academic courses and earn credit toward their degree.
Please note: not all programs in these faculties offer the Bridging Program
Faculties offering the Bridging Program include: