Language Requirement to study in Canada
Canada is a bilingual country where English and French are the official languages. Therefore, to study in Canada, students must meet the language requirement to study in Canada.
Acceptable language documents to study in Canada
- IELTS English Language Test : This test is one of the most popular English language tests in the world, which is organized by the University of Cambridge. The score required to study in Canada in this test is different, depending on the level of study and the desired university. In general, a score of 6.5-6 is required for the undergraduate degree, 6.5-7 for the master’s degree, and 7 for the doctoral degree.
- CAEL English language test : CAEL stands for Canadian Academic English Language and is organized by Prometric Institute. The score required to study in Canada in this test is the same as the score required in the IELTS test.
French Language
- TEF French Language Test : This test is organized by the French Ministry of National Education. The score required to study in Canada in this test is different, depending on the level of study and the desired university. In general, a grade of 7-8 is required for the undergraduate degree, a grade of 8-9 for the master’s degree, and a grade of 9 for the doctoral degree.
- TCF French Language Test : This test is organized by the French Ministry of National Education. The score required to study in Canada in this test is the same as the score required in the TEF test.
Admission to study in Canada without a language certificate
Normally, to study in Canadian universities, having an IELTS score of 6.5-6.5 for the undergraduate level, 6.5-7 for the master’s level, and 7.00 for the doctoral level is required. However, some Canadian universities have set special conditions for the admission of students without a language certificate. These conditions are:
- Having a degree from an accredited university in a country whose official language is English.
- Have an English language degree with a score of less than 6, but with a program to improve English language skills in Canada.
- Having a French language certificate with a score higher than 7, in which case, the student can study in French-speaking universities in Canada.
Educational immigration to Canada without a language certificate
To immigrate to Canada, you must be accepted into one of the accredited educational programs of this country. These programs include:
- English Language Programs (ELP): These programs are designed for students who want to improve their English language skills.
- Transfer Programs (TAV): These programs are designed for students who plan to continue their studies at a Canadian university.
- Professional Education Programs (PSE): These programs are designed for students who plan to study at one of Canada’s technical and vocational colleges.
- You usually do not need to necessarily meet the language requirement to study in Canada to be admitted to these programs. However, you must meet other requirements, such as GPA, standardized test scores, and a letter of motivation.
Advantages and disadvantages of studying in Canada without a language certificate
Advantages:
- The opportunity to study in one of the best universities in the world
- The possibility of obtaining a Canadian study visa
- The possibility of student work in Canada
- The possibility of permanent residence in Canada after studying
Disadvantages:
- The high cost of studying in Canada
- Need to improve English language skills in a short period of time
- High competition for admission to universities
Studying in Canada without a language degree is possible, but you must meet certain conditions. If you plan to study in Canada without a language degree, you need to do careful research and planning to increase your chances of acceptance.
What is CLB?
CLB stands for Canadian Language Benchmarks. This system is used to assess people’s language skills in both English and French in Canada.
Levels
It is graded from 1 to 12, each grade representing a specific level of language proficiency. CLB levels are divided into three categories:
- Beginner level (1 to 4): At this level, a person can understand and express simple sentences and phrases.
- Intermediate level (5 to 8): At this level, a person can carry out everyday conversations easily.
- Advanced level (9 to 12): At this level, a person can use the language easily in different situations.
Accredited Language tests demonstrating the CLB level
The Government of Canada approves language test results whose language proficiency score is equivalent to the CLB. These documents include the following tests:
- IELTS – English language test
- CELPIP- English language test
- TEF – French Language test
- TCF – French Language test
CLB is a standard system for assessing language proficiency in Canada. This system is used for immigration, study and work in Canada.
| CLB Level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| CLB Level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 6 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 4 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| CLB Level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 263-300 | 393-450 | 316-360 | 393-450 |
| 9 | 248-262 | 371-392 | 298-315 | 371-392 |
| 8 | 233-247 | 349-370 | 280-297 | 349-370 |
| 7 | 207-232 | 310-348 | 249-279 | 310-348 |
| 6 | 181-206 | 271-309 | 217-248 | 271-309 |
| 5 | 151-180 | 226-270 | 181-216 | 226-270 |
| 4 | 121-150 | 181-225 | 145-180 | 181-225 |
| CLB Level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 and above | 549-699 | 16-20 | 549-699 | 16-20 |
| 9 | 524-548 | 14-15 | 523-548 | 14-15 |
| 8 | 499-523 | 12-13 | 503-522 | 12-13 |
| 7 | 453-498 | 10-11 | 458-502 | 10-11 |
| 6 | 406-452 | 7-9 | 398-457 | 7-9 |
| 5 | 375-405 | 6 | 369-397 | 6 |
| 4 | 342-374 | 4-5 | 331-368 | 4-5 |
Frequently asked questions
It is possible to get academic admission from some educational institutions without a language certificate, provided that the prerequisite course is completed in Canada. But having a language certificate increases the chances of getting a visa.
A language certificate is required to study at all levels of education in Canada, including bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Of course, the grade required to study at each level of education is different.
All Canadian universities require a language certificate to admit international students. Of course, some universities may consider a higher language score to admit students.
In some fields of study, such as medical sciences, a higher language score may be considered for the admission of international students.
To get a language certificate for studying in Canada, you must take one of the accepted language tests. These tests are held in accredited test centers around the world.
Language certificates for studying in Canada are usually valid for two years. Therefore, if you receive your language certificate before two years from the test date, you must take the language test again.
