Thinking of studying in Canada? You will need a valid IELTS score to meet admission and visa requirements. Most Canadian universities require an overall IELTS band score of 6.5 or higher, with no less than 6.0 in each section.
While shortlisting the best country to study abroad for Indian students, you must have explored the studying in Canada option. Canada is an attractive option for many international students due to its high-quality education and better career prospects.
If you're planning to study in Canada as an international student, it is important to know about language proficiency requirements for obtaining a Canada study permit. Many top universities in Canada require IELTS, as their admission requirements.
Now, the question will be in your mind how much IELTS score required for Canada? One should note that the minimum IELTS score required to study in Canada is an overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS Academic test at either the undergraduate or postgraduate level. The mimimum IELTS score for Canada is 7.0-7.5. In this article, we have given details about the IELTS score required for Canada, and course wise band requirements to study in Canada.
- Minimum IELTS score to study in Canada
- IELTS Score Requirements for Top Universities in Canada
- Minimum IELTS Score for Canada Universities
- IELTS Requirements for Best Course to Study in Canada
- Canada Student Visa IELTS Band Requirements
Minimum IELTS score to study in Canada
The Canadian universities generally require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each module (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). The minimum IELTS score required for Canada for Masters will be around 6.5 overall and 6.0 per module. These details on IELTS requirements in Canada given above are just general data, as the IELTS score will vary university to university and even course to course.
| Level of Study |
Minimum IELTS Score |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Programs |
Overall 6.0, no band less than 5.5 |
| Postgraduate Programs (Master's) |
Overall 6.5, no band less than 6.0 |
IELTS Score for Canada After 12th
Indian students applying for undergraduate (bachelor’s) programs in Canada must meet the following IELTS requirements:
| Program Level |
Minimum Overall Band |
Minimum Per Band |
|---|---|---|
| UG (Bachelor’s) |
6.0 |
5.5 |
IELTS Score Requirements for Top Universities in Canada
Who doesn't want to study at top Canadian universities? Studying from the best university in Canada will help you to build a better career in future. Getting admission in a top Canadian university will come with some admission prerequisites. Proving English language proficiency with a standardized test like IELTS is one of the requirements. One can check the below mentioned table to know what is the IELTS score for Canada to study in top universities.
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| QS World Rank |
University Name |
Minimum IELTS Band |
|---|---|---|
| 25 |
University of Toronto |
6.5 & Above |
| 29 |
McGill University |
6.5 & Above |
| 38 |
University of British Columbia |
6.5 & Above |
| 96 |
University of Alberta |
6.5 & Above |
| 115 |
University of Waterloo |
6.5 & Above |
| 120 |
Western University |
6.5 & Above |
| 159 |
Université de Montréal |
6.5 & Above |
| 176 |
McMaster University |
6.5 & Above |
| 189 |
University of Ottawa |
6.5 & Above |
| 193 |
Queen's University at Kingston |
6.5 & Above |
| 198 |
6.5 & Above |
|
| 275 |
6.5 & Above |
|
| 319 |
6.5 & Above |
|
| 340 |
6.5 & Above |
|
| 349 |
6.5 & Above |
|
| 362 |
6.5 & Above |
|
| 415 |
6.5 & Above |
|
| 423 |
6.5 & Above |
|
| 456 |
6.5 & Above |
|
| 547 |
6.5 & Above |
The general minimum IELTS score to study in top Universities in Canada will be 6.5 above, which will be little higher for some popular courses.
Minimum IELTS Score for Canada Universities
Indian students who are planning to study in Canada have queries on how much band required for Canada after 12th. As getting a good IELTS score is a little challenging, they often search for what band of IELTS required for Canada. To help students, we have researched queries like IELTS 5 accepted in universities in Canada, or is IELTS 4.5 accepted in universities in Canada. A list of Canadian universities with minimum IELTS score has been mentioned in the table below.
| University Name |
Minimum Overall Required IELTS Score |
|---|---|
| 6.0; no band below 6.0 |
|
| 6.0 overall (no sub-score less than 6.0) |
|
| Minimum overall IELTS band score of 6.5 and a minimum score of 5.5 in Reading and Writing, 6.0 in Listening and 7.0 in Speaking |
|
| 6.0 overall and no band below 6 |
|
| 6.0 overall No individual band under 5.5 |
|
| Minimum overall score: 6.5; No section less than: 6.0 |
|
| 6.5 and no band less than 6.0 |
|
| 6.5 |
Canada Universities Accepting IELTS 5.5
Here are some universities and colleges in Canada that accept an IELTS score of 5.5:
| University Name |
Minimum Overall Required IELTS Score |
|---|---|
| Overall 6.0, no band below 5.5 |
|
| Concordia University |
Overall score of 6.0 and no part under 5.5 |
| Overall band score 5.5 overall, and no one score less than 5.0 |
|
| Overall band score 5.5 or higher, with a minimum 5.5 in each band |
|
| Overall minimum score of 6.0 (with no single test score below 5.5) |
IELTS 4.5 accepted in universities in Canada
It is almost impossible to get admission in Canada on an IELTS score of 4.5. Generally IELTS score of 4.5, is generally not accepted by most reputable Canadian universities for undergraduate or graduate programs .
IELTS Requirements for Best Course to Study in Canada
When considering studying in Canada, understanding the IELTS requirements for popular courses is crucial, as they vary significantly among programs. Top Courses in Canada include Business Management, IT & Computer Science, Engineering, Health, Biosciences & Pharmacy, Media & Journalism and more.
IELTS Score for MBA in Canada
Studying MBA in Canada requires an overall IELTS band score of 6.5. While, getting admission in top MBA colleges in Canada requires an overall IELTS score of 7.0 & above. So, one who wants to study MBA in Canada should aim for a good IELTS score of 7.0 and above. Candidates can check the IELTS score requirement to study MBA in Canada from below.
| MBA University |
Minimum IELTS score requirement |
|---|---|
| 7 & Above |
|
| 7 & Above |
|
| 6.5 - 7 |
|
| 6.5 - 7.5 |
|
| 7 & Above |
IELTS Score for MS Universities in Canada for International
When applying for MS in Canada, international students should be aware of the IELTS score for Canada. The overall IELTS band score to study MS in Canada is generally between 6.5 and 7.0. However, many Canadian universities require no less than 6.0 or 6.5 in each IELTS section (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). One can check the minimum IELTS score for MS in Canada from the table below.
| MS University |
Minimum IELTS score requirement |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto |
7 - 7.5 |
| The University of British Columbia |
6.5 - 7.5 |
| McGill University |
6.5 - 7.5 |
| McMaster University |
6.5 - 7 |
| University of Alberta |
6 - 7 |
Minimum IELTS Score for Engineering Universities in Canada
The average IELTS score for engineering colleges in Canada will be around 6.5 and above. One can check the minimum IELTS band score requirements for top engineering universities in Canada from the below mentioned table.
| B.E. / B.Tech University |
Minimum IELTS score requirement |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto |
6.5 & Above |
| The University of British Columbia |
6.5 & Above |
| McGill University |
6.5 & Above |
| McMaster University |
6.5 & Above |
| University of Alberta |
6.5 & Above |
Canada Student Visa IELTS Band Requirements
When applying for a Canadian student visa, one of the key requirements is demonstrating proficiency in English, which is typically assessed through the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This IELTS score for Canada ensures that international students can effectively communicate and succeed in their academic programs.
Most universities in Canada require an overall IELTS band score of 6.0 or 6.5 for undergraduate programs and a higher score of 6.5 or 7.0 for postgraduate programs. The IELTS band score for Canada may vary depending on the program, university you are applying for, or level of study. So, students are recommended to check the official website of the university you are applying for or even the Canadian immigration authority.
An IELTS score of 5.0 is generally not accepted for most universities in Canada. However, some programs under the Express Entry system, like the Federal Skilled Trades Program, require a minimum CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing, which is equivalent to an IELTS score of around 5.0 in those sections. For student visas, a minimum of 5.5 in each band is generally required.
No, a 4.5 IELTS score is generally not considered good for study in Canada. Most programs in Canadian universities require higher scores, generally starting from 6.0 for immigration and 5.5 for student visas.
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Minimum IELTS score for Canada Universities is usually 6.5 (overall), with at least 6.0 in each section. However, there are certain courses and Universities that require a higher IELTS score as well. For instance, HEC Montréal requires an overall 7.0 in the IELTS exam.