English language proficiency requirements (ELP)

About ELP

Many international applicants will be required to submit proof of English Language Proficiency (ELP). Some are exempt from this requirement.

The official language of instruction at the University of Waterloo is English. It's our responsibility to ensure that all students have the English language skills required to be successful. Please review our Graduate Studies accepted examinations and required scores.

✅ Acceptable ELP Tests

  • Internet-based TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language
    • We are not accepting TOEFL MyBestTM scores to meet the ELP requirement, the required scores must be met in a single test.
    • When ordering your TOEFL from the Education Testing Service (ETS) use:
      • Institution code - 0996 (University of Waterloo).
      • Department code - 01 (Educational Administration).
  • IELTS (academic) - International English Language Testing System
  • C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency
  • CAEL - Canadian Academic English Language
  • PTE (academic) - Pearson Test of English
  • EFAS - English for Academic Success

❌ Unacceptable ELP Tests

  • Duolingo

You need to know

  • ELP scores are valid for two years from the test date.
  • Visit our program pages for specific ELP program requirements.
  • Letters from your university stating the medium of instruction is English do not satisfy Waterloo admission requirements.
  • Complete your test at least two months before the application deadline to ensure your scores reach us in time. It will take 4-6 weeks for your official test score to reach Waterloo.
  • You can learn more about our ELP tests and scores in the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Conditional English language proficiency admission

  • If you are applying to a graduate program, have supplied an ELP test but and are slightly below the required score, conditional admission may be offered. 
  • If you are applying with a sponsorship that includes funding for English language studies, conditional admission may be offered.

ELP exemptions

You are exempt from submitting an English language proficiency examination score if any one of the following conditions is true at the time of application to Waterloo:

  1. You have completed three or more years of post-secondary education at a Canadian institution or university. or
  2. You have completed a graduate degree at a Canadian university. or
  3. You have completed three or more years of post-secondary education, or completed a graduate degree in an exempt country listed below. or
  4. You have been employed for at least three years in a position in which English was the language of business in a country listed below. or
  5. You have completed three or more years of post-secondary education, or completed a graduate degree at a university where English is listed as the only language of instruction on the International Association of Universities World Higher Education Database (WHED).
    1. Note:  ELP exemption from a WHED institution expires two years after graduation.

ELP exempt country list

  • American Samoa
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Botswana
  • Canada
  • Cayman Islands
  • Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
  • Falkland Islands
  • Fiji
  • Gambia, The
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Guyana
  • Ireland (Republic of)
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Malawi
  • Malta
  • Montserrat
  • Namibia
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Uganda
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • Vanuatu
  • Virgin Islands
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe