Admission and English language proficiency requirements

• Internet-based TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language
  • We are not accepting TOEFL MyBest^TM 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
  • We are not accepting IELTS One Skill Retake to meet the ELP requirements - the required scores must be met in a single test.
• Cambridge English Test
  • C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency
• CAEL - Canadian Academic English Language
• PTE (academic) - Pearson Test of English
• EFAS - English for Academic Success

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.