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Check out our historical admission grade ranges, deadlines, and steps to apply.
English language requirement
English is the language of instruction at SFU. All applicants, regardless of country of origin or citizenship status, will be required to have demonstrated competence in the English language prior to admission. Competence is required in all four of the following skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing.
As an applicant to undergraduate studies, you must demonstrate English language competence through one of the options below:
English Language minimum requirement
Applying for a graduate studies?
Please see English language requirements for graduate students.
Requirement type:
Completion of the last three (3) years of full-time secondary school education in English in Canada
Minimum requirement:
70% in a senior level English
Requirement type:
Completion of the last three (3) years of full-time secondary school education in English, in a country in which the principal language of instruction is English (See list of countries)
Minimum requirement:
70% in a senior level English
Requirement type:
Completion of the last four (4) years of full-time secondary school education in English at a recognized international school in a country in which the principal language of instruction is not English.
Minimum requirement:
70% in a senior level English
Requirement type:
Completion of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program including English A (HL/SL) or English Literature and Performance (SL)
Minimum requirement:
Grade of a 3
How to submit:
Predicted results should be sent by your school. Final results must be submitted electronically by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Select Simon Fraser University as the recipient at www.ibo.org.
Requirement type:
Completion of a three unit English (ENGL) course or a certified W (writing intensive) course for which SFU grants transfer credit. Students studying in British Columbia are encouraged to consult the B.C. Transfer Guide for course transferability.
Minimum requirement:
Grade of a C- (C minus)
Requirement type:
GCSE O-Level English (or GCSE English Language B)
Minimum requirement:
Grade of a 4 (or C)
How to submit results:
Predicted results can be submitted through document upload in your Student Center. Final results must be submitted directly by the appropriate examination authority.
Language Proficiency Exam
Alternatively, you may complete a Language Proficiency Exam.
Requirement type:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS - Academic)
IELTS One Skill Retake results are not accepted.
Please note that SFU typically receives IELTS results in 2-3 weeks following your test date. Please ensure you leave adequate time for SFU to receive your results prior to your deadline.
Minimum score:
Overall 6.5 with no part less than 6.0
How to submit results:
For information on sending results from the British Council visit takeielts.britishcouncil.org
Requirement type:
Cambridge English Qualifications
- B2 First
- C1 Advanced
- C2 Proficiency
Minimum score:
Overall score 176 with no part less than 169
How to submit results:
For more information on sending results from the Results Service for Candidates visit candidates.cambridgeenglish.org
Requirement type:
Test of English as a Foreign Language internet based test (TOEFL iBT)
In order to satisfy the requirement, scores must be achieved in a single test. TOEFL MyBest (super-scored) or TOEFL Essentials results will not be used. TOEFL iBT Home is accepted.
Minimum score:
Overall score 88 with no part less than 20
How to submit results:
Results must be sent from ETS-TOEFL. For more information visit www.ets.org/toefl
Requirement type:
Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL)
Minimum score:
Overall score of 70, with no part less than 60
How to submit results:
Sign into your CAEL Account and select Simon Fraser University as the recipient institution: www.cael.ca
Requirement type:
Pearson Test of English (PTE)
Minimum score:
Overall score of 65, and a minimum score of 60 in the Communicative Skills, including: Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing
How to submit results:
Results must be sent from MyPTE account. For more information visit www.pearsonpte.com/help-center/scoring
Requirement type:
Duolingo English Test (DET)
Only accepted from students in countries where no other English proficiency test is available.
Minimum score:
Overall score of 125
How to submit results:
Results must be submitted through your Duolingo account. Send results to Simon Fraser University, Undergrad englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants
Notes
Enrolment in first-year writing intensive courses requires higher grades than admission grades. See more information.
Students must meet the University’s literacy requirements in addition to the English language Requirement. Learn more about the Literacy Requirements for all applicants.