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Program-level English Language Proficiency Requirements Form
In response to feedback received from Graduate Program Chairs and across graduate programs, Graduate Studies invited interested parties to participate in a working group to review English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements. The group included diverse representation from across programs and administrative units at SFU.
Upcoming GGR Changes
As an outcome from the review performed by the ELP working group, revisions to Graduate General Regulation (GGR) 1.3.3 (Note: this link will be updated in Spring 2025 calendar) were put forward to align the ELP test score minima with peer institutions. The proposed changes were approved by Senate at the meeting of July 8th, 2024 and are effective for international applicants admitted Spring 2025 onwards. An overview and more information can be found in the Senate documentation under S.24-105.
Please note that the approved changes mean that the university minima scores will be lowered from previous minima score levels OR from previous minimum score levels, however, graduate programs have the option to select higher English language proficiency requirements.
Approved ELP test score levels
| Duolingo | IELTS (Academic only) | TOEFL iBT (including TOEFL iBT Home Edition) |
Cambridge English Qualification | PTE | CAEL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| minimum | 125 (no subscore below 105*) (approved until 2026) | 6.5 (min. 6.0 in each section) | 4.5 (no subscore below 4.0) For tests taken prior to January 21, 2026: 90 (no subscore below 20) |
180 (on C1 or C2 tests) | 65 (no subscore below 60) | 70 (no subscore below 60) |
| Level 1 | 130 (no subscore below 110) | 7.0 (min. 6.5 in each section) | 5 For tests taken prior to January 21, 2026: 100 |
185 | 70 | 75 |
| Level 2 | 135 (no subscore below 115) | 7.5 (min. 7.0 in each section) | 5.5 For tests taken prior to January 21, 2026: 110 |
190 | 75 | 80 |
What does this mean for Programs?
If your graduate program would like to opt into a higher score level please indicate your preferred program-level minimum scores in the form below.
In the fall term we will be reaching out to programs who have opted into higher minimum scores regarding the process for adding these to your admissions requirements in the academic calendar.
Graduate programs who choose not to respond by August 30, 2024 will automatically default to the university minima starting Spring 2025.