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:
Completion of SFU’s English Language and Culture (ELC) Low Advanced Level

Minimum requirement:
80%

How to submit results:
Results must be sent by the ELC Coordinator. For more information visit www.sfu.ca/elc

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.

IELTS One Skill Retake results are not accepted.

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

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

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.