Admissions

English Language Requirements for Applicants Whose First Language is Not English

The official language of instruction at the University of Waterloo is English. It is the responsibility of the University to ensure that its undergraduate students have sufficient English language skills to cope with the demands of the academic curriculum as well as, for many, the communication skills to be successful in co-operative education programs.

The University reserves the right to withdraw any Offer of Admission if the applicant fails to meet the minimum English language requirements for the faculty to which they have applied.

The following English language requirements are distinct from and in addition to Ontario Grade 12 English 4U, or equivalent, where it is stated as an admission requirement. All English language proficiency requirements must be met before the first day of classes at UW.

You are NOT required to provide an English proficiency test score if

• your first language is English, or
• you are a bilingual francophone Canadian and you have been educated in Canada, or
• your 4 most recent years of full-time education have been in an Enlgish-language school system in a country outside of Canada.
  • Please be aware that official transcripts indicating subjects taught, grades achieved and language of instruction must be provided by your secondary and/or post-secondary institution(s) to support your claim.
  • Please note that English as a Second Language programs do not qualify you for this exemption and cannot be included as any part of the number of years of full time education in an English-language school system.

Please be aware that official transcripts indicating subjects taught, grades achieved, and language of instruction must be provided by your secondary and/or post-secondary institution(s) to support your claim.

You ARE required to provide an English proficiency test score if

• your first language is not English and
• your 4 most recent years of full-time education have not been in an English-language school system

The following chart lists English proficiency test options that are accepted for undergraduate admission consideration at the University of Waterloo.

Tests that do not appear on this chart are not accepted for admission consideration.

• The four most recent years of full-time education must be immediately prior to the beginning of the month a student would start their studies at the University of Waterloo.
• The Test of Spoken English is not required for regular programs in the Faculty of Mathematics. All other programs require a TSE score to accompany a paper-based or computer-based TOEFL score.
• If a student applies to the Faculty of Mathematics and their English language test scores are below the required levels, the student may be eligible for admission through the English Language for Academic Studies (ELAS program). The ELAS program is considered only for Faculty of Mathematics programs and is not considered for admission or transfers to programs in other faculties.
• Successful completion of the advanced (400) level of the English for Academic Success (EFAS) program at Renison University College satisfies the University of Waterloo's English Language Requirement for undergraduate students. In order to successfully complete the 400 Level, students must have an overall average of 85% in coursework, with at least 80% in each core subject and at least 80% on the final exit test. Students must also attend at least 80% of their classes.
• The University of Waterloo reserves the right to withdraw any Offer of Admission if the applicant fails to meet the minimum English language requirements for the faculty to which he or she has applied.
• If a student has completed their four most recent years of full-time education in an English-language school system and also provides a failing English language test score, the University of Waterloo reserves the right to withdraw an Offer of Admission or refuse admission.
• The University of Waterloo reserves the right to request an English language test score from any applicant.

For additional information regarding English language requirements at the University of Waterloo, please refer to the following web page: www.findoutmore.uwaterloo.ca/admissions/elr.php.