Arts Degree Requirements

The University of Waterloo believes that students must have a basic competency in written English in order to prosper in their university studies.

Students entering the Faculty of Arts in September 2004 or thereafter may fulfill the English Language Proficiency Requirement (ELPR) in one of the following ways:

1. Write the English Language Proficiency Exam (ELPE) once and achieve a grade of 65 by the end of their 2B term; or
2. Achieve a grade of 65 or higher in one of the following courses: ARTS 101; ENGL 109, 129R, 140R, ESL 102R, 129R.

Notes:

1. Students entering the Faculty of Arts prior to September 2004 should consult the ELPE Requirement as laid out in the calendar of their year of entry.
2. Students who have written and failed the ELPE should consult the Writing Centre rather than attempt the ELPE again unaided.
3. Students who have not completed the English Language Proficiency Requirement by the end of their 2B term will have their future registrations cancelled and will be allowed to proceed only after successful completion of this requirement.  
4. A completed English Proficiency milestone on a student's academic record will indicate successful completion of this requirement.
5. Transfer credits cannot be used to satisfy the English Language Proficiency Requirement.