English Requirements

All applicants to Seneca must be well prepared to study in English. If you are coming from a country where English is not the primary language, you must show one of the following:

  • Successful completion of a minimum of two years of full-time study in a school and country where English is the primary language
  • Successful completion of a minimum of one year of full-time study at the postsecondary level in an institution and country where English is the primary language
  • Successful completion of an intensive English program such as the English Language Institute
  • English proficiency test scores from one of the international English language testing bodies listed below. Only tests taken in the last two years are considered valid 

IELTS tests now available at Seneca

Access resources and take your test in a convenient location.

Please note that the requirements below are the minimum cut-offs and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Highly competitive program seats will be offered to the most highly qualified applicants based on ranking from highest to lowest.

TestsCertificate ProgramsDiploma and Advanced Diploma ProgramsDegree ProgramsMaster's and Graduate Certificate Programs
CAEL CE and CAEL onlineMinimum 60Minimum 60Minimum 70 (Writing no less than 60)Minimum 70 (Writing no less than 60)
Cambridge English Exams (B2 First/FCE, C1 Advanced/CAE or C2 Proficiency/CPE)Minimum 169 with no skill below 162Minimum 169 with no skill below 162Minimum 176 with no skill below 169Minimum 176 with no skill below 169
DuolingoMinimum score 105 to 110Minimum score 105 to 110Minimum score 115 to 120Minimum score 120 to 125
IELTS AcademicMinimum 6.0 with no skill below 5.5Minimum 6.0 with no skill below 5.5Minimum 6.5 with no skill below 6.0Minimum 6.5 with no skill below 6.0
PTE AcademicMinimum score 58Minimum score 58Minimum score 60Minimum score 60
TOEFL (including MyBest TOEFL and Home Edition)No skill below 4 out of 6 (or 20 out of 30)No skill below 4 out of 6 (or 20 out of 30)No skill below 4.5 out of 6 (or 21 out of 30)No skill below 4.5 out of 6 (or 22 out of 30)

For INSCOL students applying for Nursing Leadership & Management (NLM), Coronary Care Nursing (COR), and Chronic Disease Management (CDM) programs, and Nursing in Canada – Transition for Internationally Educated Nurses (TNC) programs, the Occupational English Test (OET) is also accepted with a minimum score of C+.

The Practical Nursing (PND) and Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing (BSN) program have the minimum language requirements below.

TestsMinimum Requirements for Practical Nursing (PND)Minimum Requirements for Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing (BSN)
CAEL CE and CAEL onlineMinimum 70 (Writing no less than 60)Minimum 70 (Writing no less than 60)
Cambridge English Exams (B2 First/FCE, C1 Advanced/CAE or C2 Proficiency/CPE)Minimum 176 with no skill below 169Minimum 176 with no skill below 169
DuolingoMinimum score 115 to 120Minimum score 120 to 125
IELTS AcademicMinimum 6.5 with no skill below 6.0Minimum 6.5 with no skill below 6.0
PTE AcademicMinimum score 60Minimum score 60
TOEFL (including MyBest TOEFL and Home Edition)No skill below 4.5 out of 6 (or 21 out of 30)No skill below 4.5 out of 6 (or 22 out of 30)

English Proficiency Test Exempt Countries

Applications from some English-speaking countries are exempt from submitting English Language Proficiency test scores and are required to submit transcripts and credentials showing completion of English at the following levels:

 Certificate ProgramsDiploma and Advanced Diploma ProgramsDegree ProgramsMaster's and Graduate Certificate Programs
Required Level of English Completion for English Proficiency Test Exempt CountriesSuccessful completion of Grade 12 High School EnglishSuccessful completion of Grade 12 High School EnglishSuccessful completion of Grade 12 High School English with an equivalent grade of 65% or higherSuccessful completion of a postsecondary level English course or completion of a postsecondary credential that is at least one year in length, full time

View the full list of English Proficiency Test Exempt Countries (PDF).