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Seneca International
Seneca International

Seneca International
Seneca International

Seneca International
Seneca International

Seneca International
Seneca International

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  1. Seneca
  2. International
  3. International Applicants
  4. How to Apply
  5. Admission Requirements
  6. English Requirements

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 

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.

Tests Certificate Programs Diploma and Advanced Diploma Programs Degree Programs Graduate Certificate Programs
CAEL CE and CAEL online Minimum 60 Minimum 60 Minimum 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 162 Minimum 169 with no skill below 162 Minimum 176 with no skill below 169 Minimum 176 with no skill below 169
Duolingo Minimum score 105 to 110 Minimum score 105 to 110 Minimum score 115 to 120 Minimum score 120 to 125
IELTS Academic Minimum 6.0 with no skill below 5.5 Minimum 6.0 with no skill below 5.5 Minimum 6.5 with no skill below 6.0 Minimum 6.5 with no skill below 6.0
PTE Academic Minimum score 58 Minimum score 58 Minimum score 60 Minimum score 60
TOEFL iBT (including MyBest TOEFL and Home Edition) Minimum 80 with no skill below 20 Minimum 80 with no skill below 20 Minimum 84 with no skill below 21 Minimum 88 with no skill below 22
TOEFL Revised Paper Delivered No skill below 20 No skill below 20 No skill below 21 No skill below 22

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+.

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 Programs Diploma and Advanced Diploma Programs Degree Programs Graduate Certificate Programs
Required Level of English Completion for English Proficiency Test Exempt Countries Successful completion of Grade 12 High School English Successful completion of Grade 12 High School English Successful completion of Grade 12 High School English with an equivalent grade of 65% or higher Successful 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).