Chat Live

  • :
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants may be admitted to Durham College for our undergraduate programs if they have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)* or equivalent high school diploma from another country which includes:

  • one senior-level English language credit (from an English-speaking country as listed below**)
  • equivalent English Proficiency test results (see chart below), or
  • completion of an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program through one of our recognized English Language Partner schools.

*Applicants from Canadian curriculum high schools, both inside and outside of Canada, must complete a minimum three years of high school credits to be considered for exemption from TOEFL/Academic IELTS requirements upon provision of a full transcript.

**Applicants with a minimum of three years of high school or post-secondary studies in Canada, Australia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, New Zealand, Singapore, United States, United Kingdom, Philippines, some Caribbean countries, and selected other countries (see list below) may be exempted from TOEFL/Academic IELTS requirements upon provision of a full transcript. Exceptions may apply. Please contact the International Education Office for full details.

***Excluding international applicants from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCORE REQUIREMENTS

As started during the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, Durham College will continue to temporarily accept the following online English Language Proficiency tests for admissions purposes only. All information in this section is subject to change without notice. Students can complete the tests online from the safety of their home computer.

DUOLINGO ENGLISH TEST (DET)

Please check English language proficiency requirements for your visa and study permit as required by IRCC for your country with your nearest Canadian Embassy or Visa Application Centre (VAC), as you may still need to write an in-person IELTS or TOEFL test for visa or study permit processing. 

  • Most one-year certificate programs
  • Most two-year diploma programs
  • Most three-year advanced diploma programs
*Grade 12 English (Canada/USA) or equivalent.

  • Senior High School English examination results, for example: O level, GCE, CSEC (CXC), IGCSE

See Program webpage for Grade 12 English/Senior High School English examination minimum requirements.

  • Academic IELTS: 6.0, no band score less than 5.5**
  • IBT TOEFL: 80, with minimum section scores of 20
  • PTE Academic: 53 minimum overall, no sectionbelow 49 L,W,S,R
  • CAEL: Overall scores of 60 with no section below 60
  • DET 105
  • All Ontario college graduate certificate programs
  • Bachelor Degrees
  • Compressed, Fast-track programs
    *See Program webpage for Grade 12 English/Senior High School English examination minimum requirements.

    • Academic IELTS: 6.5, no band score less than 6.0
    • IBT TOEFL: 88, with minimum section scores of 22
    • PTE Academic: 60 minimum overall, no section below 57 L,W,S,R
    • CAEL: Overall score of 70, no section below 70
    • DET 115
    Exceptions:

    • Practical Nursing
    • Communicative Disorders Assistant (graduate certificate)

     

    *See Program webpage for Grade 12 English/Senior High School English examination minimum requirements for Practical Nursing.

    • Academic IELTS: 7.0, with no band less than 6.5
    • TOEFL: 94, with minimum section scores of 23
    • PTE Academic: Not Applicable
    • CAEL: Not Applicable
    • DET: Not Applicable

    IELTS/TOEFL/PTE ACADEMIC EXEMPTIONS

    The following applicants may be exempt* from submitting IELTS Academic/TOEFL/PTE Academic scores:

    1. International students who completed a minimum of three years of full-time secondary or college/university level education in one of the countries where English is an official language, or the only language of common usage (check below to see whether your country is listed on our ESL exemption list).
    2. International students who obtain an International Baccalaureate with the medium of instruction in English, and pass in English A from one of the International Schools' members of the Council of International Schools.
    3. Graduation from Durham College's ELC Program or one of Durham College's English-language partner schools for programs offering conditional admission.

    *At the discretion of the admissions officer

    All other students must submit their valid IELTS Academic/TOEFL/PTE Academic scores to International Admissions. Only tests taken in the last 2 years and valid at the time a student begins their program, will be accepted.

    Students who completed their high school education** in one of the countries listed below may be deemed exempt from IELTS Academic/TOEFL/PTE, depending on their high school graduation results, and with a qualifying English grade:

    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • Australia
    • Bahamas
    • Barbados
    • Belize
    • Bermuda
    • Botswana
    • British Virgin Islands
    • Cameroon (with GCE O and A level English courses)
    • Canada: All provinces except Quebec
    • Cayman Islands
    • Dominica
    • Fiji
    • Gambia
    • Ghana
    • Grenada
    • Guyana
    • Ireland
    • Jamaica
    • Kenya
    • Kiribati
    • Liberia
    • Marshal Islands
    • Mauritius
    • Micronesia
    • New Zealand
    • Nigeria
    • Philippines
    • Kitts and Nevis
    • Lucia
    • Vincent & The Grenadines
    • Sierra Leone
    • Singapore
    • Solomon Islands
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Trinidad & Tobago
    • Uganda
    • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales)
    • USA
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe

    ** If a student does not meet the minimum English grade requirements of Durham College, from their high school/college/university English courses, they will be asked to provide a valid IELTS Academic/TOEFL/PTE academic test to the college, or complete English language training at one of our English language partner schools.