When determining whether to pursue your study overseas, IELTS would be a crucial step. But is obtaining an IELTS score always required in order to obtain a student visa for Canada?
There are several institutions and colleges in Canada that accept students without IELTS, so you may study there without having to take the test. You would need to satisfy a few additional entry-level requirements, though, in order to get admitted.
Let’s examine the crucial components of how studying in Canada without IELTS functions.
How to study in Canada without IELTS?
The very first thing to do if you wish to study without IELTS is to examine the entry criteria sections for international students in the respective university’s website. Choose the course you are intending to study and see if an IELTS certification is mandatory for admittance into the programme.
According to the most recent guidelines, if you have spent four years or more in an English medium school, numerous colleges will waive your English proficiency exam results. This is largely reliant on the university and their language competency requirements for admission to certain programmes.
Let us look at different ways that might lead you to taking a degree in Canada without IELTS:
- Submit a certificate of English proficiency supplied by the students’ colleges stating that their previous education was in English.
- Show documentation that the student is from an English-speaking nation.
- Enrol in an English language course at a Canadian institution.
- Submit alternative English proficiency exam results.
What are the alternative English tests accepted by Canadian Universities?
As previously stated, not every university requires a mandated IELTS score in order to be admitted. There are various different English proficiency tests, some of which are only for Canada, that you can take instead of IELTS. They are as follows:
1. PTE:
The Pearson Test of English (PTE)
is a computer-based test that evaluates the English language abilities of non-native speakers applying to university courses in English-speaking nations. The PTE Academic, General, and Young Learners are the three versions of the test and total test time falls between two to two and a half hours.
2. TOEFL:
TOEFL is an acronym of the Test of English as a Foreign Language, which is the official name for the test. It evaluates your ability to speak and comprehend English by analysing your reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills. This exam is used by institutions to verify students are able to advance and succeed on their chosen course in a nation where the curriculum is taught in English.
The TOEFL test is normally given online (TOEFL iBT), however, if the test centre does not have an internet connection, a paper-based test (TOEFL PBT) can be given.
3. CAEL:
CAEL is a test meant to assess students’ English language competency before they enrol in Canadian post-secondary institutions. CAEL is one of the most effective methods for determining students who have the necessary English abilities for academic achievement. It represents language use in a Canadian academic environment authentically.
Students read articles, listen to a lecture, answer questions, and write a brief essay, much like they would in a first-year Canadian university or college classroom. The CAEL Test is available to take at home, online, or at a testing facility. The exam lasts around 3.5 hours.
4. Cambridge Test ( CAE/CPE)
Cambridge English offers numerous examinations to examine a person’s English language ability. CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) equals C1 Advanced. It is the comprehensive, high-level qualification that demonstrates you have the language abilities that businesses and institutions need. CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) is comparable to C2 Proficiency.
A C2 Proficiency certification demonstrates to the world that you have remarkable command of the English language. It demonstrates that you can converse with the fluency and complexity of a native English speaker.
5. CELPIP
The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) test assesses test takers’ ability to communicate in English. The exam measures a test taker’s English abilities in a number of everyday scenarios, including as conversing with coworkers and superiors at work, engaging with friends, reading newscasts, and interpreting and responding to written materials.
The CELPIP is a computer-based test, and all audios will be given in a single North American accent. There are two versions of CELPIP tests: CELPIP General, which is used for permanent residency, and CELPIP LS, which is used for citizenship applications and professional designations.
6. Duolingo English Test
The Duolingo English Test is a cutting-edge language competence assessment tool built for today’s international students and institutions. It provides an English proficiency score, a video interview, and a writing sample in a user-friendly, quick, and secure testing environment. The duolingo exams are only acceptable for study purposes and not for permanent residency.
7. CanTEST
The CanTEST is a standardised English proficiency exam that is used to assess if you fulfil the entrance criteria of Canadian post-secondary institutions or the fluency standards of Canadian professional organisations. The results will also indicate how much further English language training you may require. The CanTEST is distinct from other competency examinations because it assesses comprehension rather than grammar or structure.
Which universities in Canada do not require IELTS?
Almost every English-speaking university would demand an IELTS score in order to get admitted. Fortunately, some universities in Canada do not need these examinations and instead use their own criteria to assess an applicant’s English language skills. Consider the following six colleges that presently admit students without an IELTS certification:
| University | Accepted language proficiency indicators |
|---|---|
| University of Saskatchewan | Certificate of higher secondary education.All alternative English tests mentioned above are accepted. Completion of an approved English Language Proficiency (ELP) program by the University of Saskatchewan Language Centre and University of ReginaGeneral Certificate of Education of A/AS/AICE Level English |
| University of Winnipeg | All alternative English tests mentioned above are accepted. Academic English Program for University and College EntranceEnglish Language Program at The University of Winnipeg English Language Program – Part-time Evening Program at The University of Winnipeg |
| Brock University | Students who do not want to take the IELTS test can enrol in the Intensive English Language Program (IELP). All alternative English tests mentioned above are accepted. |
| University of Regina | All alternative English tests mentioned above are accepted. Students can also take the ESL Test at the university, but they must complete ESL 050 to qualify. |
| Carleton University | Students need to prove that their previous education was in English and furnish the official transcripts of the last three years of high school, college, or university. |
| Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador | Accepts TOEFL and CAELApplicants who do not meet the minimum scores in the proficiency tests can enrol in an Intensive English Program at the university’s St. John’s or Grenfell campuses. Candidates who have completed an e-proctored English test or an interview will also be accepted. |
What documents do I need to study in Canada without IELTS?
Once you’ve decided on a course and verified that IELTS is not necessary for admission, create a checklist of the additional documentation needed for the Canadian study permit:
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
As evidence of your English language competency, keep the scorecards from any alternative English proficiency examinations, such as PTE, CAEL, and others.
- Proof of Identity:
A valid passport or travel document, as well as two recent passport-size photographs with your name and date of birth inscribed on the back of each, are required.
- Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS):
The CAS is confirmation of acceptance to a specific institution for a programme that accepts students without IELTS. Only once you have received your CAS will your student visa application be processed.
- Proof of Financial Support:
Provide appropriate documentation that demonstrate that you have adequate money to study in Canada. It might be a bank statement, an educational loan, or a scholarship; all of these documents establish financial stability in order to study in Canada.
Can I move to Canada without IELTS?
If you have a work visa or are sponsored by your family or your employer, you can work or study in Canada without taking the IELTS exam. Many companies hire employees without requiring proof of English proficiency, relying instead on other factors such as their performance in the interview and whether they studied for more than four years in an English-speaking school or college or even lived and worked in an English-speaking country. You will need to demonstrate language competency if you wish to seek permanent residency, but there are alternatives to the IELTS exam.
The Canadian government has implemented a number of immigration schemes to assist people in obtaining permanent status in Canada. Although IELTS is the most often used exam for these programmes, other choices, such as the Canada Language Benchmark, are also available. and there are various IELTS requirements for a Canada student visa. CLB is used to examine and assess a person’s English language competence and determine eligibility for Canada PR.
Can I get a work permit in Canada without IELTS?
You can obtain a post-study work visa in Canada without taking the IELTS exam. A one-year course will provide you a two-year post-study work visa, whilst a two-year programme would grant you a three-year visa.
Students who have earned a degree from a Canadian college are more likely to want to stay in the same nation. The post-study work visa is one option for them to pursue their long-term goal of obtaining permanent residency through work sponsorship and subsequently citizenship.
To be eligible to apply for a post-graduation work visa, an applicant must satisfy the following criteria:
- At the time of application, applicants must be at least 18 years old.
- The student must have completed the program as a full-time student in the same course and university where they enrolled.
- The study programme should last a minimum of eight months.
- The university from which the candidate completed the degree program should be a registered educational institution.
- A student should possess the documents from the University that confirms that they have passed the course along with all its core subjects.
- The permit application must be filed within 90 days of the completion of the study course.
- The student must have a valid work permit when applying for this study permit.
Conclusion
Even if you are unwilling or unable to take the IELTS test, there are several other alternatives for following your ambition of studying in Canada. However, before picking an alternate exam to IELTS, make sure to study and comprehend the criteria relevant to your program as well as the certifications approved by your university.
