English is the exclusive and official language of instruction and examination at University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF).
While some of our student support services will be able to communicate in additional languages, success in our undergraduate and graduate programs require a high level of English language proficiency. To help you succeed, we have outlined a series of opportunities to showcase your English proficiency.
How do I know if I need to prove English proficiency at UNF?
Applicants whose first language is not English, or who have received their education in a language other than English, must provide evidence of English language proficiency at a university level by achieving one of the following minimum score in an approved test. Dependent on the test option you select, all results are to be shared as part of your application package.
What English proficiency tests does UNF accept?
UNF accepts scores for Academic IELTS, CAEL, Cambridge Test 3, Duolingo, Michigan English Assessment, Password, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT.
What tests or qualification provide English Proficiency?
English Proficiency Tests / Scores
| TEST | MINIMUM SCORE for ADMISSION |
| Academic IELTS | 6.5 overall with minimum of 6.0 in the writing band |
| CAEL | 70 overall with minimum of 60 in each subset. For information visit: www.cael.ca. |
| Cambridge Test 3 | 176 overall |
| Duolingo* | 125 overall with no individual component below 115 |
| Michigan English Test | 62+ overall with no individual component below 57 |
| Oxford International Digital Institute (OIDI) | 7 overall with no individual component below 6 |
| Password | 6.5 overall with minimum of 6.0 in the writing band |
| PTE Academic | 61 overall with minimum score of 60 in writing |
| TOEFL iBT | At Home Test – 88 overall with minimum of 20 in each component Paper Edition – 570 minimum score |
* Duolingo is only accepted for: HBBA, HBSc, MA.
Other Qualifications that demonstrate English Proficiency:
- Post-Secondary (or higher) applicants will be required to demonstrate completion of 1+ year(s) of full-time study where English was the language of instruction OR completion of a 3+ credit academic English course from a Canadian post-secondary institution.
- UNF will accept successful completion of an accredited University’s English preparation program.
- Successful completion of a recognized English preparation course from another institution where students have demonstrated proficiency at an equivalent to the required IELTS score or better.
- Successful completion of ON English 12 or English 12 First Peoples (or equivalent) taken in Canada as part of a high school graduation program with a final overall grade of C or better.
- Successful completion of a 3-credit academic English course from a Canadian post-secondary institution that is transferable to UNF. A minimum grade of C or higher is required.
- Graduation from a secondary school attended for four or more consecutive years of full-time education where English was the language of instruction and where the school is located in a listed country approved by the Registrar Completion of International Baccal.
Language Proficiency Exemptions:
You may qualify for an exemption if you have studied in English in any of the following countries and meet the below criteria:
Criteria for Language Proficiency Exemptions:
- Secondary school applicants will be required to demonstrate graduation from 4+ years of consecutive study where English was the language of instruction.
- Post-Secondary (or higher) applicants will be required to demonstrate completion of 1+ year(s) of full-time study where English was the language of instruction OR completion of a 3+ credit academic English course from a Canadian post-secondary institution.
- UNF will accept Medium of Instruction (MOI) letters from an applicant’s institution (should their studies have been completed internationally where the MOI is not confirmed as delivered in English), towards exemption of ELP requirements.
- UNF will accept completion of an accredited Universities English preparation program.
- UNF will NOT be accepting letters of employment towards exemption of ELP.
Countries that will be considered for Language Proficiency Exemptions:
| American Samoa | Guam | Sierra Leone |
| Anguilla | Guyana | Singapore |
| Antiqua & Barbuda | Ireland | Solomon Islands |
| Australia | Jamaica | South Africa |
| Bahamas | Kenya | St. Helena |
| Barbados | Kiribati | St. Kitts & Nevis |
| Belize | Lesotho | St. Lucia |
| Bermuda | Liberia | St. Vincent & the Grenadines |
| Botswana | Malawi | Swaziland (Eswatini) |
| Cameroon | Malta | Tanzania |
| Canada (including Quebec) | Marshall Islands | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Cayman Islands | Mauritius | Turks & Caicos Islands |
| Dominica | Micronesia | Uganda |
| England | Montserrat | United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Wales) |
| Eswatini (Swaziland) | Namibia | United States of America |
| Ethiopia* | New Zealand | Vanuatu |
| Falkland Islands | Nigeria | Virgin Islands (British) |
| Fiji | Northern Ireland | Virgin Islands (US) |
| Gambia | Papua New Guinea | Wales |
| Ghana | Philippines* | Zambia |
| Gibraltar | Scotland | Zimbabwe |
| Grenada | Seychelles |