Language Requirements

English-language Proficiency Requirements 

All applicants to Nipissing University undergraduate degree and post-baccalaureate programs (excluding BEd) from countries where the dominant language of instruction is other than English will be required to achieve the required proficiency level on one of the following tests of English language proficiency for admission consideration.

Permanent resident applicants whose first language is not English may be required to provide proof of proficiency in English. Permanent resident applicants whose first language is not English but who have lived at least 3 years in Canada, or a country where English is the dominant language, may be exempt.

English Language Policy Exemptions

To be exempt from providing proof of English language proficiency, you must satisfy 1 of the following criteria to demonstrate proficiency:

  • Completion of 3 or more consecutive years of full-time education in English within Canada immediately prior to attending Nipissing University.
  • Completion of 3 or more consecutive years of full-time education in English in a country other than Canada where English is the dominant language. These years must be immediately prior to attending Nipissing University.
  • Completion of an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma with a minimum score of 5 or better in HL or SL English A: Literature or HL or SL English A: Language and Literature. 
  • Graduate from a regionally accredited US secondary school and achieve a minimum score of 4 or better in Advanced Placement (AP) English Language & Composition or English Literature & Composition.
  • Achieve a minimum grade of B in GCSE, IGCSE or GCE Ordinary Level English Literature or English Language, a minimum grade of C in GCE A Level or AS Level or AICE or CAPE English or English Language, or a minimum score of M3 in Cambridge Pre-U English.

English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

Applicants who enroll in an EAP program with 1 of Nipissing’s pathway partners will receive a conditional offer of admission. By successfully completing the level indicated in the partner agreement, applicants can begin their studies at Nipissing without further testing.

Test Score
Minimum TOEFL Score All programs except Nursing require a minimum score of 83 (iBT) with a minimum score of 20 in reading, listening and writing, and a minimum score of 22 in speaking. Applicants to Nursing require a minimum score of 93 with a minimum score of 20 in reading and listening and a minimum score of 22 in writing and speaking. The Nipissing University TOEFL institution code is #3614.
Minimum IELTS Score All programs except Nursing require a minimum overall band score of 6.5 with a minimum 6 in reading, listening, speaking and writing. Applicants to Nursing require a minimum overall band score of 7 with a minimum 6.5 in reading, listening, speaking and writing.
Minimum CAEL Score Applicants to all programs except Nursing require a minimum overall score of 60 with no band less than 60. Applicants to Nursing require a minimum overall score of 70 with no band less than 60.
PTE (Pearson Test of English) All programs except Nursing require a minimum overall score of 58 with a minimum score of 56 in speaking, writing, reading and listening. Applicants to Nursing require a minimum overall score of 63 with a minimum score of 60 in each section.
Other Test Scores Cambridge English Qualifications: A C1 minimum overall score of 176 with a minimum score of 169.