Canada is a top preferred country for students in India to begin their journey of studying abroad. Boasting a global reputation for its exceptional quality of education and highly developed infrastructure, Canada is increasingly witnessing an influx of students migrating from across the globe. Since it is an English-speaking nation, all Canadian universities expect prospective candidates to showcase good English conversational skills and understanding of the English language. Although English language tests like IELTS and TOEFL may act as roadblocks for non-native English-speaking students, it is crucial to submit a decent IELTS band score to secure admission to Canadian universities.
Although IELTS scores vary from university to university, this article details the average IELTS score band for getting into the best universities in Canada.
Studying in Canada
There are many advantages of studying in Canada besides it being a country with some of the best universities:
- Quality Education: Canadian universities are globally recognized for their exceptional quality of education, world-class infrastructure and multicultural campuses to help students develop holistically.
- Off-campus Work: A lot of reputed universities in Canada allow students to work off-campus to earn an extra buck and gain work experience.
- Work Opportunities: Canada has a host of post-study work opportunities that can make it simpler for students to switch between education and work.
IELTS 2022 Requirement
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the highly regarded and globally recognized English language testing exams. It evaluates the English language skills of a candidate based on their performance in four sections – Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking.
IELTS testing is available in two formats, which are IELTS Academic and IELTS General. For students looking forward to moving to Canada from non-native English-speaking countries to pursue higher education, IELTS Academic is a compulsory test.
Minimum IELTS Band Score for Canadian Universities
The minimum IELTS 2022 score for Canadian Universities is 5.5 in each of the four test sections, with an overall 6.0 band. This requirement is valid for undergraduate and diploma courses. Whereas, the overall IELTS 2022 score for popular courses in streams like Engineering, Education and Teaching programs is 7.0. A few universities also demand section specific IELTS band scores for candidates to qualify for admission.
Average IELTS Band Score at the Best Canadian Universities
As per the Times Higher Education World Rankings’ metrics, the top universities judge the caliber of the candidates on crucial performance indicators. These include the quality of teaching, research conducted in the university, citations, international outlook and the income generated for the industry.
Below is the list of average IELTS band scores at the best universities in Canada:
| University Ranking | University or College in Canada | IELTS Reading | IELTS Listening | IELTS Writing | IELTS Speaking | IELTS Overall |
| 10. | Western University | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6.5 |
| 9. | University of Waterloo | 6 | 6 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 8. | University of Calgary |
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6.5 |
| 7. | University of Ottawa |
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6.5 |
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6.5 |
| 6. | University of Alberta | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| 5. | Université de Montréal | * the language of instruction is French | ||||
| 4. | McMaster University | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6.5 |
| 3. | McGill University | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6.5 |
| 2. | University of British Columbia | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6.5 |
| 1. | University of Toronto | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6.5 |
All the universities in the Times top 10 university list in Canada require at least a minimum 6.5 IELTS band score, with no less than a 5.5 band score in each testing segment, for candidates to successfully qualify for admission. Despite seeming daunting for a non-native English-speaking candidate, IELTS is a relatively easy test that tests your basic English language knowledge.
Aspirants who are hoping to migrate to Canada to pursue higher education require necessary study permits. In order to obtain a Canadian study visa, it is crucial to submit your IELTS band score to pass through the immigration process. Although the IELTS 2022 requirement for the study visa might be lower than the average IELTS score requirement for getting admission to the best universities in Canada, candidates must display their English language skills thoroughly in the test.