Do you intend to study abroad after graduating from college? If yes, we believe that by now you must have sorted out your study destination, and you settled for Canada, you most certainly be thinking of how to pass the IELTS exams.
The good news is that you can study in Canada without IELTS. It may sound impossible but that is the truth, some of the Canadian universities would still accept your application with or without IELTS. In this article, we will give you all the needed answers and guide you on how to study in Canada without IELTS.
All About Studying In Canada without IELTS
Truthfully, IELTS is an important requirement for studying anywhere abroad. With this exam, a student is given an opportunity to apply to various Canadian colleges and universities. But then againHowever, there are some Canadian universities and colleges that allow you to study without an IELTS.
Think about it, for instance, taking online courses is a great way to study in Canada without IELTS and you do not have to be physically present to take the online courses.
Nevertheless, you need a study permit if you want to complete your studies by being in Canada and you can get it by following the process of getting a visa as a student in Canada.
We have some common ways through which you can study in Canada without IELTS and if you meet any of the requirements below, you will be qualified to apply to Canadian universities without IELTS:
- If you have taken other English Proficiency Tests such as TOEFL
- If you are from an English-speaking country
- If you have studied in a school where the English language was the medium of instruction for 4 years
- If you attend their language school either for a semester or a year
Also, we are going to look at some of the Canadian universities that can offer you admission without the IELTS. It is either they provide one-year on-campus English courses or require that you have done your former education in the English Language.
Below is the list of colleges and universities in Canada that don’t need an IELTS:
| Universities that don’t need an IELTS | Options to English Language Proficiency Test |
| University of Saskatchewan | You have done a year degree Program where the medium of instruction and exams is in English language. |
| You need to have a two-year diploma in Canada before the program | |
| In cases outside Canada, a three-year Diploma is needed. | |
| Brock University | Language School Pathways |
| Brock’s Intensive English Language Program | |
| English Language Proficiency Waiver Letter indicating that the English Language was the medium of instruction at your former university | |
| Carleton University | Official Transcripts obtained in the past three years of college, high school, or university, where education was mainly in the English Language |
| University of Winnipeg | English Language Program at University of Winnipeg |
| University of Regina | Check the University website for the list of excluded countries and UniversitiesCompleted Post-Secondary Education in English as a major language. |
| Memorial University | Intensive English Program at Grenfell Campus or Memorial University’s St. John’s Campus |
| Concordia University | Academic English course at the school’s Language Institute, for Graduate business students. |
Other Alternatives:
Language Proficiency Certificate:
Just as we have earlier stated, a lot of Canadian universities offer English Language Proficiency Programs, known as ELP to international students who are moving to Canada for studies, and English is their second language.
However, locations and eligibility criteria for the ELP vary with institutes, therefore, you must confirm the English Language Requirements and application guidelines before applying to colleges and Universities in Canada without IELTS.
All about studying in Canada without IELTS for certain Countries:
You are qualified to study in Canada without an IELTS if you are from any of the countries below, and you have completed your undergraduate studies in English as the language of instruction. The countries are as follows:
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, United States, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, US Virgin Islands, Turks, and Seychelles, Caicos Islands, Saint Kitts-Nevis, South Africa, Sierra Leone, St. Lucia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Grenada, Nigeria, Montserrat, Guyana, Australia, Ghana, Dominica, Barbados, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Benin, St. Vincent, Botswana, Bermuda, Republic of Ireland, Belize, Bahamas, Antigua Canada, and Barbuda, Anguilla.
Study visa in Canada without IELTS
As a result of the new visa regulations in Canada, there will be no known obstacles in getting a student visa even without an IELTS score. The most recent rules International states that students just need to prove their admission at a Canadian university for them to be qualified for a study visa.
Therefore, students applying for visas in Canada without IELTS scores are required to present documents as proof that their university does not require an IELTS score. The essence of these regulations is to attract genuine international students who are willing to pursue their studies in Canada into the country. Also, students across the globe will be able to gain higher education in Canada without IELTS.
Just Before You Apply For the Study Permit
Contact the Canadian Embassy closest to you and find out if they are ready to accept your Canada Study Permit application without IELTS.
In the process, you may be required to present a letter from your DLI University in Canada, indicating that you don’t require to take the IELTS examination to partake in the program you have selected.
That being said, it is necessary that you check first with the embassy before proceeding to apply for a Student Visa in Canada without IELTS.
Nevertheless, you need a proficiency letter in English issued by your previous school when you don’t have IELTS. This letter will serve as proof that you have an acceptable understanding of the English language and you merit admission to the university, once the university accepts the Proficiency Letter, then you are permitted to study in Canada.
All about SDS/ Study in Canada without IELTS:
In a bid to hasten the student visa process, Canadian Immigration has presented SDS (Student Direct Stream) for student Visa for students applying from India, China, Pakistan, Morocco, Senegal, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
The IELTS score of a student under SDS has to be 6.5 bands all-around and 6.0 per module. The essence of SDS is to shorten the time used in processing Canadian Student Visa. So, know that IELTS is a mandatory requirement if you are opting for SDS.
That being said, your application will be categorized under the regular student visa application category and will be treated as such if you want to study at the University of Canada without IELTS.
In conclusion, if you are considering moving to study in Canada whether with an IELTS or not, just remember that you will be able to do so.
