Academic Calendar 2022/23

English Language Proficiency requirement

English is the language of instruction at UFV. UFV recognizes that applicants must have a level of English sufficient to participate and be successful in the learning process. Applicants to all post-secondary level programs, and students registering for post-secondary courses, are expected to be able to demonstrate language proficiency. Meeting the English language proficiency requirement meets the language requirements for most post-secondary courses, except for English and communications courses which have specific requirements.

There are two levels of proficiency, Entry-level and Degree/diploma level. All applicants to post-secondary programs will be checked to ensure the English language proficiency level specified for the program has been met prior to being admitted. Applicants unable to meet the English language entrance requirement will be given the opportunity to meet the English requirement through Adult Basic Education, English Language Studies, and/or the University Foundation certificate.

See UFV's English Language Proficiency Requirement policy (99) for more information.

English language proficiency standards

To determine the standards that apply, check the program information in this calendar to find out the level of proficiency that is required for a given program, then check below for the Entry-level or Degree/diploma standards that will meet the requirements.

Entry-level post-secondary English language proficiency standards

Note: Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the ability of some testing agencies to continue their testing programs, UFV is accepting the Duolingo English Test on an interim basis (see below).

This level of proficiency allows entry into some programs to begin post-secondary studies at UFV, but upgrading in English will be required to take first-year English or written communications courses and to enter many UFV programs. For admission to programs such as bachelor degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, post-baccalaureate programs, and graduate-level programs, see the Degree/diploma level section below.

Test scores are accepted up to two years after the test date.

This level may be met by one or more of the following:

  1. English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12. Students may also present English 12, English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, International Baccalaureate English A (standard level or higher level), Advanced Placement English, or equivalent.
  2. Successful completion of three consecutive full-time years of secondary school and/or post-secondary education taught in the English language in a country where English is the principal language (see list of countries below). Education must include the equivalent of B.C. secondary school graduation or completion of first year post-secondary (minimum 30 post-secondary credits recognized by UFV) with a minimum CGPA of 2.00 (or C average). Full-time study is defined as successful completion of at least three non-ESL courses per semester and six non-ESL courses per academic year.
  3. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) — IBT score of 80 with no section below 19, or paper-based score of 550 with TWE score of 4.0 or higher.
  4. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic format — score of at least 6.0, with no band score less than 5.5.
  5. UFV CPT (Composition Placement Test) — score of 41 or higher.
  6. MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) — score of at least 80.
  7. CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language) — score of at least 60.
  8. CanTEST — overall score of 4.0 in Listening, Reading, and Writing.
  9. Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English: (CAE) — grade C or higher.
  10. Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE) — grade A.
  11. LPI (Language Proficiency Index) — essay score of 24 (level 4).
  12. UFV English Language Studies Assessment results equivalent to completion of EAP 074 (formerly ESL WG74).
  13. Pearson Test of English (PTE) academic — score of 56 with a minimum score of 52 in Writing.
  14. EIKEN (Test in Practical English Proficiency) — grade Pre-1.
  15. Canadian Language Benchmark placement test (CLBPT) — 8 overall, with no skill less than 7.
  16. Accuplacer Reading comprehension 80 or better, with Accuplacer WritePlacer 6 or better on the 8-point scale.
  17. A passing grade in a course taken at, or transferrable to UFV as first-year English or one of the following: CMNS 125, 145, 175, or 251.
  18. ENGL 099.
  19. ENGL 081 or ENGL 091.
  20. EAP 074 (formerly ESL WG74) with a C+ or better or EAP 084 (formerly ESL 084).
  21. Duolingo English Test (DET) score of 100 to 109.

Degree/diploma level English language proficiency standards

Note: Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the ability of some testing agencies to continue their testing programs, UFV is accepting the Duolingo English Test on an interim basis (see below).

This level of proficiency is required for admission to many university-level programs such as bachelor degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, post-baccalaureate programs, and graduate-level programs. The scores and grades listed below also meet the prerequisites for ENGL 105 and CMNS 125.

Test scores are accepted up to two years after the test date.

This level of proficiency may be met by one or more of the following scores:

  1. English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12. Students may also present English 12, English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples; all with a minimum C+ grade, International Baccalaureate English A (standard level or higher level), Advanced Placement English, or equivalent.
  2. Successful completion of at least three years of formal, full-time study (not less than three courses per semester or equivalent, with C grades or higher averaged over academic courses) at a secondary and/or post-secondary institution where English is the primary language of instruction in an English-speaking country recognized by UFV for English language proficiency purposes (see list of countries below).
  3. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) — IBT score of 88 with no section below 20, or paper-based score of 570 with a TWE (essay) score of 4.5 or higher.
  4. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic format — score of at least 6.5., with no band score less than 6.0.
  5. UFV CPT (Composition Placement Test) — score of 48 or higher.
  6. MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) — score of at least 85.
  7. CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language) — score of at least 70.
  8. CanTEST — overall score of 4.5 in Listening and Reading, and 4.0 in Writing.
  9. Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency (CPE) — grade of C or higher.
  10. Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English — grade A.
  11. LPI (Language Proficiency Index) — essay score of 30 (level 5).
  12. UFV English Language Studies Assessment results equivalent to completion of EAP 084 (formerly ESL 084).
  13. Pearson Test of English (PTE) academic score of 61 with a minimum score of 60 in Writing.
  14. EIKEN (Test in Practical English Proficiency) — grade 1.
  15. Canadian Language Benchmark placement test (CLBPT) — 9 overall, with no skill less than 8.
  16. A minimum grade of C- for a course taken at or transferable to UFV as first-year English or one of the following: CMNS 125, 145, 175, or 251.
  17. ENGL 099 with a C or better.
  18. ENGL 081 or ENGL 091 with a C+ or better.
  19. EAP 084 (formerly ESL 084) with a C+ or better.
  20. Duolingo English Test (DET) score of 110 or higher.

Exceptions for language proficiency requirements

Individual exceptions may be considered by the Undergraduate Education Committee (UEC) Admissions subcommittee when a student can show strong evidence of English language proficiency. Test scores not included on the above list that are equated to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) English level B2 for Entry-level or level C1 or C2 for Degree/diploma level will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students must submit requests, along with official test scores or other evidence of language proficiency, to the Office of the Registrar.

English language proficiency and a student's record

To help students recognize their compliance with the UFV English Language policies, UFV will determine and record an "English Language Policy value" in "test scores" on the student's academic record. The ELP value should be interpreted as follows:

  • 100 or higher: Student has met the Degree/diploma level of proficiency and the prerequisite for ENGL 105 or CMNS 125.
  • 080 or higher: Student has met the Entry-level English language proficiency requirement.
  • 070: Student has met University Foundations Level 2 entrance requirements.
  • 060: Student has met University Foundations Level 1 entrance requirements.
  • Missing ELP values, or values less than 060, may mean that insufficient data has been received from the student.

Countries from which education in English is accepted

  • American Samoa
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bermuda
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Canada (including Quebec)
  • Cayman Islands
  • Dominica
  • Falkland Islands
  • Fiji
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Montserrat
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • St. Helena
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • St. Lucia
  • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Tanzania
  • Turks & Caicos Islands
  • Uganda
  • United Kingdom
  • U.S.A.
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

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