English Proficiency Requirements

English Proficiency Requirement

Because all courses at CityU are taught in English, all incoming students must demonstrate proficiency in English prior to enrollment, in addition to any other academic qualifications of their prospective program. It is vital to your success at CityU for you to be proficient in both spoken and written English.

CityU reserves the right to request proof of English proficiency from applicants (irrespective of citizenship, country of origin or first language) at any time during the appraisal process.

If English is not your first language (i.e. is not the first language you learned at home as a child):

• You will NOT need to provide a proof of English proficiency (other than your official academic transcripts) if you lived and attended high school and/or university, for at least four consecutive years, in a country where English is the acknowledged primary language

• You will NEED to provide evidence of adequate English ability prior to admission if you do not qualify for the above-mentioned exemption, even if you:
• Consider English to be your first language
• Have attended college/university at an accredited institution (in a non-English country) where English is the main language of instruction.

Acceptable means to demonstrate English proficiency

English placement test scores are valid for 24 months only.  CityU’s Institutional Placement and Proficiency will be measured by the iTEP (International TEST of English Proficiency).  Scores for all other tests taken outside of CityU must be authenticated by the test publisher (Official Transcripts).

Institutional versions of the tests below are not acceptable. It is students’ responsibility to ensure their official test results are sent to CityU. Results must come directly from the examining institution to CityU; results uploaded by applicants are NOT official. CityU can received results electronically, directly from the issuing organization, when possible as long  they are securely sent with a protected password.

Below is an equivalency chart for all CityU recognized measurements of proficiency:

Standardized Test Score	Undergraduate Programs	Graduate Programs
iTEP Academic Plus	4.0	4.5
TOEFL iBT	76	87
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)	Band 6.0	Band 6.5
CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language)	Overall 60 Writing 60	Overall 70 Writing 70
PTE (Pearson Test of English)	51	59
Duolingo	100	110
Cambridge English	Cambridge English First (FCE)	Cambridge English Advanced (CAE)

Read our English Proficiency Policy to learn more.