English Language Requirement for Graduate Programs

FDU Vancouver assesses English proficiency in two key areas to ensure students are prepared for academic success. 

1. English Language Requirements for Admission
   Applicants whose first language is not English and do not qualify for the exemption of English proficiency tests must submit results from an acceptable English Proficiency test (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL, PTE). Students below the minimum may be eligible for the English Pathway conditional admission. See our pathway partner schools here.

2. English Placement Test (EPT) and English for Professional Success (EPS) for Class Registration
   Most students who meet the English language requirements still need to take the EPT to assess academic writing readiness. Exemptions are available. See details at the Exemption from English Placement Tests section.

   Based on EPT scores or English test results, graduate students may be required to take Pre-Master Program (PMP) (EPS 5089/ 5099 Academic Writing Skills), EPS 5289 Academic Research Foundations, Foundations in Academic Research (FAR) (EPS 5299), or EPS 6299 Graduate Research Seminar. 

Transfer Credit for EPS 6299, 5299 and 5289 courses are available, please refer to the Graduate Student Transfer Credits and Foundation Course Waivers page.  

1. Minimum English Language Requirement for Admission

An applicant whose native language is not English is required to submit a copy of qualifying results from an acceptable English Proficiency test as part of their application for admission. Official scores need to be reported before the Letter of Acceptance is issued. 

Please refer to the following chart for the minimum English proficiency requirements for each graduate program: 

• Master of Administrative Studies (MAS) 

• Master of Hospitality Mangement Studies (MHMS) 

• Master of Science in Applied Computer Science (MSACS) 

O = Overall Score; W = Writing Band; R = Reading Band; S = Speaking Band; L = Listening Band 

1.1 Exemption from English Proficiency Tests 

You are exempted from providing an English Proficiency Test score for admission purposes in the following scenarios: 

• Pathway Program: you have successfully completed a Pathway Program within the past 2 years or are registered for a Pathway program at one of FDU Vancouver’s Pathway Partner institutions. 

• Transfer credit: you have transfer credit for English Composition 1 (or equivalent) with a grade C or higher from an accredited University or College in Canada or USA that you have attended within the last 10 years. 

• Attended U.S. or Canadian High School: you have attended a minimum of two years of study in a U.S. or Canadian high school, where the curriculum was taught in English, and have passing grades in two years of college preparatory English (equivalent to English 11 and 12). 

• Graduated and earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in the Philippines where English is the primary language of instruction. Applicants must include a medium of instruction certificate with their application documents unless it is clearly indicated on the transcript. 

• Attended Other accredited Institutions at which English is the primary language of instruction in any country listed in Table 1, under the following scenarios: 

1. Graduated from a recognized degree program and earned an associate, bachelor, or master’s degree, or 
2. Completed a 2-year post-secondary diploma program, or 
3. Completed at least two academic years of studies at an accredited university, or 
4. Completed a high school diploma (minimum 2 years) 

Certificates and vocational programs are not eligible for the English proficiency Test exemption. 

2. EPT and EPS Requirements for Class Registration

To help ensure student success, FDU Vancouver requires the English Placement Test (EPT) as part of the class registration process. The EPT allows us to identify students who could benefit from writing support early on, before it impacts their academic performance. Learn more about the EPT. 

Please refer to the chart below to determine your English Placement Test (EPT) and English for Professional Success (EPS) course requirements for class registration, based on your English proficiency test scores or EPT results. For more details about the English for Professional Sucess (EPS) courses, please refer to the PMP and FAR pages. 

Students are encouraged to consult the Degree Plan found on the program page for comprehensive details regarding graduate course requirements. 

Students using TOEFL Home Edition, PTE Academic Online, and iTEP will be required to take the EPT. EPS courses will be determined based on your EPT score. 

2.1 Exemption from English Placement Test (EPT) 

Some students may be exempted from taking the English Placement Test. See your eligibility for exemption below:   

• Pathway Program completed: if you have successfully completed a Pathway program within the past 2 years at one of FDU Vancouver’s Pathway Partner institutions at the appropriate level you are exempt from an FDU English Placement Test. 

• Transfer credit: you have transfer credit for English Composition 1 (or equivalent) with a grade C or higher from an accredited University or College in Canada or USA that you have attended within the last 10 years. 

• Minimum 2 years of studies from an accredited institution in one of the countries listed in Table 2 completed within the last 5 years, under the following scenarios: 

1. Completed a high school diploma, or 
2. Earned a degree (associate, bachelor, or master), or 
3. completed a 2-year academic post-secondary diploma program, or 
4. completed at least two years of academic studies 

Academic English Preparation – Entry levels

Fairleigh Dickinson University offers an exciting opportunity for students who meet the University’s academic admission standards but require additional training in academic English (speaking, listening, and/or writing skills).

Academic English Preparation

Effective Fall 2025 term onwards, FDU Vancouver accepts the Duolingo English Test (DET) for admission. Additionally, the required scores for PTE Academic have been revised.

Placement for Class Registration

^{1. During summer terms, undergraduate students will take one 3-credit academic course with EPS 0099 and 0199.}

Exemptions at time of application for admission

You are exempted from providing an English Proficiency Test score for admission purposes in the following scenarios:

• Pathway Program: you have successfully completed a Pathway Program within the past 2 years or are registered for a Pathway program at one of FDU Vancouver’s Pathway Partner institutions.
• Transfer credit: you have transfer credit for English Composition 1 (or equivalent) with a grade C or higher from an accredited University or College in Canada or USA that you have attended within the last 10 years.
• Attended U.S. or Canadian High School: you have attended a minimum of two years of study in a U.S. or Canadian high school, where the curriculum was taught in English, and have passing grades in two years of college preparatory English (equivalent to English 11 and 12).
• Graduated and earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in the Philippines where English is the primary language of instruction. Applicants must include a medium of instruction certificate with their application documents unless it is clearly indicated on the transcript.
• Attended Other accredited Institutions at which English is the primary language of instruction in any country listed in Table 1, under the following scenarios:

1. Graduated from a recognized degree program and earned an associate, bachelor, or master’s degree, or
2. Completed a 2-year post-secondary diploma program, or
3. Completed at least two academic years of studies at an accredited university, or
4. Completed a high school diploma (minimum 2 years)

Certificates and vocational programs are not eligible for the English proficiency Test exemption.

Students who are placed directly into the MSACS or MAS programs are required to take EPS 5299 and EPS 6299 respectively, unless they are eligible for transfer. For more information about graduate transfer credits, please check the Transfer Students page.

Exemption from testing at time of class registration

Some students may be exempted from taking the English Placement test. See your eligibility for exemption below:  

• Pathway Program completed: if you have successfully completed a Pathway program within the past 2 years at one of FDU Vancouver’s Pathway Partner institutions at the appropriate level you are exempt from an FDU English Placement Test.
• Transfer credit: you have transfer credit for English Composition 1 (or equivalent) with a grade C or higher from an accredited University or College in Canada or USA that you have attended within the last 10 years.
• Minimum 2 years of studies from an accredited institution in one of the countries listed in Table 2 completed within the last 5 years, under the following scenarios:

1. Completed a high school diploma, or
2. Earned a degree (associate, bachelor, or master), or
3. completed a 2-year academic post-secondary diploma program, or
4. completed at least two years of academic studies

Conditional Admission and Vancouver Campus Partner Language Schools

Students who are academically prepared to pursue a university program but are unable to meet the minimum English proficiency requirement may apply to the intensive English language program offered by our Partner Language Schools in Vancouver.

The language and entrance examination (if required) must be fulfilled for a student to matriculate to the University.

• Canadian College of English Language (CCEL) – https://canada-english.com/ (ENGL 130)
• ELS – https://learn.els.edu/  (level 110)
• ILAC – www.ilac.com 3.1 entry into PUP and PMP programs / 3.3 entry into undergraduate, FAR or  MSACS programs
• ILSC – ilsc.com Level i4 entry into PUP and PMP programs / Level A2 completion entry into undergraduate, FAR, or MSACS programs
• ISS of BC – http://lcc.issbc.org/(Intensive English 7)
• Kaplan International – www.kaplaninternational.ca/  (level B2)
• Oxford International – https://www.oxfordinternationalenglish.com (level 8)
• Sprott Shaw Language College (SSLC) –https://studysslc.com/  
• Vanwest College – www.vanwest.com  (level 7)
• VGC International College (VGC) – www.vgc.ca (level 7)