English Proficiency for Vancouver Admissions

English Proficiency for Vancouver Admissions

International applicants are 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.

Students who do not meet the requirements for admission may be eligible for admission via an English Language Pathway Program or our Pre-University program, Pre-Master program, and Foundations in Academic Research (FAR). Our Pre-Programs, and FAR provide students with highly specialized Academic English language and Graduate Research skills in the first semester while they study and earn academic credit toward their bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

Please refer to the Required English Proficiency Test Score Chart for the Admissions Test scores required for each academic program.

Students who are required to take the English Placement Test (EPT) may be placed into one of the following programs based on the results of the EPT:

Some applicants may be asked to take the English Placement Test before the final admission decision is made.

Academic English Preparation Programs – 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 Programs

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).
  • 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.