Graduate English Requirements Overview – Vancouver

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). To review the recommended English proficiency scores for your intended program, please refer to the Program Requirements page of your chosen degree.
   Applicants who are close to meeting the recommended English proficiency scores may still be admitted with academic English support. More information is available in the English Requirements with Academic Preparation section.

   Applicants below the minimum requirements may be eligible for conditional admission through the English Pathway. For more information, please click 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 Test 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.  

English Language Requirements by Program

You can review the detailed English Language requirements for each program on the Admissions Requirements page:

• Master of Administrative Science
• Master of Hospitality Management Studies
• Master of Science in Applied Computer Science

English Requirements with Academic Writing Support

For the Master of Administrative Studies (MAS) and Master of Science in Applied Computer Science (MSACS) programs, applicants who are close to meeting the recommended English proficiency scores listed under the MAS Admission Requirements and MSACS Admissions Requirements may still be considered for admission with academic English support. 

Please refer to the charts below for the additional acceptable English proficiency scores for each graduate program. The charts also outline your English Placement Test (EPT) and English for Professional Success (EPS) course requirements for registration.

Students are also encouraged to consult the Degree Plan on their program page for full details on graduate course requirements.

Exemption from English Language Tests 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: 
  • Graduated from a recognized degree program and earned an associate, bachelor, or master’s degree, or 
  • Completed a 2-year post-secondary diploma program, or 
  • Completed at least two academic years of studies at an accredited university, or
  • Completed a high school diploma (minimum 2 years)

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

Students who are exempt from English language tests for admission are still required to take the EPT, unless they qualify for an EPT exemption. Those who score between 11 and 14 on the EPT will be placed in the Pre-Master Program (PMP): EPS 5099 or EPS 5089 Academic Writing Skills. Students who score 15 or higher will be placed into the appropriate EPS course, based on their program’s placement requirements.

Exemption from English Placement Test (EPT)

Some students may be exempt from the English Placement Test. Check your eligibility for an exemption below.

Note: Students who are exempt from the EPT will be placed into appropriate courses in their first term, which may include an EPS course, based on their program’s placement requirements.

• High-achieving results on English proficiency exams: Please refer to the following chart for the applicable score requirements. Students admitted with IELTS Online, TOEFL Home Edition, PTE Academic Online, Duolingo English Test, or iTEP are required to take the EPT before registration.
  

  IELTS Academic	6.5 (no band below 6.5) or higher
  TOEFL	O 88, R 20, L 20, S 20, W 24 or higher
  PTE Academic	O 59, L 57, R 60, S 53, W 65 or higher

• English proficiency scores equivalent to IELTS Academic 6.0 (no band below 6.0): Please refer to the following chart for the applicable score requirements. Students are placed into the Pre-Master Program with academic writing support.
  

  IELTS Academic	6.0 (no band below 6.0)
  TOEFL	O 70 – 87, R 13, L 12, S 18, W 21 or higher
  PTE Academic	O 52 – 58, L 48, R 53, S 46, W 60 or higher
  Duolingo English Test – tested on or after July 1, 2024	115 – 120 (no individual subscore below 115) or higher
  iTEP	4.0 (no band below 3.5, writing band 4.0 or higher)

• 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:

  • Completed a high school diploma, or

  • Earned a degree (associate, bachelor, or master), or

  • Completed a 2-year academic post-secondary diploma program, or

  • Completed at least two years of academic studies