Canada is undoubtedly one of the best nations to acquire quality education from. As such, many immigrants and international students aspire to travel to Canada to obtain a quality education. However, moving to Canada for some reasons, including studying, one of the main requirements for this is presenting a language proficiency test result.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the widely accepted language proficiency test result. The IELTS program is the main language proficiency test, widely accepted by most Canadian universities.
Here in this guide, you’ll learn the 6 ways to study in Canada without IELTS, including:
- Universities to Study in Canada Without IELTS
- Alternative Exams to Study in Canada Without IELTS
- Requirements to Study in a Canadian University Without IELTS
- How to Get Canada Student Visa Without IELTS?
Read on to know more about the 6 ways to study in Canada without IELTS.
6 Ways to Study in Canada Without IELTS
As there are alternatives to the IELTS test, let’s look at the 6 Ways to Study in Canada Without IELTS.
1. Get an English Proficiency Certificate for Canada
For this, you must provide an English proficiency letter from your high school results or an English medium school you attended. You will have to provide either an O-level result or your academic transcripts in that institution for the past 4 years to show that you indeed studied English and are eligible.
2. Study Under a Visitor Visa
You could apply to a university and gain admission into a Canadian university while on a Canadian visitor’s visa. To study under a visitor’s visa, you obviously have to apply for a student’s permit and fulfill the school’s admission/application requirements. Suppose you get admitted into a Canadian university. In that case, you may proceed to apply for a student visa, which will extend the stay of your program and enable you to get a student permit.
3. Get a Student Direct Stream Visa
With the Student Direct Stream Visa, international students who are undergraduates and study in a predominantly English-speaking country or a country whose official language is English can transfer to a Canadian university. As you previously studied in a country whose official language is English, you wouldn’t need to provide any language proficiency proof as your courses were taken in English.
4. Take a Language Course in Canada
This is also called an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Pathway Program. This is one of the most followed routes among the 6 ways to study in Canada without IELTS. As an aspiring Canadian international student, with this program, you can enroll in an English language learning course/program to prepare yourself for the conditions of the main study program. Hence with this, you can meet the language proficiency requirements.
5. Take a Postgraduate Work Permit
After your studies in Canada, you can apply for a postgraduate work permit which can be used in place of the IELTS result. You can only apply for a postgraduate work permit once, and when it is granted to you, it serves as proof that you are not only fluent in English but that you studied in Canada previously.
6. Search for Universities in Canada That do not Require IELTS
Many Canadian universities do not require IELTS to give you admission. Some Canadian colleges and universities do not require you to provide an IELTS result before giving you admission. You have to either have another language proficiency test result, come from an English-speaking country, or have taken English courses for a minimum of 4 years in high school. All this makes this route one of the main pathways in the 6 ways to study in Canada without IELTS.
IELTS Alternative Exams to Study in Canada
Certain universities allow you to provide alternative language proficiency test results other than the IELTS. Some of these test results include;
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Pearson English Language Test (PTE)
- The Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees (CanTest),
- The Canadian English language Assessment (CAEL Assessment)
- The Duolingo English Test.
Requirements to Study in a Canadian University Without IELTS
Canadian schools and colleges have individual requirements for students who apply without IELTS. Here are some of the basic requirements;
- Provide proof of acceptance into a Canadian-designated learning institution.
- Provide proof of identity i.e. your passport and other travel documents (if required).
- Proof of financial support (proof of funds).
- GMAT or GRE scores for MBA and Masters programs in Canada.
- Provision of Statement of Purpose and Letters of Recommendation.
- Provide any acceptable English proficiency results such as the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL), Pearson English Language Test (PTE) etc.
- An updated CV / Resume (if required).
- Provision of letters of academic reference along with past letters of employment if you are applying for a Master’s or Ph.D. program (if required).
- You may be required to provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you’ve never studied in Canada.
- Provide a medical fitness result (if required).
- Provide a police certificate (if required).
How to Get Canada Student Visa Without IELTS?
Thanks to the new Canadian visa regulations, applying for a student visa without possessing IELTS scores wouldn’t hinder your study plans. According to the new visa guidelines, you have to provide proof of your admission into a Canadian university to be eligible for a study visa. The Canadian government implemented this change to attract more genuine international students into the nation.
All you are required to do to study and work in Canada without an IELTS score is prove that a Canadian university has offered you admission, which doesn’t require IELTS scores. Suppose you have another alternative result, such as the Pearson English Language Test (PTE), Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL), Canadian English language Assessment (CAEL Assessment) and the Duolingo English Test, which can be used in place of the IELTS score. In that case, you can go ahead and submit them.
Can I Get a Work Permit in Canada Without IELTS?
In the aspect of working in Canada after your studies without IELTS, we will be looking at it from two different angles.
The first would be as a student in Canada. As a student, all you must do is study at an institution that doesn’t require you to provide an IELTS score. After completing your education, you will wait 180 days before you can apply for a work permit visa in Canada.
The second would be being an ordinary immigrant or a foreign worker in Canada. Ideally, Canada does not require you to provide an IELTS or any language proficiency test result if you are applying for a work permit. However, a language proficiency test result may be required if the job description requires that you have English and/or French speaking skills.
Final Thoughts on Ways to Study in Canada Without IELTS
The IELTS test result may be essential sometimes, but as seen in this guide, we have provided you with 6 ways to study in Canada without IELTS. Carefully read this guide and find the most suitable alternative for you to study in Canada without IELTS. Be sure to choose a pathway that you are most eligible for. One that will guarantee that you get admitted into Canadian universities that do not require you to provide an IELTS test result.
Frequently Asked Questions on Ways to Study in Canada Without IELTS
Can I study in Canada without IELTS?
Yes, various alternatives are available for you to study in Canada without IELTS.
How can I get a student visa in Canada without IELTS?
Certain Canadian universities can offer you provisional admission without requesting an IELTS result.
Is Canada visa possible without IELTS?
Yes, not all Canadian visas require that you provide an IELTS result.
What is the alternative to IELTS in Canada?
You couldn’t provide other English proficiency test results e.g, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, and PTE.
Which country is best without IELTS?
Canada is amongst the list of countries that provide visas that favour immigrants that don’t have an IELTS result.
Can I do IELTS for free?
No, an IELTS exam is not free; depending on your location, the price for the examination varies.
Which country is easy to get a student visa?
Canada is among the countries that offer hassle-free student visas to international students.
Can I get an IELTS certificate without an exam?
No, you must write the IELTS exam to get a certificate.
Can I buy an IELTS certificate?
No, you cannot buy an IELTS certificate; IELTS certificates can only be obtained if the test is taken and passed.
What happens if you fail to pass IELTS?
You can always reapply and retake the exam.
Who is exempted from the IELTS exam?
Applicants who have studied the English language in their secondary education or applicants who are indigenes of an English-speaking country can be exempted from taking the IELTS exam.
What is the poor score for IELTS?
Scoring below band 4.0 is a poor score by IELTS standard for International students.
How many attempts of IELTS are allowed?
There is no limit to taking the IELTS exam.
Does IELTS have an age limit?
There is no age limit or eligibility criteria set by the IELTS.
Can I retake IELTS listening only?
You can retake any section of the IELTS test, whether listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking.
