English Proficiency Requirements
English is the primary language of instruction at Brandon University. For students to be successful in programs at the university, an acceptable level of academic English is required. All applicants regardless of citizenship status or country of origin are required to demonstrate English language proficiency to be considered for admission.
There are 12 ways to meet Brandon University’s English language proficiency requirement:
- Successful completion of a three‐year secondary school program at a school where English is the language of instruction;
- Successful completion of three consecutive years of full‐time post‐secondary study at a recognized institution where English is the language of instruction (overall post‐secondary CGPA must be 2.0);
- Any combination of three consecutive years of full‐time study in secondary and post‐secondary education at recognized institutions where English is the language of instruction (overall post‐secondary CGPA must be 2.0);
- Graduation from a Manitoba high school with at least one Grade 12 English 40S credit with a minimum grade of 70%;
- Graduation from a Canadian high school (outside Manitoba) with at least one Grade 12 English credit equivalent to Manitoba 40S with a minimum grade of 70%;
- Completion of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Higher Level (HL) English course with a score of four (4) or greater;
- Completion of Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature and Composition or Language and Composition with a score of four (4) or greater;
- Completion of a recognized secondary school completion exam with minimum final grade in English subject as specified below (other school completion exams will be assessed on an individual basis):
| Secondary School Completion Exam | Minimum Score Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) | C minimum on English Language |
| Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) | C minimum on English Literatures or Communication Studies |
| General Certificate of Education (GCE) | C minimum on A level English |
| Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) | B minimum on English |
| West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE – results reported through WAEC) | C4 or higher on English Language |
- Completion of an accredited undergraduate degree from a recognized post‐secondary institution where English is the language of instruction (overall post‐secondary CGPA must be 2.00);
- Completion of an accredited graduate degree (minimum two‐year program) from a recognized post‐secondary institution where English is the language of instruction (overall post‐secondary CGPA must be 2.00);
- Successful completion of Brandon University’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Tier 4;
- Completion of a recognized English Language Assessment Test with the appropriate minimum score:
| Test | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| C1 Advanced The Cambridge English Advanced exam |
176 (minimum 170 each component) | Not Applicable |
| C2 Proficiency The Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English |
176 (minimum 170 each component) | 176 (minimum 170 each component) |
| CAEL Canadian Academic English Language Assessment |
60 | 60 |
| CAEL CE Canadian Academic English Language Assessment |
60 | 60 |
| DET Duolingo English Test |
120 overall; minimum 105 on all component scores | 120 overall; minimum 105 on all component scores |
| EAP English for Academic Purposes at Brandon University |
Successful completion of Tier 4 | Successful completion of Tier 4 |
| IELTS International English Language Testing System (Academic); One Skill Retake results accepted |
6.5 overall; minimum 6.0 on each band | 6.5 overall; minimum 6.0 on each band |
| PTEA Pearson Test of English Academic |
58 | 58 |
| TOEFL iBT Test of English as a Foreign Language |
86 overall with a minimum score of 20 in each testing section. | 86 overall with a minimum score of 20 in each testing section |
| TOEFL Revised Paper-delivered Test Test of English as a Foreign Language |
Results will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis | Results will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis |
Examination results must be no more than two years old at the time of submission.
Mature and Home School applicants who cannot demonstrate proficiency through any of the 12 criteria will be assessed on an individual basis in consultation with the University Registrar and Dean of the faculty/school to which they are seeking admission.
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Program
EAP is primarily for students who are preparing to enter English-speaking post-secondary educational institutions and need to improve their English skills to university-level fluency.
EAP is also designed for those people who want to improve their use of English as a second language for professional or personal purposes.
Some knowledge of the English language is required before students are accepted into the EAP program. Generally, high school English is required.
For more information please visit the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Program website.
EAP is not accepting applications for September 2024 or January 2025.