English Language preparation for your degree
Success at university in the USA and Canada is much more likely if you are proficient in written and spoken English. Universities expect TOEFL iBT 61-80 for undergraduates, and iBT 69-90 for graduates. If you have a lower level of English, you will need to enroll in a university-based ESL program before your academic program.
Improve your English at university in USA and Canada
If you do not have the required English proficiency for entry to a degree (see English level requirements for degree admission), university-based ESL programs offer the best route to undergraduate or graduate-level study. You benefit from:
- the ideal environment for English language training
- opportunity to earn university credits towards your degree
- full immersion into campus life and North American culture
- study skills preparation for academic success
- no official TOEFL score required for some ESL programs
- a conditional acceptance from the university
- a visa valid for your entire ESL and degree program
Note that you must meet all entry requirements of the university degree program, apart from the English language requirement, before you are eligible for an ESL program.
Guide to all university-based ESL programs
| University in North America | TOEFL for entry | Curriculum | Academic credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Island University |
iBT 41-70 or equivalent | Undergraduate-level ESL Transition ( 1.5MB): English language and study skills, plus academic courses towards an undergraduate degree program |
9 to 15 |
| 6-weeks fast-track: Intensive English language in the summer semester followed by Undergraduate ESL Transition | 15 to 30 | ||
| iBT 61-78 | Graduate-level ESL Transition ( 1.5MB): English language and study skills, plus undergraduate course pre-requisites or graduate courses. |
6 to 12 | |
| 8-weeks fast-track: Intensive English language in the summer semester followed by Graduate ESL Transition | 15 to 21 | ||
| below iBT 61 | 8-12 weeks at Embassy Language School before graduate-level ESL Transition Program | none | |
| James Madison University | iBT 36 or equivalent | English for Academic Purposes: Grammar, Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, Thematic Dialogs, American Culture | none |
| Royal Roads University | iBT 32 or equivalent | English for Academic Purposes: English language in the context of degree level studies, study skills, American culture | none |
