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Thompson Rivers University
Thompson Rivers University

English Requirements

Students take an English Placement Test (EPT) upon arrival and are placed in the appropriate level of English language study in TRU’s EAP program. The EPT must be written one week before classes begin. If a student has a TOEFL or other test score they may elect to enter EAP or academic courses without taking the TRU English Placement Test.  

English Language Proficiency Requirements for Academic Study

Test/TRU Placement Direct entry into academic programs EAP Level 5
(2 EAP courses and 3 academic courses)
EAP Level 4
(4 EAP courses and 1 academic course)
EAP Level 3
TOEFL iBT 88+ with no section below 20 80+ 71+ 61+
TOEFL Paper-Based 570+ TWE 4.5+ 550-569 TWE 4.0+ 530-549 500-529
TOEFL Computer-Based 230+ Essay 4.5+ 213-229 Essay 4.0+ 197-212 173-196
IELTS 6.5+ with no bands below 6.0 6.0+ with no bands below 5.5 5.5+ with no bands below 5.0 5.0+
Duolingo* 125+ with no sub-score less than 115 115+ with no sub-score less than 100 100+ with no sub-score less than 90 90+
MET 81+ 77+ 74+ 69+
CAEL Overall 70+ No subtest below 60 Overall 60+ No subtest below 50 Overall 50+ No subtest below 40 Overall 40+
PTE 58+ with no band below 62 N/A N/A N/A

*TRU is currently accepting Duolingo as proof of English Proficiency Requirements and is applicable to applications received before Aug. 31, 2024.

Graduate Programs: English Language Proficiency Requirements for Academic Study


Program
TOEFL  IELTS DUOLINGO* Additional
iBT

Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA)

94+ with no bands below 20 7.0+ with no bands below 6.5 N/A

or completion of an undergraduate degree at an English language university in a country where English is their first official language

Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (GCES) 88+ with no bands below 20 6.0+ with no bands below 5.5 N/A

or completion of an undergraduate degree at an English language university in a country where English is their first official language

When applying with no IELTS, students must complete an EPT upon arrival, so the advisor knows which Level of ESAL to register the student.

Master of Arts in Human Rights and Social Justice

94+ with no bands below 20 7.0+ with no bands below 6.5 N/A

or completion of TRU ENGL 1100 OR 1101 AND CMNS 1290 OR 1291 with a minimum B.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

94+ with no bands below 20 7.0+ with no bands below 6.5 N/A

or completion of an undergraduate degree at an English language university in a country where English is their first official language

Master of Environmental Economics and Management (MEEM) 94+ with no bands below 20 7.0+ with no bands below 6.5 N/A

or completion of an undergraduate degree at an English language university in a country where English is their first official language 

Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management (MScEEM) 94+ with no bands below 20 7.0+ with no bands below 6.5 N/A

 

Master of Education (MEd) 88+ with no bands below 20 6.5+ with no bands below 6.5 N/A

or completion of an undergraduate degree at an English language university in a country where English is their first official language

Master of Nursing (MN) 100+ with no bands below 20 7.0+ (Speaking 7.0, Writing 7.0, Listening 7.5, Reading 6.5) N/A

 

Master of Data Science 88+ with no bands below 20 6.5+ with no bands below 6.0 N/A

 

Master of Science in Environmental Science 88+ with no bands below 20 6.5+ with no bands below 6.0 125+

 

*A student must meet or exceed the required level on all aspects to be at any specific level (e.g. Direct entry students must have 88+ and all sections at least 20). When sub-scores are used, a good mark in one area will not compensate for a poor mark in another. If a student does not meet the requirements for direct entry, it is recommended that they write the TRU placement test to determine the appropriate placement for them in EAP. If all of their scores, subtests and overall place them at, for example Level 4, it is recommended that they do the TRU placement test to determine their courses; however they will not be placed below Level 4 (or whichever level their initial scores place them). 

For more information, please see the EAP Regulations Program Overview.

Countries that do not need additional English testing

American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Canada (including Quebec), Camaroon, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Monterrat, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St. Helena, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Swaziland, Trinidad & Tobago, Tanzania, Turks & Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, USA, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

While some nationalities may be exempt from English proficiency testing, some programs may still require applicants to have an English grade of B or better in their most recent English course(s). If you do not meet these requirements, TRU may require an english proficiency test score such as IELTS, Duolingo and TOEFL.

Additional accepted equivalencies

BC High School Graduate
  • English requirements for Academic study may be waived if a student from a BC High School completed English 12 and the government exam with a total score of 73%. 
  • Students that graduate 
Ontario High School Graduate

English requirements for academic study may be waived if a student completes ENG4U with a score of 73% or higher. Students that graduate with ENG4U with a score below 73% or a pass in ENG4C will be placed in our University Preparation English bridging courses. 

Cambridge ESOL

TRU will consider the CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) and CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) for direct entry into academic programs. The FCE (First Certificate in English) will be considered at the IELTS 5.0+ for placement purposes. 

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

TRU will consider the CEF C1 and C2 for direct entry into academic programs. We will also consider CEF B2 and B2+ as equivalent to the IELTS 5.0+ for placement purposes.

Pearson Test of English

TRU will consider the Pearson Test of English (PTE) for direct entry into academic programs with an overall score of 58 or greater and no communication skills test scores below 55.

Africa

English requirements for academic study may be waived if a student from Africa has the following: a minimum mark of an A or B on their WAEC, NECO, Certificate of Secondary Education or University of Cambridge English.

Denmark

English requirements for academic study may be waived if a student from Denmark has a minimum mark of 10 in English from upper secondary oral and written English. 

Finland

English requirements for academic study may be waived if a student from Finland has a minimum mark of 8 in English when taken at the Certificate of Matriculation. 

Germany

English requirements for academic study may be waived if a student from Germany has a minimum mark of 12 (gut) in English when taken as an achievement/main/intensive course.

DAAD/CEFR:

  • B2, visiting international students only
  • C1 for degree seeking students.
Japan

Japanese English Language Proficiency Test – STEP – TRU will consider the STEP First Grade for direct entry into academic programs. We will also consider STEP Pre-First Grade Level as equivalent to TOEFL 500+ for placement purposes. 

Norway

English requirements for Academic study may be waived if a student from Norway has a minimum mark of 4 in English from any year of upper secondary. 

Philippines

TRU is piloting these requirements for the Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 intakes.Please note that TRU has the right to request a language test when deemed necessary, even if the language of instruction has been English. Applicants must include a medium of instruction certificate with their application documents unless it is clearly indicated on the transcript.

Graduate programs and post-baccalaureate diplomas: Applicants who have graduated with a bachelor's degree from a university in the Philippines where English is the primary language of instruction may be exempt from additional English testing.

Undergraduate programs (diplomas, certificates, and bachelor's degrees): Applicants with a B+ average in Grade 12 English on the Philippines grading scale OR 90% average (where the minimum pass grade is 75%) from a school in the Philippines where English is the primary language of instruction may be exempt from additional English testing.

Sweden

English requirements for academic study may be waived if a student from Sweden has a minimum mark of B in English 6 from upper secondary school. 

The Netherlands

English requirements for academic study may be waived if a student from The Netherlands has the following: a minimum mark of (VWO diploma), 8 (goed) in English.  

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