Thinking of starting your career in Canada? Want to know about the Canada student visa requirements for 2024? Let us help you.
Canada ranks as one of the best countries for higher education in the world in 2024. You’ve made a great choice by choosing Canada to study. If you’re wondering why you need IELTS for a Canada student visa, let me explain. To get a Student Visa in Canada, you need to establish your English ability. With over 3 million tests taken each year, IELTS is one of the world’s most popular English language tests.
IELTS is conducted to test the language ability of people whose primary language is not English. The British Council and IDP India conduct IELTS tests at several locations across the country. In this blog, I’ll help you understand the IELTS band requirement for a student visa in Canada.
Before that, there are two major types of IELTS that you need to look into: IELTS Academic and IELTS General. If you want to study UG or PG courses in an English-speaking country, opt for IELTS Academic. If you are someone who wants to apply for secondary education, work, or immigration, then opt for IELTS General.
What is the minimum IELTS band requirement for a Canada study visa?
The minimum IELTS band requirement for a Canada student visa is 6.0 overall and 5.5 in each module. For post-graduate courses, the minimum criteria for Canada student visa IELTS band requirements 2024 is at least 6.0 in each of the four modules and with an overall score of 6.5.
If you want to study in Canada and showcase your language ability, a good IELTS exam score is required. To establish your English language capability and be eligible, you need to meet the minimum criteria of Canada student visa IELTS band requirements 2024. Even if you fail to meet the minimum criteria by 0.5, you’ll get denied. Meanwhile, getting a higher score will also help you get a higher Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score, which will have a huge impact on your Express Entry profile.
International Student Life in Canada
Canada is renowned for its high quality of education. Over 130,000 international students choose to study at Canadian universities, year by year. When it comes to quality of education and living, Canada is much more affordable when compared to the US and UK. Many Canadian universities have a place in the top 200 rankings of the best universities across the globe. The Economic Intelligence Unit predicted that Canada will be ranked as the 3rd best country among G7 for doing business. It clearly shows that you have great job opportunities as an international student. Right from the quality of education, and the standard of living to job opportunities and affordability, Canada is no wonder a great place to take up your career and to immigrate.
CLB and IELTS band
Canadian Language Benchmarks is a level that the Canadian Government uses to measure your English proficiency. They measure CLB on a scale of 1 to 12 points. You don’t need to take any separate tests; instead, you can provide your IELTS score equivalent to CLB.
Minimum IELTS score for Canada PR 2024
If you want to apply for permanent residency (PR) through Express Entry, you need to meet the minimum requirements. Express Entry is an immigration program for people like you who are looking to settle in Canada. The minimum IELTS score for Canada PR 2024 is 6.0 for each section of the IELTS, while the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) needs to be 7.
Why do you need to take IELTS for a Canada study visa?
As discussed earlier, to study in Canada, you need to establish your English proficiency. The IELTS exam has become the world’s most popular English proficiency test, with over 3 million tests taken. Other popular English language proficiency tests include TOEFL and PTE. Not only in Canada but more than 9000 organizations, universities, employers, and immigration authorities worldwide recognize the IELTS exam. As IELTS is gaining popularity, many students prefer to take the IELTS test for a Canadian study visa. Hence, top Canadian universities, colleges, and institutions require the IELTS exam score.
Minimum IELTS score for Canadian universities
If you’re aspiring to get admission to Canadian universities, then you need to look into this. Many Canadian universities have their requirements for students to qualify for admission. One such requirement is the IELTS exam score; these scores vary depending on the universities you’re aiming for.
IELTS band requirements for top 20 Canadian universities
If you’re wondering what IELTS score your top preference universities ask for, we’ll help you. Here we’ve listed the 20 Top Ranking Universities in Canada as per The Times Higher Education World Rankings and their IELTS scores.
- University of Toronto – IELTS Overall 6.5, Writing 6, Reading 6, Listening 6, Speaking 6
- University of British Columbia – IELTS Overall 6.5, Writing 6, Reading 6, Listening 6, Speaking 6
- McGill University – IELTS Overall 6.5, Writing 6, Reading 6, Listening 6, Speaking 6
- McMaster University – IELTS Overall 6.5, Writing 6, Reading 6, Listening 6, Speaking 6
- University of Montreal – IELTS Overall 6.5, Writing 6, Reading 6, Listening 6, Speaking 6
- University of Alberta – IELTS Overall 6.5, Writing 5.5
Whether you are aiming for undergraduate, graduate, or diploma courses, meeting the minimum IELTS band requirements opens up a world of opportunities for you. Additionally, preparing for the IELTS exam with the right guidance and support can help you achieve your desired band score and pave the way for a successful academic journey in Canada.