Exams Required to Study in Canada for International Students 2025-26

Exams Required to Study in Canada: Highlights

What are the exams required to study in Canada?

Students interested in studying in Canada need to fulfill the eligibility requirements to be selected at their desired university. They must have a minimum score to be considered for admission by the university. Depending on the level of study, university and previous education it may change. The common exams required to study in Canada for foreign students are mentioned below:

Exams required to study in Canada

• English language exam scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and CAEL.

• Undergraduate exam scores on the SAT.

• Graduate exam scores GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

Exams Required to Study in Canada for English Language Proficiency

In Canada, every course of study such as undergraduate, postgraduate and professional degrees requires English language proficiency for non-native speakers or foreign students. Here entrance exams for the English language in Canada are given:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• Pearson Language Tests (PTE)

• Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL)

English Language Proficiency in Canada

Exams Required to Study in Canada for Undergraduate Program

The common undergraduate fields of study in Canada include Business Administration and Finance Management along with specialisations like Energy Management and Automotive Business Administration (BBA). When applying for a program at a university you may need to take an entrance exam such as the SAT.

Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).

SAT is commonly used for undergraduate students as an entrance test but it is not compulsory for all universities in Canada; however international students may need to submit SAT scores for admission purposes. The SAT exam with a score range of 1300 to 1570 is generally accepted for admission to universities.

The SAT exam syllabus includes Mathematics, Reading, and Writing sections. The duration of the SAT is 2 hours 14 minutes and is administered by the Scholastic Assessment Test.

The application fee for the SAT in Canada is USD 111 (68+43 which is SAT cost + additional regional fee).

It is expected that the SAT score will increase scholarship and admission opportunities for international students. Among the Canadian universities that have no SAT requirement are Trent University, Royal Roads University, Capilano University, Thompson River University and Farleigh Dickinson University.

In Canada, the SAT scores are accepted by institutions such as the University of Calgary, the University of Saskatchewan, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Alberta, McGill University, University of Montreal, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo and University of British Columbia.

Alternatively, American College Testing, ACT, and a few other examinations such as the International Baccalaureate, IB, and University-specific tests are taken for undergraduate programs by some of the universities.

Exams Required to Study in Canada for Graduate Program

The popular graduate majors in Canada are Master of Business Administration (MBA), Computer Science, Psychology, Public Health, Global Management, Finance, Engineering and more. To get admission to a graduate degree program, universities in Canada may require an entrance exam including the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, and LSAT.

GRE (Graduate Record Examinations)

In Canada, the importance of the GRE varies by institution and the requirements vary across universities. In terms of management courses in Canada, the preferred examination for graduates is the GRE with a score of 305-320.

Specifically, in STEM disciplines such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, where a student needs to take the GRE to get admission. The GRE Exam Pattern details analytical writing, verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. The SAT examination lasts for 1 hour and 58 minutes. The application cost of the GRE General test is 220 dollars while the GRE Subject test is $150.

The unit that administers the GRE tests is the Educational Testing Service. Those universities in Canada where GRE scores are not mandatory include the University of Alberta, McMaster University, University of Calgary, University of Ottawa, University of Illinois, York University, Carleton University and Memorial University of Newfoundland.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

Usually, it is noticed that the GMAT is one of the prerequisites for business master's courses and as such an MBA program is included. For the MBA programs in Canada, the GMAT scores expected for MBA admission ranges from 600-700.

The topics from the GMAT course include mathematics, English Language and Reasoning and Analysis. For the candidates taking the GMAT exam, it has a time limit of 2 hours and 15 minutes (adding a break of 10 minutes is optional). The GMAT is a standardised exam developed by the Graduate Management Admission Council.

Unlike a few of the Canadian Universities where applicants are not required of GMAT score, applicants to Boston University, the University of Central Lancashire, the University of Edinburgh Business School, Lancaster University Management School and the University of Illinois require no such documentation.