🇨🇦CanadaQS World Rank #234

IELTS score requirement for Queen's University

Queen's University based in Kingston, Ontario applies a single IELTS floor at both undergraduate and graduate level: overall 6.5. Programme-specific minimums sit above this floor; the breakdown below lists every programme on this page that does.

Undergraduate

6.5overall band

With no published per-section minimum.

CEFR B2

Per-section —

University minimum overall 6.5; competitive programmes may expect higher.

Graduate

6.5overall band

With no published per-section minimum.

CEFR B2

Per-section —

General graduate minimum overall 6.5; individual departments set higher — e.g. English Literature requires 7.5.

Last verified 2026-06-02. The figures on this page are taken from Queen's University's own admissions page. Verify against the official source before relying on a specific number; programme directors can revise English requirements between intakes.

Official admissions page

About Queen's and its IELTS requirement

Queen's sets an overall IELTS 6.5 minimum for both undergraduate and graduate entry, but several graduate departments demand far more (English Literature, for example, asks for 7.5). The department requirement governs.

Translating the published minimum into a study target

Undergraduate applicants to Queen's need an overall IELTS Academic band of 6.5 with no published per-section minimum. In CEFR terms this corresponds to B2. University minimum overall 6.5; competitive programmes may expect higher.

For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 6.5 with no published per-section minimum (CEFR B2). General graduate minimum overall 6.5; individual departments set higher — e.g. English Literature requires 7.5.

How to prepare for the Queen's IELTS minimum

A target of 6.5 (CEFR B2) is achievable for candidates with strong school-level English and 4-8 weeks of focused IELTS practice. The fastest gains usually come from Listening and Reading because the question types are predictable and trainable. Sit a full-length practice test first, identify the section that pulls your overall down most, and drill that section before scheduling the live exam.

Other English tests Queen's accepts

IELTS Academic accepted; TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic also accepted. Departmental minimums frequently exceed the university floor, so confirm with the specific graduate programme.

Alternatives and thresholds change between intakes. Confirm on the official admissions page before relying on a specific alternative test.

Common questions

What is the minimum IELTS score for Queen's University?

For undergraduate study at Queen's University, the published minimum is overall 6.5 with no published per-section minimum. For graduate study, the minimum is overall 6.5 with no published per-section minimum. Specific programmes can require higher; the figures here reflect the institutional baseline.

Does Queen's accept other English tests besides IELTS?

Yes. IELTS Academic accepted; TOEFL iBT and PTE Academic also accepted. Departmental minimums frequently exceed the university floor, so confirm with the specific graduate programme. Acceptance and thresholds for alternative tests can change from one admission cycle to the next; the Queen's University admissions page linked above is the authoritative source.

What if my IELTS score is below the Queen's minimum?

A score below the Queen's threshold leaves three practical paths. The first is a retake with focused work on the weakest section. The second is an alternative accepted test — see the Other English tests section below for the equivalents — which sometimes converts more favourably to your skill profile than another IELTS attempt would. The third is a pre-sessional English programme where Canada pathways exist; conditional offers are not universal, so confirm in the offer letter before booking flights.

See where you stand against the Queen's minimum

Take a free, full-length IELTS practice test. Get your overall and per-section bands plus a personalised feedback report — no card required.

Start free practice test

Compare IELTS requirements at other universities

🇨🇦University of Toronto IELTS requirementBand 7.0 🇨🇦McGill University IELTS requirementBand 6.5 🇨🇦University of British Columbia IELTS requirementBand 6.5 🇨🇦University of Alberta IELTS requirementBand 6.5 🇨🇦University of Waterloo IELTS requirementBand 7.0 🇨🇦McMaster University IELTS requirementBand 6.5

Related on IELTS Free Tests

All university minimums

Browse every IELTS-verifying university we've covered

IELTS band calculator

Convert raw scores to overall and per-section bands

Study in Canada guide

IELTS-friendly programmes and what each test really means