IELTS score requirement for University of Toronto
University of Toronto based in Toronto, Ontario publishes IELTS Academic minimums for both undergraduate and graduate study. The two cards below show those institutional baselines; the editorial body translates the bands into a study target and lists the programmes that publish their own, higher thresholds.
Applies to most undergraduate divisions (Arts & Science, Engineering, Rotman Commerce). Specific programmes may require higher; Daniels architecture and some Faculty of Music programmes set higher minimums.
School of Graduate Studies minimum is overall 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each element. Individual graduate units may set higher thresholds and frequently do for humanities, law, and medicine.
Last verified 2026-05-12. The figures on this page are taken from University of Toronto's own admissions page. Verify against the official source before relying on a specific number; programme directors can revise English requirements between intakes.
About U of T and its IELTS requirement
U of T is Canada's largest university by enrolment and consistently ranks inside the global top 25. The SGS minimum of 7.0 with 6.5 each is one of the highest baseline IELTS thresholds among Canadian U15 graduate schools.
Translating the published minimum into a study target
Undergraduate applicants to U of T need an overall IELTS Academic band of 6.5 with no band below 6.0. In CEFR terms this corresponds to B2. Applies to most undergraduate divisions (Arts & Science, Engineering, Rotman Commerce). Specific programmes may require higher; Daniels architecture and some Faculty of Music programmes set higher minimums.
For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 7.0 with no band below 6.5 (CEFR C1). School of Graduate Studies minimum is overall 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each element. Individual graduate units may set higher thresholds and frequently do for humanities, law, and medicine.
Programmes that raise the bar
Several U of T programmes publish IELTS thresholds that sit above the institutional minimum. The current list on this page includes MD (Temerty Faculty of Medicine) (overall 7.5), JD (Faculty of Law) (overall 7.5), MBA (Rotman) (overall 7.0). Treat these as the target if you are applying to one of them; the institutional minimum does not over-ride a programme-level publication.
How to prepare for the U of T 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.
Programme-specific IELTS minimums
These programmes publish IELTS thresholds that differ from the institutional minimum above. Verify the programme page for the most current value before you apply.
| Programme | Overall | Per-section |
|---|---|---|
| MD (Temerty Faculty of Medicine) | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| JD (Faculty of Law) | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| MBA (Rotman) | 7.0 | 7.0 |
Other English tests U of T accepts
TOEFL iBT minimum 100 (writing 22) for SGS graduate study. Duolingo English Test 120+ accepted at the undergraduate level for some divisions.
Alternatives and thresholds change between intakes. Confirm on the official admissions page before relying on a specific alternative test.
Common questions
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See where you stand against the U of T minimum
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