Admissions

English Language Proficiency

All applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency, which will enable them to succeed in their university studies.  Proficiency must be demonstrated regardless of citizenship or country of origin.

Applicants with three years of formal, full-time studies in English at the secondary or post-secondary level in any of the below countries meet English Language Proficiency requirements automatically. If an applicant from one of the below countries cannot provide transcripts demonstrating three years of full-time studies in the country, they must instead submit results from one of the Standardized Exams listed below to meet the English Proficiency requirement for admission.

  • American Samoa
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Canada
  • Cayman Islands
  • Dominica
  • England
  • Falkland Islands
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Guyana
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Montserrat
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Northern Ireland
  • Puerto Rico
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • St. Helena
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • St. Vincent and Grenadines
  • Scotland
  • Suriname
  • Tanzania
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Uganda
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America
  • US Virgin Islands
  • Wales
  • Zambia

COVID-19 Update

With the closure of many English testing centres in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, The King’s University has decided to temporarily accept the Duolingo English Test. This will allow you to sit for an assessment from the comfort of your home and receive results within 48 hours. Simply requesting Duolingo to share the results with The King’s University will allow for us to access your official results.  

You can learn more about the test and steps to write the Duolingo English Test.

Required scores:

Full admission: 110 or higher.
Required Academic English support in your first semester: 100-109  

Scores below 100 will not be eligible for admission of any kind to The King’s University.

English Language Proficiency for students from other countries

60% on the Alberta English Language Arts 30-1 diploma exam (not the blended grade), or 60% in Alberta English Language Arts 30-1 (blended grade), or the equivalent course from another Canadian province.

Transfer Courses

For applicants applying from another post-secondary institution.

  • ENGL 214 or 215 (or equivalent – view online course descriptions here) with a minimum grade of C (Alpha 4.00 scale), or B- for B.Ed. applicants.
  • A passing grade in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program which is accepted as a means of satisfying English Language Proficiency by another recognized Canadian university, and whose English Language Proficiency requirement is at least as demanding as that of The King’s University.

Standardized Exams

For students who have written or plan to write a standardized exam.

  • IELTS Academic module with an overall score of 6.5, minimum of 5.5 on each band.
  • TOEFL iBT with an overall score of 88, minimum score of 21 on each section.
    • TOEFL revised Paper-Delivered Test with an overall score of 64, minimum score of 21 on each section.
    • *TOEFL exams must be written within the past 2 years. The King's University TOEFL code is 9232.
  • Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE) with an overall score of at least 59.
  • Canadian Academic English Language Test (CAEL) or CAEL Online with a minimum score of 70.
  • Cambridge English Assessment C1 Advanced test or C2 Proficiency.
  • SATs written after March 2016 with a 610 on the reading and writing section (if written before 2016, 550 is needed on the reading and writing section).

Applicants who do not meet the above English Language Proficiency Requirements

Applicants who do not meet King's usual English Language Proficiency requirements may take King's English Language Studies Assessment Test (ELSAT) provided:

  • You already live in Edmonton
  • You are a mature applicant (over the age of 21) or
  • You are a high school applicant who attended home school

Please note there is a $25 fee to write the ELSAT and it must be scheduled in advance. Applicants must have already submitted an application before they are eligible to write the ELSAT. Contact