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Language Policy

Every student has the right to write term papers, examinations and theses in English or in French, except in courses where knowledge of a language is one of the objectives of the course.

 

Career and Professional Development Language Proficiency

Admission to all Career and Professional Development programs requires proficiency in English.
Accordingly, and effective immediately, applicants to the Department of Career and Professional Development may demonstrate suitable proficiency in the use of English by use of the following:

Competency in English
The language of instruction for most courses and programs at McGill is English; however, students may submit any written work that is to be graded in English or French, except in cases where knowledge of the language is one of the objectives of the course. Applicants must demonstrate an adequate level of proficiency in English prior to admission, regardless of citizenship status or country of origin. McGill University has this language requirement in place to ensure that all students are provided with the opportunity to succeed in their chosen program. In all cases, the University reserves the right to require proof of English proficiency if it is deemed necessary. Below you will find information on when proof of proficiency is required.

If you answer “yes” to any of the following seven statements, you do NOT necessarily need to provide proof of English proficiency, but must provide documentation to support your answer.

• Have you lived and attended school, for at least four years, in a country where English is the acknowledged primary language?

 

• Have you completed both Secondary V and a DEC at a French CEGEP in Quebec?

 

• Have you completed a DEC at an English CEGEP in Quebec, during or later than 2003?

 

• Have you or will you complete a French Baccalaureate – Option Internationale (British or American section)?

 

• Have you or will you complete International Baccalaureate English A with a final result of 5 or better?

 

• Have you or will you complete the British Curriculum A-Level English with a final grade of ‘C’ or better?

 

• Have you completed the British Curriculum GCSE/IGCSE/GCE O-Level English, English Language, English First Language, or English as a Second Language with a final grade of ‘B’ or better?

 

If you answered “no” to all of the above, but answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you will be asked to provide supporting documentation to this effect and may still be asked to provide proof of English language proficiency.

• Do you consider English to be your mother tongue?

 

• Have you been attending school, for at least four consecutive years, at an accredited educational institution (in a non-English speaking country) where English is the language of instruction?

 

• Have you obtained an undergraduate degree from an accredited educational institution where the language of instruction in your program of study was English (minimum three years)?

 

• Have you obtained a graduate degree from an accredited educational institution where the language of instruction in your program of study was English (minimum two years)?

 

Applicants to the Department of Career and Professional Development who do not meet any of the above-listed conditions must demonstrate proficiency in English using one of the following options:

1) TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): minimum acceptable scores are
iBT (internet based test) PBT (paper based test)
90 overall (a minimum individual component score of 21 in each of the four components i.e. reading, writing, listening and speaking) 577

 

2) IELTS (International English Language Testing System): a band score of 6.5 or better.

 

3) MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery): a minimum mark of 85%.

 

4) APIEL (Advanced Placement International English Language): a minimum score of 4.

 

5) McGill CCE TELP (McGill CCE Test of English Language Proficiency): a Category A result.

 

6) McGill Certificate of Proficiency in English or McGill Certificate of Proficiency – English for Professional Communication: Certificate of Proficiency awarded.

 

7) University of Cambridge ESOL Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): a grade of “B” (Good) or higher.

 

8) University of Cambridge ESOL Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): a grade of “C” (Pass) or higher.

 

9) Edexcel London Test of English – Level 4 – with an overall grade of at least “Merit Pass”.

 

10) Edexcel London Test of English – Level 5 – with an overall grade of at least “Pass”.

 

NOTE: Your test results must be reported directly to the University by the test centre; consequently, candidates’ copies of results will not be accepted as proof of English language proficiency. It is your responsibility to ensure that the official test results in an official format are forwarded directly by the testing service to Client Services (Admissions) of the School of Continuing Studies, 688 Sherbrooke St. West, 11th Floor, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3R1. For TOEFL and APIEL, the institutional code at McGill University is 0935-00.

For more information on the Proficiency Test, please see: Language requirements

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