English Entrance Requirements for International Students
English is the primary language of instruction at VCC. All applicants are required to demonstrate the appropriate level of English language proficiency to function successfully in an English-speaking classroom.
English entrance requirements vary by programs. Here's how you can check the requirements and equivalencies accepted.
Visit the program page of your choice, and find out the English grade required for the program.
Refer to the chart below for the common assessments you can use to meet the English language proficiency requirements.
Click on the English grades below to see other equivalencies accepted, such as CAEL, Cambridge, PTE, VCC EAL Accuplacer assessments, University English grade, BC EAP level, and more.
Planning to study English to meet the requirements? Check out the options available to international students.
CAEL CE/CAEL Online (Canadian Academic English Language Test), Cambridge Assessment (B2 First (FCE) or C1 Advanced (CAE)), Duolingo English Test, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online (Pearson Test of English) and TOEFL iBT are accepted as external test options for meeting VCC's English entrance requirements, in addition to VCC EAL (ESL) Accuplacer + VCC EAL (ESL) Speaking Assessment. English test scores are valid for 2 years. The test scores must be valid at the time a complete application is received at VCC.
Speaking and listening requirements can be satisfied through secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the medium of instruction and is also one of the country’s official languages.
American Samoa Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Australia Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda Botswana British Virgin Islands Canada Cayman Islands Dominica Falkland Islands Fiji Gambia
Ghana Gibraltar Grenada Guam Guyana Ireland Jamaica Kenya Lesotho Liberia Malta Mauritius Montserrat New Zealand Nigeria Saint Helena
Saint Lucia Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore South Africa Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands Uganda United Kingdom United States United States Virgin Islands Zambia Zimbabwe
Students from institutions accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and B.C. Certified Offshore Schools may meet VCC's English language requirements if they have an equivalent academic English course with the respective grade required by the program. Please contact study@vcc.ca for more information.
*English as an Additional Language (EAL/ESL) courses are not considered in the three-year calculation.
Other equivalencies may also be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Submit a complete application to confirm if the English entrance requirements are met.
Study English to Meet the Requirements
If you do not meet VCC's English admissions requirements, you may study at VCC's ESL Pathway program, or at VCC's partner language schools (ILAC or ILSC) to meet VCC's requirements.
Remember to request your scores to be submitted to VCC for your application to be reviewed.
CAEL CE/CAEL Online
Request your CAEL Official Score Report by providing VCC's details when registering CAEL, or up to 1 business day before your scores are posted on the CAEL website. Check the CAEL website for more details.
Cambridge Assessment
Provide your test details, such as Cambridge centre, candidate numbers, and the relevant examination series (identified by month and year e.g., June 2014) so we may verify your results. Check the Cambridge Assessment website for more details.
Duolingo English Test
Request the Duolingo results to be sent directly to VCC - International Student Admission and inform VCC once it is requested. Results are typically released to VCC within 48 hours of the request. Check the Duolingo English Test website for more details.
IELTS Academic/IELTS Academic Online
Submit the IELTS Test Report with your application. A screenshot of the score on the IELTS website is not accepted, unless the Test Report Form (TRF) number is provided. Check the IELTS website for more details.
PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online (Pearson Test of English)
Submit the TOEFL iBT score report with your application. A screenshot of the score on the TOEFL website is not accepted, unless the Appointment Number is provided. Check the TOEFL website for more details.
