English as a second language courses

Dalhousie’s College of Continuing Education offers English as a Second Language (ESL) programs to ensure that Dal students have the language skills they need to achieve success in their chosen degree programs.

Applicants who are slightly below the English language competency requirement may consider enrolling in one of these programs.

Find out more about the college’s ESL programs.

Applicants can apply to the Master of Engineering in Internetworking degree program and, if all other admission requirements are met, may be offered a conditional admission based on their successful completion of our ESL program and meeting our English Language competency requirement.

Application requirements - IELTS and TOEFL

To be eligible for conditional acceptance, applicants must provide a current score from either IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Testing of English as a Foreign Language). Your score must

• be dated within the last 2 years
• preferably be between 6 and 7

Your IELTS or TOEFL score level will determine the your placement in Dal’s ESL program, as determined by the ESL program director.

Please note that a minimum grade must be achieved upon completion of the ESL program in order for the IELTS or TOEFL testing to be waived. This minimum grade is set by our Faculty of Graduate Studies (and is noted on the College of Continuing Education’s website). If you succeed in passing the ESL program but do not obtain the required grade for the waiver, you will be required to take an IELTS or TOEFL test and present an acceptable score prior to enrolment in the degree program.

Fees associated with the ESL programs are not included in the degree program fees.

Application requirements for student visas vary from country to country. Therefore, you should also check with your immigration office regarding the English requirement to support your visa application. These requirements may be different than ours.