StMU minimum scores
From St. Mary's international students page. For BA, BSc, Open Studies, the ESR diploma and transfer programs the IELTS line reads only "no individual score below 6.0", with no separate overall figure. Duolingo is not listed.
| Test | BA, BSc, Open Studies, ESR diploma, transfer | Bachelor of Education After-Degree |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | No band below 6.0 | 8.0, no band below 7.0 |
| TOEFL iBT (from 21 January 2026) | 4.5, no section below 4 | 5.5; Speaking 5.5, others 5 |
| TOEFL iBT (before 21 January 2026) | 80, no section below 19 | 98; S27 W25 L23 R23 |
| PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online | 59 | Not accepted |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | 180 | 200 |
| Michigan English Test | 85 | Not accepted |
India and Nigeria on the exempt list
StMU says students who completed formal full-time studies at an accredited English secondary or post-secondary institution in a listed country, with proof of education in English, have met its English requirement. The list includes India, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Singapore, Cameroon (English-stream GCE) and the UK. Pakistan is not on it.
Ask StMU what proof of English-medium education it wants from an Indian school or university before you skip a test, and remember the exemption is for admission only.
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Study permit and PGWP: separate rules
StMU issues a Provincial Attestation Letter after you apply and are accepted, and students already in Canada who change institutions need a study permit extension with a new letter from StMU.
StMU's scores decide admission only. IRCC sets no minimum English score for a study permit; any language condition is written into your letter of acceptance (see IELTS for a Canada study permit). The Post-Graduation Work Permit is a separate test again. IRCC's PGWP eligibility page asks for CLB 7 in all four skills if you graduate with a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, and CLB 7 too if you graduate from any other university program, which must also be in an eligible field of study if you applied for your study permit on or after 1 November 2024. The lower CLB 5 applies only to college, polytechnic and other non-university programs. On IELTS General Training, CLB 7 is 6.0 in each skill (IRCC score table). The PGWP takes IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core, not IELTS Academic (see IELTS for the PGWP).
Minimum vs competitive score
Where St. Mary's University in Calgary publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indian students need IELTS for St. Mary's University Calgary?+
Not if they completed formal full-time studies at an accredited English-medium school or university in India and can prove it. India is on StMU's exempt list.
What IELTS does St. Mary's University Calgary need?+
IELTS Academic with no individual band below 6.0 for BA, BSc, Open Studies and transfer programs, and 8.0 with no band below 7.0 for the B.Ed. After-Degree.
Does StMU accept PTE?+
Yes, PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online at 59 for most programs. The B.Ed. After-Degree does not accept PTE.
Does StMU accept Duolingo?+
Duolingo is not on St. Mary's list of acceptable English tests.
Does the St. Mary's University IELTS score count for the PGWP?+
No. The university's score is an admission rule on IELTS Academic. For the PGWP, IRCC asks university graduates, of degree and other university programs alike, for CLB 7 in every skill, proved with IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core.
Keep reading
Related
- University of Calgary IELTS requirement
- Mount Royal University IELTS requirement
- IELTS for teachers in Canada
- IELTS for the Canada PGWP
- All 1288 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 13 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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