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DET University Guide · Series 3 of 4

DET Score Requirements for
Canadian Universities
Ontario, UBC, McGill & 25 Verified Schools (2026)

By Sam · DETnTedu.com · Updated May 2026

📚 DET University & College Guide Series

1. DET Score Requirements: US & Canada Major Universities — 50+ Schools
2. DET Score Requirements: US Public Universities — UC, Big Ten & Major State Schools
3. DET Score Requirements: Canadian Universities — Ontario, UBC, McGill & 25 Schools ◀ You are here
4. DET Score Requirements: California Community Colleges — TOP 50
5. DET Score Requirements: Washington State Colleges — Coming Soon
6. DET Score Requirements: New York & New Jersey Colleges — Coming Soon
7. DET Score Requirements: Texas & Florida Colleges — Coming Soon
8. DET Score Requirements: Canadian Colleges — Coming Soon

A common assumption among DET students is that Canadian universities are easier to get into than American ones — at least on the English proficiency side.

That assumption is wrong.

Most major Canadian universities require a DET score of 120 or higher. McGill, UBC, and SFU sit at 125. And several schools that used to accept lower scores — Queen's, TMU, Carleton — have quietly raised their minimums to 120 in recent years. The old information is still out there, and it is still catching students off guard.

That is why I built this guide. Every score listed here was pulled directly from each university's official admissions page. No aggregators, no guesswork.

One thing I did not expect while researching this: subscore conditions are far more common in Canada than in the US. It is not enough to hit 120 overall. At Waterloo, your Literacy and Production subscores each need to reach 125. At Lethbridge, every single subscore must clear 110. Total score alone will not get you in.

⚠️

ImportantAll data verified from official university admissions pages, May 2026. Requirements change — always confirm directly with the institution before applying.

0 Quick Score Overview

DET Score	What It Opens in Canada
95–105	U of Guelph (IAP conditional pathway), U of Regina (conditional)
110	U of Guelph (direct entry — lowest direct score in Ontario)
115	Memorial University, Acadia University, Western University (UWO)
120	UofT, McMaster, Waterloo, Queen's, Carleton, TMU, U of Ottawa, York, Concordia, UVic, U of Alberta, U of Calgary, U of Manitoba, U of Winnipeg, U of Saskatchewan, U of Regina, Dalhousie
125+	UBC, SFU, McGill
130	McGill (B.Ed., B.Com.), York Nursing & Schulich Business

1 Ontario — 10 Universities

Ontario is home to Canada's largest city and its most concentrated cluster of research universities. Graduating here puts you close to the country's largest job market and some of its most established post-graduation immigration pathways. One thing to know going in: with the exception of Western (115) and Guelph (110), every Ontario university on this list requires 120. That number has become the de facto floor for this province.

Ontario DET Requirements

University	Location	Undergrad DET	Subscore Condition	Known For	Key Notes
University of Toronto	Toronto	120	Production 120+	QS Top 25 research university	Grad (SGS): DET not accepted ⚠️
York University	Toronto	120	Engineering: 105+	Largest law school in Canada	Nursing & Schulich Business: 130
McMaster University	Hamilton	120	R 115, W 125, L 110, S 115	Medicine, Health Sciences, PBL	Some grad programs: DET not accepted
U of Waterloo	Waterloo	120	Literacy & Production 125+	#1 Co-op in Canada, CS & Engineering	Subscore condition is strict ⚠️
Western University (UWO)	London	115	None	Ivey Business School, Law	Nursing: separate requirement
Queen's University	Kingston	120	None	Business, Law, Engineering	Raised from 110 — old data still online ⚠️
Carleton University	Ottawa	120	W/R/S 110+, L 105+	Politics, Journalism, Engineering	Conditional from 80; some programs excluded
TMU (formerly Ryerson)	Toronto	120	None	Career-focused, downtown Toronto	Grad: DET not accepted ⚠️
U of Ottawa	Ottawa	120	None	Only bilingual university in Canada	Verify by faculty for grad
U of Guelph	Guelph	110	None	Agriculture, Vet Science, Food Science	IAP conditional pathway from 90

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Queen's UniversityThe 110 score still appears on many third-party sites. The current official minimum is 120. Do not rely on outdated sources — this one trips up more applicants than any other school in Ontario.

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U of Waterloo SubscoresA total score of 120 is not enough. Literacy and Production must each reach 125. Many applicants clear the overall threshold but miss this — and get rejected anyway.

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Carleton University120 gets you direct entry. A score of 80 or above may get you a conditional offer with ESL requirements — but not for Nursing, Health Sciences, Journalism, or Architecture. Also worth noting: Carleton College in the US requires 130. They are completely different institutions.

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UofT & TMU GraduateThe School of Graduate Studies at UofT does not accept DET — at all. Same applies to TMU graduate programs. Plan accordingly if graduate study is in your future.

💡 Key Takeaway — Ontario

Ontario's effective floor is 120. The only exceptions are Western (115) and Guelph (110). If Ontario is your target region, build your entire preparation plan around 120 from day one.

🏆 Ontario Top 3

🥇

University of Toronto

Canada's top research university — QS Top 25 globally

🥈

U of Waterloo

Strongest Co-op network in Canada — CS and Engineering powerhouse

🥉

McMaster University

Leading in medicine, health sciences, and problem-based learning

2 British Columbia — 3 Universities

Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in Canada. It is also consistently ranked among the most livable — and for students from Asia, Latin America, and beyond, its geography and cultural familiarity make it a top destination. All three BC universities on this list require 120 or above. UBC and SFU sit at 125.

BC DET Requirements

University	Location	Undergrad DET	Subscore Condition	Known For	Key Notes
UBC	Vancouver	125	R/L 115+, W/S 120+	Canada's top western university, Environmental Science, Forestry	Grad: 125 accepted (subscore 115+)
SFU	Vancouver	125	None	High Co-op participation, downtown campus	⚠️ DET pilot — confirmed through Fall 2026 only
UVic	Victoria	120	All subscores 110+	Law, Marine Science, Engineering	Grad varies by program

⚠️

SFU Pilot ProgramSFU is currently accepting DET under a pilot arrangement confirmed only through Fall 2026. After that, policy may change. Check the official admissions page before committing to this school as a DET target.

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UBC SubscoresTotal score of 125 is required, but Reading and Listening must each reach 115, and Writing and Speaking must each reach 120. Hitting 125 overall without meeting subscore minimums is not sufficient.

💡 Key Takeaway — BC

If BC is your target, plan for 125. UVic at 120 is the most accessible of the three — but all subscores must still reach 110.

🏆 BC Top 3

🥇

UBC

Canada's top western university — strong global research reputation

🥈

SFU

Practical and Co-op focused — downtown Vancouver campus

🥉

UVic

Smaller campus in Victoria — strong in law and marine science

3 Quebec — 2 Universities

Montreal is one of the most affordable major cities in North America — and one of the most culturally distinct. McGill and Concordia both teach in English, despite being in a French-speaking province. McGill is the only Canadian university currently ranked in the QS global Top 30. The combination of world-class reputation and relatively low cost of living makes it genuinely hard to beat.

Quebec DET Requirements

University	Location	Undergrad DET	Subscore Condition	Known For	Key Notes
McGill University	Montreal	125 (some: 130)	Subscores required	QS Top 30, Medicine, Law, Sciences	Grad: most programs DET not accepted ⚠️
Concordia University	Montreal	120	Subscore 90+	Arts, Business, Computer Science	English-language public research university

⚠️

McGill B.Ed. & B.Com.Education and Commerce programs require 130, not 125. If you are applying to these specific programs, the general McGill minimum does not apply to you.

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McGill GraduateMost McGill graduate programs do not accept DET. If a graduate degree at McGill is part of your long-term plan, start preparing IELTS or TOEFL now — not after you arrive.

⚠️

Quebec French RequirementThe Quebec government has introduced a requirement for students entering English-language universities from Fall 2025. A significant portion of graduates from outside Quebec will need to demonstrate French proficiency at Level 5 (intermediate) by graduation. Programs including Nursing, Dietetics, and Rehabilitation Sciences require French ability for clinical placement from day one.

💡 Key Takeaway — Quebec

McGill at 125–130 is the highest bar in Quebec. Concordia at 120 is the more accessible option — and still a recognized research university in central Montreal.

🏆 Quebec Top 2

🥇

McGill University

Canada's only QS Top 30 university — world-class reputation, affordable city

🥈

Concordia University

Accessible English-language option in Montreal — strong in arts and CS

4 Alberta, Manitoba & Saskatchewan — 7 Universities

Alberta stands out for one practical reason: no provincial income tax. For students planning to work in Canada after graduation, that means meaningfully higher take-home pay than in Ontario or BC. Manitoba and Saskatchewan are home to world-class research in agriculture, veterinary science, and pharmacy.

What changed recently: this region used to be seen as a lower-bar alternative — 110 to 115 was the common expectation. That is no longer accurate. All seven universities listed here now require 120, and most have layered subscore conditions on top of that.

Prairie Region DET Requirements

University	Location	Undergrad DET	Subscore Condition	Known For	Key Notes
U of Alberta	Edmonton	120	All subscores 100+	Top 5 research university in Canada, Engineering	Health sciences: separate conditions may apply
U of Calgary	Calgary	120	None	Energy sector, Business, Medicine	Nursing & Education: DET not accepted ⚠️
U of Lethbridge	Lethbridge	120	All subscores 110+	Arts, Business, Education	Strictest subscore condition in this region ⚠️
U of Manitoba	Winnipeg	120	All subscores 105+	Medicine, Agriculture, largest in Manitoba	Law & IDDP: DET not accepted
U of Winnipeg	Winnipeg	120	None	Humanities, Social Sciences, Liberal Arts	Some specialized programs require 125
U of Saskatchewan	Saskatoon	120	All subscores 100+	Agriculture, Vet Science, Pharmacy	New requirements effective January 2026
U of Regina	Regina	120	Conversation & Production 115+, Literacy 105+, Comprehension 100+	Engineering, Business	Nursing & Education: DET not accepted ⚠️, conditional from 90

⚠️

U of Lethbridge SubscoresEvery subscore must reach 110. This is the strictest subscore condition among all universities in this region. A total score of 120 with even one subscore below 110 will not meet the requirement.

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U of Regina SubscoresConversation and Production must each reach 115 — higher than the typical floor seen elsewhere. Nursing and Education programs at U of Regina do not accept DET at all.

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U of Calgary Health & EducationBoth Nursing and Education at U of Calgary require TOEFL or IELTS. DET is not accepted for these programs, even though it is accepted for general undergraduate admission.

💡 Key Takeaway — Prairie Region

120 is now the standard across all seven universities here. But reaching 120 overall is necessary — not sufficient. Each school has its own subscore floor. Check them all before finalizing your application plan.

🏆 Prairie Region Top 3

🥇

U of Alberta

Top 5 research university in Canada — no provincial income tax in Alberta

🥈

U of Calgary

Strong industry ties in energy, business, and medicine

🥉

U of Manitoba

Manitoba's flagship research university

5 Atlantic Canada — 3 Universities

Atlantic Canada offers the most affordable cost of living of any university region in this guide. Smaller cities, quieter campuses, lower tuition. For students who want to focus on academics without the financial pressure of Toronto or Vancouver, this region deserves serious consideration.

Atlantic Canada DET Requirements

University	Location	Undergrad DET	Subscore Condition	Known For	Key Notes
Dalhousie University	Halifax	120	None	Medicine, Law, Marine Science	Top university in Atlantic Canada
Memorial University (MUN)	St. John's	115	None	Among Canada's lowest tuition	Grad: 125 accepted
Acadia University	Wolfville	115	None	Teaching-focused, small campus	Grad: DET not accepted ⚠️

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Acadia GraduateAcadia's graduate programs do not accept DET. If you plan to continue to graduate study after Acadia, prepare IELTS or TOEFL during your undergraduate years — not after you graduate.

💡 Key Takeaway — Atlantic Canada

Dalhousie at 120 is the top-ranked school in the region. Memorial and Acadia both accept 115 — making Atlantic Canada one of the few regions where 115 is still a realistic entry point for a recognized university.

🏆 Atlantic Canada Top 3

🥇

Dalhousie University

Atlantic Canada's top research university — Medicine, Law, Marine Science

🥈

Memorial University (MUN)

Canada's most affordable major university by tuition

🥉

Acadia University

Small campus, strong undergraduate teaching focus

6 Graduate DET Policies — Canada

Canada has a notable gap between undergraduate and graduate DET acceptance. Several universities that accept DET for undergrad draw a hard line at the graduate level. If a Canadian graduate degree is in your long-term plan, this table matters.

University	Undergraduate	Graduate
University of Toronto	✅ 120	❌ SGS — not accepted
McGill University	✅ 125	❌ Most programs — not accepted
TMU	✅ 120	❌ Not accepted
Acadia University	✅ 115	❌ Not accepted
UBC	✅ 125	✅ 125 (subscore 115+)
Memorial University	✅ 115	✅ 125

💡

If graduate study at UofT, McGill, or TMU is part of your long-term plan, start preparing TOEFL or IELTS now — even while you are still working toward your DET target for undergrad.

7 Score-Based Application Strategy

Use this as a starting point for building your Canadian university list. One thing worth saying plainly: if your score is currently at 115, you have real options — Western, Memorial, and Acadia are all legitimate universities. But if your goal is Ontario's core research universities or BC's top schools, the target is 120 to 125. Build toward that.

Your DET Score	Realistic Canadian Targets	What to Focus On
95–105	U of Guelph (IAP conditional), U of Regina (conditional)	Conditional pathways — commit to the full route
110	U of Guelph (direct entry)	Lowest direct-entry score in Ontario
115	Memorial, Acadia, Western (UWO)	Atlantic Canada + Ontario — solid starting point
120	UofT, McMaster, Waterloo, Queen's, Carleton, TMU, U of Ottawa, York, Concordia, UVic, U of Alberta, U of Calgary, U of Manitoba, U of Winnipeg, U of Saskatchewan, U of Regina, Dalhousie	Core target for most Canadian universities — also check subscores
125+	UBC, SFU, McGill	Top-tier Canadian universities
130	McGill B.Ed./B.Com., York Nursing & Schulich Business	Specific high-demand programs — plan early

8 Final Thoughts

After going through every official admissions page for this guide, a few things stood out.

The 120 floor is real and it is widespread. Outside of Western, Guelph, Memorial, and Acadia, nearly every major Canadian university now sits at 120 or above. The idea that Canada is the lower-bar alternative to the US is simply not accurate anymore.

Subscore conditions are more common here than most applicants realize. Waterloo, Lethbridge, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Regina — all of them publish specific subscore minimums alongside the overall score. Meeting the total without checking subscores is one of the most common application mistakes I see.

Old data is everywhere and it is wrong. I found multiple universities still being listed incorrectly on major study-abroad websites — Queen's at 110, TMU at 115, Carleton at 115. None of those are current. The information has not caught up. Always go to the official admissions page.

And if you are thinking long-term: UofT, McGill, and TMU do not accept DET at the graduate level. If a graduate degree at one of those schools is in your future, IELTS or TOEFL belongs in your preparation plan now — not after you arrive.

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