Canada · Vancouver
PTE score for University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia accepts PTE Academic for all international admissions. The standard requirement is 65 overall for undergraduate and 65 overall for postgraduate programs, with per-skill minimums too (see below).
Last verified 2026-06-23. Source: English Language Competency: UBC
PTE Academic score requirements
Undergraduate
65
overall minimum
All minimums must be achieved in a single sitting. PTE Home and PTE Online are NOT accepted.
Postgraduate
65
overall minimum
Standard graduate minimum. Individual programs may require higher scores. Must be the in-person PTE Academic (PTE Home/Online not accepted).
Visa note: Canadian study permits accept PTE Academic as proof of English proficiency for admission. For Express Entry and other IRCC immigration programs, Canada requires PTE Core (not PTE Academic).
Requirements are set by University of British Columbia and can change. Always verify at the English Language Competency: UBC before applying.
PTE requirements by program and faculty
University of British Columbia sets different PTE score thresholds depending on your program. The table below lists the most common bands; always confirm the exact requirement for your intended course.
| Band / Level | Overall | Each skill | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard undergraduate | 65 | 60+ | Most Bachelor programs across all faculties |
| Standard graduate | 65 | 60+ | Most Master's and PhD programs |
| Higher graduate | 72 | 65+ | Select programs (Computer Science, some Education programs). Check individual program pages. |
To find the exact PTE requirement for your specific degree, use the UBC Future Students and select your intended program.
What if your score is below the requirement?
A PTE score that is 2 to 5 points below the requirement is almost always a single-skill problem. One weak skill, commonly Writing or Speaking, pulls the overall score below the threshold while the other three are already sufficient.
The fastest path to closing that gap is identifying which skill is the bottleneck, then drilling it specifically. A free 10-minute diagnostic on this site identifies your weakest skill from your response patterns: no guessing, no wasted prep time.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada accepts PTE Academic as proof of English proficiency for both undergraduate and postgraduate admissions. The minimum requirement for most undergraduate programs is 65 overall with no skill below 60, and for postgraduate programs 65 overall with no skill below 60.
For undergraduate entry at University of British Columbia, you generally need a PTE Academic overall score of 65 with no skill below 60. For postgraduate (masters or graduate coursework) entry, the standard requirement is 65 overall with no skill below 60. Standard graduate minimum. Individual programs may require higher scores. Must be the in-person PTE Academic (PTE Home/Online not accepted). Always confirm with University of British Columbia directly, as individual faculties and programs can set higher requirements.
Most masters and graduate coursework programs at University of British Columbia require a PTE Academic overall score of 65 with no skill below 60. Standard graduate minimum. Individual programs may require higher scores. Must be the in-person PTE Academic (PTE Home/Online not accepted).
Canadian study permits accept PTE Academic as proof of English proficiency for admission. For Express Entry and other IRCC immigration programs, Canada requires PTE Core (not PTE Academic).
It depends on the course, because University of British Columbia sets its PTE bar by program. Its lowest listed band is 65 overall (Most Bachelor programs across all faculties) and its highest is 72 overall (Select programs (Computer Science, some Education programs). Check individual program pages.). So a score below one course's bar can still meet another's. If you are below the band for the course you want, either resit PTE Academic after work on your weakest skill, since one low skill can pull your overall down (and fail any per-skill minimum), or ask University of British Columbia whether it offers an English pathway program. Check the band for your exact course on University of British Columbia's English language requirements page.
Neither is easier in general: University of British Columbia accepts both PTE Academic and IELTS, and what matters is clearing its number for your course, for example 65 overall (no skill below 60) for most undergraduate programs and 65 overall (no skill below 60) for most postgraduate ones. PTE Academic is computer-delivered and scored by AI, and since August 2025 a human expert also reviews the content of seven task types; IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face interview. If a recorded format suits you better than an interview, PTE may be the easier fit. A free PTE mock shows where you stand against University of British Columbia's bar.
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