What IELTS score does OCAD University require?

If you hold a conditional offer, OCAD's English for Art and Design (EAD) programs replace a retest. With scores in the Bridge to First Year range (IELTS 5.5 with 5.5 in writing, PTE 50, Duolingo 95–105), submitted by 1 June for a fall start, you take the bridge and, if you pass, meet OCAD's English requirement. Duolingo takers with 110 overall but under 105 in Production must take EAD: Expanded, a reduced first-term course load plus an English language learner section of ENGL 1004 in winter; IELTS or TOEFL takers who meet the overall score but miss one section should contact the EAD program.

OCAD considers exemptions, which are not automatic, if within the 24 months before your start you completed at least four years of full-time study at an accredited English-medium high school, two years at an English-medium community college or one year at an English-medium university (ESL and EAP courses excluded). You may need a letter from your school confirming English as the language of instruction. Four years of residence and study in English in a listed country also qualifies; India is not on that list, so an Indian English-medium school record is assessed under the first route. Graduate applicants can instead show a completed bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree taught in English.

OCAD adds that IRCC may still ask you for an English test result for your study permit even if OCAD exempts you, and not every language test is accepted for immigration.

OCAD U'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).