TOEFL for the UK, Canada & Australia

Is TOEFL accepted in the UK?

Yes, for direct university admission — the large majority of UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, accept TOEFL scores. The one exception is the UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Secure English Language Test requirement for certain visa categories, which specifically requires IELTS or another UKVI-approved test, separate from your university's own admission requirement.

Is TOEFL accepted in Canada?

Yes. The large majority of Canadian universities, including Toronto, UBC, and McGill, accept TOEFL for both undergraduate and graduate admission. Some programs may state a preference for a different test — always check your specific program's page.

Is TOEFL accepted in Australia?

Yes, both for university admission and as one of the accepted tests for Australian student visa English-language requirements. Confirm current visa subclass rules before booking, since immigration requirements can change independently of university admission policy.

Do I need IELTS instead of TOEFL if I'm applying outside the US?

Not for university admission in the UK, Canada, or Australia — TOEFL is broadly accepted for that. The one specific exception is the UK's UKVI visa pathway, which requires IELTS or another UKVI-approved test regardless of which test your university accepts for admission.

Who actually takes the TOEFL?

TOEFL's test-taker base is not concentrated where many assume. Chinese, Korean, and Japanese speakers together make up roughly half of all test-takers, and Spanish speakers (mainly from Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Peru) are the next largest group. Speakers of Indian languages, who dominate IELTS, are a comparatively smaller share of TOEFL specifically.