Students Life

English Score Requirement

MINIMUM IELTS SCORE

MINIMUM TOEFL IBT

Note: Language proficiency requirements can vary on program basis.

Accomodation

International students may choose one of three accommodation options:

• Homestay
• Residence living on campus (traditional dormitory-style or apartment-style)
• Off-campus housing

Homestay Accommodation
UPEI’s Homestay program is managed by UPEI’s English Language Centre. Host homes are carefully selected, and families interviewed to ensure a good fit for both student-visitors and host families. An on-campus Homestay coordinator is also available to assist students and host families should any difficulties arise. A Homestay is more than renting a room; host families welcome students as members of the family and are eager to assist in learning English and sharing Canadian culture.

Homestay provides:

• A clean private heated room in which to relax and study
• Three meals a day, and access to all home facilities, such as kitchen and laundry
• Transportation to and from UPEI once a day (unless within walking distance or on the bus line)
• Arranging sponsorship guarantees for minors, if required.

Because Charlottetown is a small community, we often know the families on the Homestay list personally. Many of our host families have been successfully hosting UPEI students for years. PEI is a very safe, hospitable place.

UPEI Residences
Located on the UPEI campus, clean, modern, well-equipped and convenient – Residence living is a comfortable way to become familiar with your new home away from home. Read about the facilities, rooms, meal plans, and costs on the Residence Services website.

Off-campus housing
Many apartment rentals are available very close to UPEI. Students are often looking for someone to share with and to sublet their apartment for the summer months. To see what is available, visit UPEI Off-campus Housing Office.

Scholarships

Awarding Scholarships to International Students
Entrance scholarships for academic excellence for international students, funded by the University of Prince Edward Island, are awarded annually to international students who join UPEI from high schools in Canada or other countries. The scholarship amounts range from $1,000 to $3,000. The following eligibility criteria apply to the entrance scholarships for academic excellence for international students at UPEI:

1. Hold a valid Canadian study permit;
2. Demonstrate strong academic performance in high school academic achievement, with converted averages between 90% and 100% (or equivalent GPA), and/or are among the top 5% to 10% of their class rankings; 
3. Participate in extracurricular activities and experiences, such as volunteering experiences, tutoring initiatives, sports activities, arts talents, and/or other relevant experiences;
4. Provide strong recommendations from teachers or instructors who have direct experience with students’ academic activities and performance;
5. Exhibit strong English language skills, that have prepared students for rigorous academic explorations;
6. Show strong potential for future academic development, leadership, and other areas of contributions to the global society.  

The scholarship will be credited to the recipient’s UPEI account to be used as part of her/his tuition and fees at UPEI. After international students finish their first-year studies at UPEI, they can participate in "Celebrating Student Achievement", UPEI's new guaranteed scholarship program for undergraduate students.

Refer to the following chart for Academic Excellence Awards available to second-, third-, and fourth-year undergraduate international students:

In addition to the entrance scholarships and merit-based scholarships for students in second, third, and fourth years, there are other designated scholarships that international students can apply. For more details, please refer to our main Scholarships and Awards page.

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