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Canada

We welcome students from Canada

Birkbeck's campus in central London brings together people from all over the world. Our friendly and supportive community is made up of students and tutors from over 140 different countries.

Birkbeck is part of University of London and when you complete your studies with us, you will graduate with a world-renowned University of London degree.

If you are from Canada and thinking about moving to London to study with us, here’s our guide to help with your application and help you understand what life is like in London and at Birkbeck.

Entry Information for students from Canada

  • English language requirements

    The English language requirements for our courses are provided on individual course pages as minimum IELTS scores, however we accept many other tests and qualifications.

    Please visit our English language requirements page for more information. 

  • Undergraduate Entry Requirements

    Students from Canada would normally need to have completed a High School/Secondary School Diploma/Certificate or Diplôme d'Études Collègiales (DEC) with a minimum grade of either 75% in five or six Grade 12 courses (grading as percentage or letter grading will depend on the province/territory); or five Bs (BBBBB).

    Applicants with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or A-levels will be considered for direct admission to our undergraduate degree programmes. IB requirements range from 28 to 33, depending on the course.

    • A-level AAA = 144 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer 90%
    • A-level AAB = 136 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer 85%
    • A-level ABB = 128 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer 85%
    • A-level BBB = 120 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer 80%
    • A-level BBC = 112 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer 75%
    • A-level BCC = 104 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer 70%
    • A-level CCC = 96 UCAS tariff points = comparable offer 65%.

    Grading Schemes vary depending on province or territory. Please upload your transcript when applying and the Admissions team will review.

  • Postgraduate Entry Requirements

    Applicants from Canada need to have completed a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) with a final GPA of at least 2.3/4.0 or equivalent. There are four main scoring systems for Canadian post-school qualifications: a cumulative GPA scale of 9.0, a cumulative GPA scale of 4.00, a percentage grade, or an alphabetical grading system. A few universities also use a 12-point cumulative GPA scale. Canadian grading systems:

    • 9-point: 8 (percentage: 85%; Alpha: A-; 4-point: 3.7; 12-point: 10; English translation or equivalent: 1st)
    • 9-point: 7.0 (percentage: 77%; Alpha: B+; 4-point: 3.3; 12-point: 9; English translation or equivalent: 2:1)
    • 9-point: 5.5 (percentage: 66%; Alpha: C+; 4-point: 2.3; 12-point: 8.5; English translation or equivalent: 2:2).

    Relevant work experience may also be considered for students whose GPAs are slightly below the preferred requirements.

    If you do not meet these criteria, you can apply for OnCampus' Master's Foundation programme, which is available for two or three-term progression onto a wide range of Master’s degrees at Birkbeck.

  • Research degrees entry requirements

    To be considered for entry to a research degree, applicants must have successfully completed a Master's degree from a recognised institution.

    Applicants are strongly urged to contact potential supervisors within the department before submitting a research application.

Canadian Student Loans

Birkbeck is recognised as an institution that is eligible to certify Canadian student loan applications (OSAP). The Canadian student loan programme allows students to borrow money from the government to pursue higher education. 

Canadian student loans are usually managed through the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) and students often apply for these at a provincial level. The Canadian government is responsible for processing most of your loan, but Birkbeck will confirm your student status and certification. 

Further information is available on the CanLearn web pages. 

Birkbeck's institution code is PUEU. For more information or official College certification as part of an application for financial assistance, please email studentadvice@bbk.ac.uk.

Find out about our international scholarships.

Contact Us

If you are from Canada and you are interested in studying at Birkbeck, we would love to hear from you.