For international students pursuing Postgraduate Research degrees (Master's Thesis/PhD) in Canada, meeting the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement is an essential and non-negotiable step for admission and subsequent scholarship eligibility. Research scholarships (like internal fellowships, TAships, and research assistantships) are almost always tied directly to your unconditional admission offer, which requires satisfactory ELP scores.

In research programs, scores are often set higher or have stricter sub-score requirements due to the need for clear communication in highly complex academic writing, presentations, and teaching (for TAships). The minimum scores listed below are typically the Faculty of Graduate Studies minimums; always check the specific department/program's requirement.

1. University of Toronto

1. Requirements (SGS Minimum):
2. IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 7.0 with at least 6.5 for each component.
3. TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 93 with minimum section scores of 22 in Writing/Speaking.
4. Conditions: Many research-intensive departments (e.g., in Humanities, Law, Management) require 100 on TOEFL iBT with even higher sub-scores. The university offers a guaranteed base funding package for most PhD students, and eligibility for this funding is dependent on a successful, unconditional offer of admission (i.e., meeting the ELP).

2. University of British Columbia (UBC)

1. Requirements (Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Minimum):
2. IELTS Academic: Minimum overall band score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
3. TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 90 with minimum component scores of 22 (Reading, Listening) and 21 (Writing, Speaking).
4. Conditions: Departmental requirements frequently exceed the UBC minimum. For a research degree, securing a supervisor is crucial, and supervisors often prefer candidates with exceptional English skills for publishing. Eligibility for awards like the International Tuition Award (ITA) is contingent upon the student having full, unconditional admission.

3. McGill University

1. Requirements (Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Minimum):
2. IELTS Academic: Minimum overall band score of 6.5 or greater (Academic module).
3. TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 86, with no less than 20 in each of the four component scores.
4. Conditions: While the minimum is lower than at some peers, most competitive research programs, particularly in the social sciences and humanities, require a higher score. PhD students admitted to thesis programs typically receive a minimum funding package (including stipends, fellowships, and TAships), which is dependent on meeting the ELP standard for admission.

4. McMaster University

1. Requirements (School of Graduate Studies Minimum):
2. IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four modules.
3. TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 86 with a minimum score of 20 in each component.
4. Conditions: As with most research universities, a competitive score is crucial. Many departments (especially in Engineering and Health Sciences) require a 7.0 on IELTS. Research funding is typically confirmed in the offer letter, and meeting the ELP requirement is a necessary step to secure the unconditional offer that includes the funding.

5. University of Alberta

1. Requirements (Minimum for Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research):
2. IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 on each band.
3. TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 90 with a minimum of 21 on each section.
4. Conditions: Departments often require an IELTS of 7.0 or a TOEFL of 100 for competitive research funding applicants. The International Graduate Student Scholarship and other departmental funding are awarded post-admission, so ELP must be satisfied prior to the final admission decision.

6. University of Waterloo

1. Requirements:
2. IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 6.5 with Writing and Speaking minimums of 6.5 and all other bands a minimum of 6.0.
3. TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 90 with a minimum of 25 in Writing and 25 in Speaking.
4. Conditions: Waterloo places a significant emphasis on high writing and speaking scores, which are vital for a research student's success in thesis defense and potential teaching duties (TAships are often part of the funding package). Meeting these higher sub-scores is critical for both admission and the associated funding.

7. Western University

1. Requirements (School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Minimum):
2. IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 6.5 (no section less than 6.0 is implied by some programs).
3. TOEFL iBT: Minimum acceptable score is 86, with no individual score below 20.
4. Conditions: While the university minimum is 6.5, many research programs set their own higher bar. Funding for research students is typically provided through internal fellowships and supervisor grants. To access this funding, an applicant must have a complete file that meets all admission criteria, including the ELP.

8. Queen's University

1. Requirements:
2. IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
3. TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 88 with a minimum of 24 in Writing, 22 in Speaking, 22 in Reading, and 20 in Listening.
4. Conditions: Queen's generally requires a higher overall IELTS score for graduate admission. For major research scholarships, a score well above the minimum is highly recommended to remain competitive against domestic and international applicants. The ELP must be satisfied unconditionally prior to the release of funding.

9. University of Calgary

1. Requirements (Faculty of Graduate Studies Minimum):
2. IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 6.5 with no section less than 6.0.
3. TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 86 with no section below 20.
4. Conditions: Research programs are advised to require higher scores—often IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL 100. For the highly competitive Open Doctoral Scholarship, an applicant must be admitted unconditionally, meaning the ELP must be fulfilled prior to the award being finalized.

10. Simon Fraser University (SFU)

1. Requirements (Graduate Studies Minimum):
2. IELTS Academic: Minimum overall score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each section.
3. TOEFL iBT: Minimum overall score of 93 with minimum section scores of 20.
4. Conditions: SFU's graduate minimums are generally higher than some of its peers, especially for IELTS. Research scholarships and Graduate Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit, and a high ELP score is necessary to qualify for consideration in the highly competitive application pool.