TOEFL Requirement for CUD: Complete Score Guide for Indian Students (2026)

Quick Overview

Key Takeaways

• The minimum TOEFL score needed for undergraduate programs is TOEFL iBT 61 or 2.5. This is for all fields of study except for the ones that are specifically noted. This new score is for tests taken on January 21 2026 or later.

• The minimum TOEFL score for the BA in Creative Industries is TOEFL iBT 71. The IELTS score is 5.5. This TOEFL score is needed for conditional admission to graduate programs and not the standard graduate requirement.

• Every CUD Master's programme, including the MBA, sets the standard graduate bar at TOEFL iBT 79 (IELTS Academic Band 6.0). There is no separate, higher MBA-only threshold.

• TOEFL Home Edition, IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online, and IELTS UKVI scores are not accepted for CUD admission at any level.

• All admitted students must also clear CUD's Math Placement Test, unless exempted. Clearing your English score does not end the testing.

• The deadline to apply for the CUD program for students for the Fall 2026 term is August 21 2026. All required documents need to be kept completed by August 28 2026.

• The CUD program does not share an acceptance rate. 

• If someone took the TOEFL test two years ago, they need to take it again.

Introduction

The TOEFL requirement for CUD depends on your programme level: iBT 61 for most undergraduate courses, iBT 71 for BA Creative Industries, and iBT 79 for every graduate programme, including the MBA. Every intake, hundreds of Indian applicants search for this exact figure before opening Canadian University Dubai's online application, and a fair number land on outdated or misquoted numbers, particularly at the graduate level. The situation became more confusing with a new change on January 21, 2026, when ETS announced that beginning February 1, 2026, a new 1-6 score scale would be introduced alongside the regular 0-120 scale.

In this guide, we will discuss CUD’s TOEFL/IELTS requirements for Undergraduate, Graduate, and English-medium exemptions, the Fall 2026 application deadlines, the unexpected Math Placement test that CUD administers after English tests, and what Indian students in particular should know before registering for an examination. Let’s get going.

About Canadian University Dubai

Canadian University Dubai (CUD), located in City Walk, Dubai and is a private institution. It has undergraduate and graduate programs in areas like Architecture and Business Management, Communication, Computing, AI, Engineering, Health Sciences, Sustainability, Psychology, Design AI. They also have Interior Design and Creative Industries and even a Doctor of Business Administration program.

TOEFL Requirement for CUD: What the Official Page Says

CUD has three levels of English proficiency and the graduate level is not the one that most guides talk about. For undergraduate programs at CUD you need to have a minimum score of IELTS Academic Band 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 61 or TOEFL ITP 500 to be accepted. The Bachelor of Arts in Creative Industries program needs a score of IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 or TOEFL ITP 530.

For the graduate level, CUD’s requirement for every Masters program and postgraduate diploma including the MBA is that you need to have an IELTS  Academic score of Band 6.0 or a TOEFL iBT score of 79 or, a TOEFL ITP score of 550 or a new scale score of 4. You can find this information on the university’s Graduate Admission Requirements page. This page has a table that shows the required scores for each test side by side.

The university gives a chance to the people who do not meet the standards and still be considered for admission by giving graduate students conditional offers if they have an IELTS Academic Band score of 5.5 or a TOEFL iBT score of 71 or a TOEFL ITP score of 530. 

Some other guides say that these scores are the standard requirement for students but that may not be correct. If the university conditionally admits a graduate student there are three rules they have to follow: the graduate student must get an IELTS Academic Band score of 6.0 or equivalent by the end of their semester, they can only take a maximum of six credit hours in that semester and they must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 out of 4.0 for those credit hours. If they do not meet these conditions they will be dismissed.

The English exemption is different for each level. Many Indian applicants make the mistake of mixing up the two versions: 

• At the undergraduate level, students do not have to take the English test if they got 80 percent or higher in English under the UAE Ministry of Education's Advanced Track curriculum.

• At the graduate level, the English exemption rules are stricter. It only applies to students who went to school and got a bachelor's degree in English in a country where English is the main language, such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia or New Zealand. An English-medium Indian degree, on its own, does not qualify a graduate applicant for this exemption.

For a comparison of the test scores required by Canadian University Dubai and other universities in the UAE,  you can look at our guide to the best universities in the UAE that accept the TOEFL test.

Canadian University Dubai accepts TOEFL ITP scores but, you cannot book this test on your own from India. A practical option is to take the Institutional TOEFL test at the CUD campus. You can find the dates for this test on Canadian University Dubai's website. You can book a spot through the Registration Department, which is easy to do once you are in Dubai but not before you get there.

If You Don't Want to Take TOEFL or IELTS

TOEFL and IELTS are not the only tests accepted by CUD. The admission requirements list of CUD declares that any standardised English language test is acceptable, provided that it is approved by the UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The Language Placement Tests page of CUD also scores PTE Academic (PTE-A) as an option. There are three test centres in UAE for PTE-A, including JNS Testing and Training Center in Barsha, Dubai; TEPTH in Silicon Oasis, Dubai; and UAE-Academy in Abu Dhabi. 

EmSAT Achieve, the test that several other UAE universities list by name, falls under the same general approval by MOE but CUD’s admission pages specifically list IELTS, TOEFL iBT and TOEFL ITP rather than EmSAT. If you are considering submitting an EmSAT or another test in its place make sure to check with CUD admissions first as a specific cut-off score for EmSAT has not been published. Here is our guide to compare IELTS, PTE and TOEFL tests to help you decide which test you should go for. 

Understanding the New TOEFL 1-6 Scale

Since January 21, 2026, ETS reports every TOEFL iBT score on a new 1-6 band scale aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), alongside the older 0-120 total. During this two-year transition (2026-2028), your score report shows both numbers plus a CEFR level. Per ETS's published conversion table, a score of 61 on the old scale falls in the 2.5 band, 71 falls in the 3.5 band, and 79 falls in the 4.0 band.

The overall band is the average of your four section scores, rounded to the nearest half band, so a strong Reading and Listening performance can offset a weaker Speaking or Writing section within the same overall figure. This matters when you are deciding which skill to prioritise in prep, since one weak section does not automatically drop your overall band below CUD's cutoff. Universities are still changing their published limits to show this change so always look at the number on CUDs page instead of using an older picture. TOEFL full form and 2026 format covers the scoring system, test layout and time changes, in more detail if you want the full information before you sign up.

Choosing Between TOEFL and IELTS at CUD

Both TOEFL and IELTS are accepted by CUD so, the choice between them should be determined not by the fact of overcoming the barrier of a particular score, but by differences in the test design and the possibility of retakes.

IELTS in India is switching to a fully computer-based test from September 2026. IDP Education, the only IELTS test center in India, will discontinue IELTS on Paper after the last three test dates on July 25, August 6, and August 22, 2026. From September 2026, Listening, Reading, and Writing will be done on a computer, while Speaking is an interview with a certified examiner. Both modes will be available in some regions in the form of IELTS on Computer: Listening, Reading, and Writing on a computer, and Speaking on paper. TOEFL, in turn, has always been conducted exclusively on a computer, testing skills in academic English through four integrated reading, listening, speaking, and writing tasks.

CUD accepts both TOEFL and IELTS on equal footing at every threshold above, so the decision comes down to format and retake mechanics rather than which score clears a higher bar.

Retake mechanics differ too, and this is a significant consideration for a borderline candidate, sometimes more so than delivery mode. IELTS has a One Skill Retake which is for computer-based tests that lets you resubmit the part of the test where you got the lowest score without the need to take the whole test again. TOEFL does not have this option- you have to take the whole test if you want to appear even for one section again for which you have to wait at least three days before you can take the test again. The TOEFL retake policy page mentions the fee, the waiting period, and other details regarding resubmitting scores.

If you are looking for a similar listing for CUD and other universities, you can check the list of UAE Universities Accepting IELTS.

CUD Acceptance Rate: What the Data Actually Shows

CUD does not officially publish its acceptance rate, and admissions are based on meeting the requirements rather than competing for a certain quota. Some third-party education websites claim that the general acceptance rate is between 65-85%, but this data is not officially confirmed by the CUD. For more information about the CUD ranking system and how the numbers mentioned above were retrieved, you may check out the  Canadian University Dubai Ranking Guide.

CUD Application Deadline for Fall 2026

CUD accepts applications to the university for Fall, Spring, and Summer intakes on a rolling basis. However, students are advised to apply early as the priority is given to those files completed by the deadline due to limited seats in the programs. This information was extracted from the CUD Deadlines for Admission page, accessed on 18 August 2026.

How to Apply to CUD

Once your TOEFL or IELTS score is in hand, here is what CUD's official process asks for:

• First you have to fill out the application on the Canadian University Dubai website.

• You will have to send a certified copy of your Secondary School Certificate and if you are applying for a graduate program, you will need to send your Bachelors degree and transcripts.

• Next you have to send a copy of your passport. If you live in the UAE, you also need to send a copy of your residence visa.

• You also need to send your English Language Proficiency Certificate, which can be a TOEFL or IELTS or any other test that CUD accepts.

• There is an application fee that you have to pay of AED 525. This is around ₹13,680. You should check the current exchange rate because it can change.

• You need to get your high school or degree certificates attested. Meaning, stamped by the Ministry of Education in the country where you got them. Then you need to get them stamped by the UAE embassy or consulate. After that you need to get an Equivalency Certificate from the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education for your CUD application.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum proficiency requirements are not refused. CUD gives conditional admission to such students with limitations instead of unrestricted courses. Undergraduate students can study for 12 credit hours conditionally before they fulfill the English proficiency requirements. However, graduate students are limited to six credit hours and expected to achieve IELTS Academic Band 6.0 or its equivalent by the end of their first semester. Additionally, graduate students need to maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.0 in the six credit hours. Failure to satisfy these conditions can lead to being dismissed from the university. Therefore, students should consider whether conditional admission or taking the TOEFL test is a better option.

CUD Courses That Apply This TOEFL Requirement

The university requires TOEFL and IELTS scores for all the courses except the Creative Industries program and the graduate programs that need a score of 79 or 6.0:

• The university has undergraduate courses like Architecture, Interior Design, Business Management, Communication, Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Health Sciences, Sustainability, Psychology, Design, Artificial Intelligence and Creative Industries.

• The university has graduate courses like MBA, Master in Information Technology Management and Governance, MSc Financial Technology, MSc Project Management, MSc Business Analytics, Master of Public Health, MSc Artificial Intelligence, MSc Environmental Artificial Intelligence, MSc Design Innovation for Circular Economy, Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management, Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Technology, Postgraduate Diploma in Business Analytics, Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Artificial Intelligence, and Doctor of Business Administration.

• The Doctor of Business Administration at the Canadian University Dubai has its deadline which is the Fall of 2026 and people need to apply by the 25th of August 2026.

• The tuition for each course at the Canadian University Dubai is different. The Canadian University Dubai Fees Guide has all the details about the tuition for each course and the scholarships that are available.

TOEFL Test Dates and Centres for Indian Students

The TOEFL exam is given by ETS for various dates every month in India and in the UAE and  Dubai has test centres that are approved by ETS. These centres usually have multiple test slots available in a week. The schedule for the TOEFL exam changes a lot so you should always check the dates and seats on the official ETS website. Do not rely on third party websites for this information. 

The cost of the TOEFL exam is the same if you take it from home or at a test centre. The base cost is around ₹15,254. Then you have to add 18 percent GST in India. This brings the cost to about ₹18,000 according to the ETS fee schedule, for India. 

CUD does not accept TOEFL Home Edition scores at all; the base fee buys the same test either way, so there is no cost advantage to booking the format CUD will not accept. Book a test centre appointment, not Home Edition. Your score stays valid for two years from the test date, after which CUD requires a retake regardless of your original score.

For a full fee and payment breakdown, see TOEFL Payment Methods in India, and for updated-format prep material, the recommended TOEFL books and mock tests guide for the 2026 adaptive format.

Common Mistakes Indian Students Make

• Booking TOEFL Home Edition: CUD refuses to accept TOEFL Home Edition, IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online, and IELTS UKVI scores for admission.

• Quoting the conditional-admission numbers as a graduate requirement: 71 / 5.5 is the conditional level with three additional requirements, not the 79 / 6.0 stated for all Master’s programs at CUD.

• Assuming that a local Indian degree in English qualifies you for exemption at the graduate level: CUD’s PG exemption rule is applicable to candidates who completed their previous education and a bachelor’s degree in a reference English-speaking country.

• Using an expired score: a TOEFL score older than two years is automatically rejected, regardless of whether it met the cutoff at the time of testing.

• Forgetting that GST makes the sticker price bigger than the billed amount: the TOEFL fee in India has a 18% difference between the advertised cost and what students end up paying.

• Stopping your English preparations at the TOEFL/IELTS level: passing an English proficiency test is not sufficient for exemption from the Math Placement Test at CUD, and a failed attempt results in a mandatory remedial course and the inability to enroll in any Math or Statistics classes.

• A mismatch between the name on the ID documents and the one chosen during TOEFL registration cancellation of the test and a complete refund. For details on the documents required for TOEFL in India, refer to the Passport Requirements for TOEFL guide by ETS. For the exact ID rules ETS applies in India, see Passport Requirements for TOEFL guide.

What Indian Students Should Check Before Applying

In addition to the English tests, applying from India requires a few additional steps, including:

• Degree equivalency: An Indian Higher/ Senior Secondary Certificate requires an equivalency certificate from the UAE Ministry of Education before it can be processed by the CUD.

• Document attestation: Your grades 10 and 12 transcript and diploma need to be attested in India first and then from the UAE embassy or consulate.

• Math placement test: All admitted students are required to take the math placement test with exemptions only for students admitted in the BA Communication, BA Psychology, BA Creative Industries programs and those who have received a UAE High School Certificate with at least 70% in Math or 450 SAT Math score. Students who are applying from the Indian board are not exempt from the examination even if they have a good TOEFL or IELTS score. A student who fails the test is required to enroll in a remedial Math course before the start of the semester and he will be blocked from registration for any Math or Statistics course until he passes the course.

• Engineering program: For the CUD Engineering programs, students who are appearing from the Indian boards should have at least 70% marks in Math, Physics and Biology/Chemistry.

• Budgeting: You should budget for the AED 525 application fee, English proficiency test, and the university tuition fees since there are no scholarships. The program fees in AED and INR are listed in the link below.

• Visa: Upon your admission to the university, a residence visa for the UAE is sponsored by the CUD. Processing of your visa requires a minimum of 3 working days for document verification plus an additional 10 working days for medical clearance and stamping; you should consider these time requirements when making travel arrangements.

How Study From UAE Can Help

Working out CUD’s exact TOEFL and IELTS requirements, chasing university application deadlines, and sorting through attested documents when preparing your application can be a taxing process. Study From UAE is your guide to navigating the process for CUD and 100+ other universities, collating requirements and deadlines in one place and cross-referencing them with their official admissions portals. We can help you find suitable courses based on your current or target TOEFL score, guide you through the attestation process, and bring to your attention any scholarships for which you may qualify, before you part with a single dirham on application fees.

Use our University Finder Quiz to identify your shortlisted universities based on budget and profile, and utilise the ROI Calculator to determine whether CUD fits your requirements in comparison to other institutions in Dubai.  If you would prefer to speak to an advisor directly, you can arrange a consultation with our counsellors to discuss your options.

Conclusion

The TOEFL requirement for CUD is two figures, not three: namely, 61 iBT (71 for Creative Industries) for most of the under-graduates, and iBT 79 for all of the graduate programmes, including the MBA. The 71 / IELTS 5.5 figure which is often cited for graduate studies, is in fact, the conditional offer, and as such, comes with restrictions on the number of credits that may be undertaken plus minimum CGPA. ETS’s new 1-6 scale will run in parallel with the 0-120 system until the end of 2028 – which also means that TOEFL Home Edition and IELTS Online Exam results will not be accepted. Finally, passing the language proficiency test does not mean that the CUD’s Math Placement Exam can be skipped.

This note was last updated on 18 August 2026, and the international application deadline for the Fall 2026 is 21 August 2026 – if this option is open to you, it is worth focusing your effort and attention on document attestation and English testing; if not, consider the Spring 2026-27 intake, which opens on 3 October 2026, and has an international deadline of 3 January 2027.

Think about your UAE educational options with  Study From UAE  and take the next step on your journey!