English for Studying in Australia: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Entry Requirements

Australia studies, works, and lives in English, so strong English is the single most useful skill you can bring. You will also need to prove your level with an approved test to get both a student visa and a place at a school or university. The good news is that the tests are widely available, and if your score is not high enough yet, there are clear ways to bridge the gap.

Which English tests are accepted

Australian institutions and the Department of Home Affairs accept several secure, in-centre tests:

• IELTS Academic (the most widely used)
• TOEFL iBT
• PTE Academic (Pearson, with results often in 48 to 72 hours, which suits tight timelines)
• Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency
• OET (for health and nursing courses)

Important: for visa purposes the Government does not accept at-home or online versions of these tests. You must sit the test at a secure test centre, and for university admission you need IELTS Academic, not General Training.

Scores you need: visa vs. university

There are two bars to clear, and the university's bar is usually higher than the visa's. These are approximate guides; always confirm the exact requirement for your program.

Test	Student visa minimum	Typical university admission	Group of Eight / health courses
IELTS Academic	6.0 (no band below 5.5)	6.5 (no band below 6.0)	7.0
PTE Academic	50	58 to 64	65 or higher
TOEFL iBT	about 64	about 79 to 90	about 94 or higher

A few notes:

• The IELTS student-visa minimum was raised to 6.0 (from 5.5) in 2024; packaged ELICOS sits at 5.0 and foundation or pathway programs at 5.5.
• The Temporary Graduate (485) visa needs a higher IELTS 6.5 (no band below 5.5), so plan ahead if post-study work matters to you.
• Individual universities and courses often ask for more than the visa minimum, and some accept only certain tests for specific programs.
• TEQSA, the higher-education regulator, has proposed raising the minimum to IELTS 6.5 for all programs from 2027, and some universities (such as Melbourne) already require 6.5 for bachelor's degrees, so aim higher where you can.
• The TOEFL iBT moved to a new 1 to 6 scoring scale from January 2026; the figures above are the familiar 0 to 120 scale, and both may appear during the transition, so check which your institution lists.

Getting into an Australian university

For undergraduate and postgraduate study, you generally need:

• IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) or an accepted equivalent, and 7.0 for Group of Eight universities and health courses.
• The academic entry requirement for your qualification, which the university maps from your national grades or an accepted qualification such as the IB.
• The right prerequisite subjects for competitive courses like engineering, science, or medicine.

Our guide to top universities in Australia covers what each leading university looks for.

Getting into an Australian high school or boarding school

Secondary schools set their own English requirements, and these depend on the student's age and year level:

• Many schools ask international applicants to sit the AEAS test, which assesses English and academic ability and helps the school place the student correctly.
• Younger students (for example, entering Years 7 to 9) can often start with a lower level of English and build it quickly through immersion, sometimes with an intensive English course first.
• Senior entry (Years 10 to 12) needs stronger English, because students go straight into subjects assessed for university entry.

Starting boarding school earlier gives a student more time to reach the English level top universities expect. See our Australia study pathways guide for how school, university and work connect.

If your score is not high enough yet

You have good options:

• ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students): dedicated English programs, often attached to a university or college, that build your level and can lead into a degree.
• Foundation and pathway programs: these combine academic bridging with English support and guarantee progression into a degree if you meet the conditions.
• Retake the test: with focused preparation, most students can raise their score by half a band or more.

How to prepare

• Practise all four skills, since IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE all test reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• Take an official practice test early to find your real starting point.
• Book your test at a secure centre well before your application deadline, as results take time and seats fill up.

Preparing for Australia with Asia Pathway

Asia Pathway is expanding into Australia. Contact Asia Pathway to check the exact English requirement for your target school or course, plan your test timeline, and find a bridging option if you need one. You can also browse the Australia country guide.

Sources: Department of Home Affairs and Study Australia student-visa English requirements (studyaustralia.gov.au, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au); TEQSA 2027 proposal; IELTS (ielts.org), PTE Academic (pearsonpte.com), TOEFL (ets.org/toefl); AEAS (aeas.com.au). Score requirements vary by institution and change over time, so confirm the current requirement for your specific program.