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Demonstrating English language proficiency

Providing evidence of English proficiency
Australian academic qualifications
Academic qualifications from overseas
English language tests
Further information

Providing evidence of English proficiency

If you are a domestic student, the qualifications listed below are acceptable as proof of English proficiency. Your application must show evidence of use of English in a particular type of academic setting for you to be exempt from sitting an English test.

If your qualifications do not meet the University’s requirements you will need to sit and pass an English language test to be considered. There is information below about which tests are acceptable and what the minimum results required are. Further information about where to sit an English test can be found in Table 5 of the UAC Guide.

The information presented on this page is intended as a guide only.

Australian academic qualifications

The following qualifications are accepted as proof of English language proficiency:

  • the New South Wales Higher School Certificate (or an equivalent interstate senior secondary qualification);
  • one or more full-time years of study in a Bachelor’s degree or higher level qualification;
  • a completed AQF diploma or advanced diploma;
  • one or more full-time years of study in a recognised associate diploma or higher level qualification; or
  • a preparation course approved by the University for mature-age entry.

Qualifications which are not accepted include the TAFE Certificate in English for Academic Purposes and Year 10 qualifications from NSW and other states.

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Academic qualifications from overseas

The following types of academic qualifications from overseas may be accepted as proof of English language proficiency:

  • a senior secondary qualification normally accepted by the University for admission; and
  • one or more full-time years in a Bachelor’s degree or higher level qualification.

These qualifications must have been taught in English, and must have been undertaken in one of the following countries:

American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America or Zambia.

In addition to the types of qualifications described above, the following ones will also be accepted:

  • GCE A Level subjects: a result of C or better in English or a humanities subject (from Britain or Singapore);
  • GCE O Level/GCSE subjects: a result of B or better in English (from Britain or Singapore);
  • Hong Kong A Level subjects: a result of B or better in Use of English;
  • STPM subjects: a B or better result in English 914 or a D or better result in English 920; or
  • Completion of the Cambridge Certificate in Proficiency in English with a Pass of B grade or better.
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English language tests

If you are not able to demonstrate your proficiency in English by presenting an acceptable qualification, you can do so by sitting and passing an English test. The following tests and minimum results are acceptable for entry into most undergraduate courses:

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS):
    6.5 overall and 6.0 in each subtest in the academic version of the test.

NB: Only the academic versions of the IELTS test are acceptable, not the general versions.

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):
    577 in the paper-based test and 4.5 in the Test of Written English (TWE)
    90 in the internet-based test with 23 in the writing section and 22 in the other sections.

Please note that certain courses have higher requirements. The numbers listed below in brackets are UAC course codes.

Nursing, Health Science, Speech Pathology and Veterinary Science courses (511913-25, 512670, 512610, 512100):

  • IELTS: 7.0 overall and 7.0 in each subtest
  • TOEFL paper-based: 600 overall and 5.0 in the TWE
  • TOEFL IBT: 101 overall with 25 in the writing section and 24 in the other sections.

Nutrition and Dietetics courses (512099, 512658):

  • IELTS: 7.0 overall and 6.5 in each subtest
  • TOEFL paper-based: 600 overall and 5.0 in the TWE
  • TOEFL IBT: 101 overall with 25 in the writing section and 24 in the other sections.

Law and the Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) (511801, 511207):

  • IELTS: 7.5 overall and 7.0 in each subtest
  • TOEFL paper-based: 627 overall and 5.0 in the TWE
  • TOEFL IBT: 106 overall with 25 in the writing section and 24 in other sections

Education courses (511600-511612):

  • IELTS: 7.5 overall, 8.0 in speaking and listening, and 7.0 in reading and writing
  • TOEFL paper-based: 627 overall and 5.0 in the TWE
  • TOEFL CBT: 263 overall and 5.0 for the Essay Rating
  • TOEFL IBT: 106 overall with 25 in the writing section and 24 in other sections

The University will not consider test results which are more than two years old. You must have completed your test within two years of 1 January of the year in which you wish to start your studies.

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Further information

You are welcome to contact the Admissions Office for further information.

Admissions Office
Level 3, Jane Foss Russell Building (G02)
University of Sydney NSW 2006
Phone: + 61 2 8627 8210 / 8209 (General inquiries, including those about overseas qualifications)
Phone: + 61 2 8627 8207 (Special admission)
Fax: +61 2 8627 8278
E-mail: (General inquiries)
Email: (Special admission)