Direct Entry Course
Gain entry to your degree at the University of Sydney and build peer networks
The Direct Entry Course (DEC) is a tailored program which helps you develop your English and academic skills before commencing a degree at an Australian university.
Our learning support program enables you to further strengthen your skills throughout the course and for university.
You'll be supported with individual progress monitoring, intervention and guidance, individual consultations with teacher or counsellor (with up to 20 hours of additional support per course), and assessment-focused teacher input.
Students will study for 36, 25, 15, 10 or 5 teaching weeks. All courses involve 20 hours of classes per week.
Course length depends on the gap between your current IELTS score and the English requirement of your degree course.
You can use the calculator to find the duration that suits you.
Ensure you know:
Check the test concordance table (pdf, 139KB) for the IELTS score that matches your English language score.
Then use the calculator to find the DEC duration that suits your needs.
You cannot study a DEC that does not match up to your current and target overall scores as shown in the table.
  Current IELTS |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target IELTS | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 |
| 5 | DEC 36 | |||
| 5.5 | DEC 15 or 10 | DEC 25 | DEC 36 | |
| 6 | DEC 5 | DEC 15 or 10 | DEC 25 | DEC 36 |
| 6.5 | DEC 5 | DEC 5 | DEC 15 or 10 | DEC 25 |
| 7 | DEC 5 | DEC 5 | DEC 15 or 10 | |
| 7.5 | DEC 5 | DEC 5 | ||
| Start date | End date | CET payment deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 23 September 2024 | 27 June 2025 |
16 August 2024 |
| 22 April 2025 | 23 January 2026 | 07 March 2025 |
| Start date | End date | CET payment deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 23 September 2024 | 27 June 2025 |
16 August 2024 |
| 22 April 2025 | 23 January 2026 | 07 March 2025 |
| Start date | End date | CET payment deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 23 September 2024 | 24 January 2025 | 16 August 2024 |
| 10 March 2025 | 27 June 2025 | 31 January 2025 |
| Start date | End date | CET payment deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 23 September 2024 | 24 January 2025 | 16 August 2024 |
| 10 March 2025 | 27 June 2025 | 31 January 2025 |
| Start date | End date | CET payment deadline |
|---|---|---|
| 9 December 2024 | 24 January 2025 | 1 November 2024 |
| 26 May 2025 | 27 June 2025 | 18 April 2025 |
To study this course, you will need:
Entry requirements may be subject to change without notice. See below for additional conditions specific to each course.
For students requiring an overall target score of 6.5, no more than 1.5 bands below degree entry requirement in any skill.
| IELTS score required | Minimum degree requirements | Minimum DEC 36 requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 6.5 | 5.0 |
| Listening | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| Reading | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| Writing | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| Speaking | 6.0 | 4.5 |
For students requiring an overall target score of 7 or more, no more than 1 band below degree entry requirement in any skill, and a minimum of 5.5 in reading and listening.
| IELTS score required | Minimum degree requirements | Minimum DEC 36 requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 7.0 | 5.5 |
| Listening | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| Reading | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| Writing | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Speaking | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| IELTS score required | Minimum degree requirements | Minimum DEC 25 requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 6.5 / 7.0 | 5.5 / 6.0 |
| Listening | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| Reading | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| Writing | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| Speaking | 6.0 | 4.5 |
| IELTS score required | Minimum degree requirements | Minimum DEC 25 requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 7.0 | 6.0 |
| Listening | 7.0 | 6.0 |
| Reading | 7.0 | 6.0 |
| Writing | 7.0 | 6.0 |
| Speaking | 7.0 | 6.0 |
| Course duration | Tuition fee | Admin fee | Materials fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEC 36 (36 teaching weeks) | A$23,400 | A$300 | A$460 |
| DEC 25 | A$16,250 | A$300 | A$350 |
| DEC 15 | A$9,750 | A$300 | A$250 |
| DEC 10 | A$6,500 | A$300 | A$200 |
| DEC 5 | A$3,250 | A$300 | A$150 |
Please read the Centre for English Teaching (CET) terms and conditions that apply to you.
Payments made by credit card (Visa or Mastercard) will incur a 1.53% surcharge.
If you intend to study under a student visa, you will need Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
CET can arrange OSHC for you with Bupa as part of the application process. Simply indicate the type of insurance required (single/couples/single parent/ family) on step 2 of the application form.
You may also arrange your own cover. See the overseas student health cover page for approved providers.
