English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you need to provide evidence of English language proficiency through one of the following methods:

1. Undertake higher education (tertiary) studies in English

You can demonstrate the above requirement through a record of satisfactory achievement in:

• at least one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) tertiary study in a recognised bachelor’s degree or other approved tertiary qualifications, within five years* of the date on which you will commence your course, in one of the following English-speaking countries:

American Samoa, Australia, Botswana, Canada (excluding Quebec), Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

If your studies were not undertaken in one of the English-speaking countries listed above, you can demonstrate proficiency through a record of satisfactory achievement in:

• a completed minimum three year undergraduate degree, or a completed minimum one year postgraduate degree conducted entirely in English, where the language of instruction (teaching, assessment and examination) and the institution was English.

The above studies must be undertaken in English within five years* of the date on which you will commence your course.

*Some faculties/schools have additional requirements as detailed below:

Sydney School or Architecture, Design and Planning

You need to have successfully completed one of the following within five years of course commencement:

• a minimum of two years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) in a bachelor’s degree in an English-speaking country (as listed) or
• a completed minimum three year undergraduate degree in a non-English speaking country, conducted entirely in English and in which the language of instruction (teaching, assessment and examination) and the institution was English or
• a completed minimum two year postgraduate degree in a non-English speaking country conducted entirely in English and in which the language of instruction (teaching, assessment and examination) and the institution was English.

Sydney Nursing School

For admission in 2021, there will be changes to the English language requirements for pre-registration nursing degrees as a result of changes required by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council. Updates will be displayed here as they become available.

You need to have a record of satisfactory achievement in:

• a three year degree, completed within five years of course commencement in which the language of instruction (teaching, assessment and examination) and the institution was English or
• a two year degree completed within three years of course commencement in which the language of instruction (teaching, assessment and examination) and the institution was English.

2. Take an English language skills test

The University's standard English language proficiency requirement is set at an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0, however some faculties and courses have different requirements. Find out the requirements specific to your course on our Find a Course website.

For other English tests accepted by the University, please refer to the concordance table (pdf, 96.30KB) to convert the IELTS requirement to TOEFL iBT, PTE, Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency scores.

All IELTS and PTE requirements refer to the academic test. Non-academic tests are not accepted. All English tests need to be no more than two years old at the date of course commencement.

International students applying for a student visa are advised to check with the Department of Home Affairs on separate English requirements that may apply to your student visa application.

3. Be eligible for assessment of English proficiency based on work experience

If English is not your first language and you have lived and worked in an English-speaking country (as listed above) continuously for at least five years prior to the date on which you will commence your course, we may be able to assess your English proficiency based on the relevance of your work experience. You will need to provide a work reference letter on a company letterhead with clear information on the nature of work, dates of employment and contact details of a supervisor.

Sydney Nursing School – Post-registration postgraduate courses

An applicant  may provide a record of current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as a (Division 1) Registered Nurse and proof of current employment in this capacity at an appropriate health facility.

Note: All courses with additional and special English requirements, such as the Master of Nursing or other nursing (pre-registration) courses are excluded.

If English is not your first language, you need to provide evidence of English language proficiency through one of the following methods:

1. Undertake secondary or higher education (tertiary) studies in English

You can demonstrate the above requirement through a record of satisfactory achievement in:

• a completed and recognised secondary education (high school) qualification, or
• a completed AQF diploma/advanced diploma (or equivalent) from a recognised institution, or
• at least one year of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) in a recognised bachelor’s degree or other approved higher education qualifications.

The above secondary or higher education studies must be undertaken in English within five years of the date on which you will commence your course, either in an English-speaking country as listed below or, in a recognised institution where the instruction for your studies (teaching, assessment and examination) was entirely in English:

English-speaking countries: American Samoa, Australia, Botswana, Canada (excluding Quebec), Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), United States of America, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

2. Complete a specific subject in a recognised secondary education qualification

If your qualification was not conducted entirely in English, you may still be eligible if you have completed a particular subject (usually English or a humanities subject) in a recognised qualification such as those listed below:

• Denmark Studentereksamen
• Finland Upper Secondary School Certificate
• Germany Abitur
• Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
• Hong Kong A Levels
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (not undertaken in English)
• Netherlands VWO
• Norway Vitnemal
• Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia
• Sweden Avgangsbetyg/Slutbetyg.

Please refer to the concordance table (pdf, 96.30KB) to see the subject and grade required for your course.

3. Take an English language skills test

The University's standard English language proficiency requirement is set at an IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0, however some faculties and courses have different requirements. Find out the requirements specific to your course.

For other English tests accepted by the University, please refer to the concordance table (pdf, 96.30KB) to convert the IELTS requirements to TOEFL iBT, PTE, Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency scores.

All IELTS and PTE requirements refer to the academic test. Non-academic tests are not accepted. All English tests need to be no more than two years old at the date of course commencement.

International students applying for a student visa are advised to check with the Department of Home Affairs on separate English requirements that may apply to your student visa application.