Entry requirements for international students

Whether you’re going to study in Melbourne or from your home country, you need to meet the minimum English language and academic requirements for the course you want to study.

Academic requirements

Most courses require specific academic requirements, such as an equivalent overseas qualification. This will be assessed at the time of your application.

To find the academic requirements based on your country and course, select the relevant information from the following drop-down options. 

Note: for entry requirements relating to master degrees by research or doctorate degrees, please visit the entry requirements for research degrees page.

Other qualifications

To confirm entry requirements using an overseas qualification that does not appear on the list, please call 1300 275 794 (within Australia)
+61 9214 8444 (outside Australia) operating hours 9am - 5.30pm AEST or complete the enquiry form.

Please reach out to your education agent or get in touch with our team if you need further information about academic requirements for Swinburne Foundation Program, UniLink Bridging Program, UniLink diplomas, vocational education (TAFE), undergraduate courses (bachelor degrees) and postgraduate courses (master degrees by coursework).

English language requirements

Each course offered by Swinburne has a minimum English language requirement for entry. Your course may also have the Pearson Test of English as an additional prerequisite.


English requirement for TAFE and pathway courses

Course level / English language test

Swinburne Foundation Program

 UniLink diplomas

UniLink Bridging Program

Certificates III and IV, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas and Postgraduate Qualifying Program

IELTS (Academic Module)

 Overall 5.5
No individual band below 5.0

Overall 5.5
No individual band below 5.0

 Overall 6.0
No individual band below 5.5		 Overall 6.0
No individual band below 5.5

IELTS One Skill Retake^

 Overall 5.5
No individual band below 5.0

Overall 5.5
No individual band below 5.0

 Overall 6.0
No individual band below 5.5		 Overall 6.0
No individual band below 5.5

PTE Academic

 42
(no communicative skill less than 36) 		 42
(no communicative skill less than 36) 		 50
(no communicative skill less than 42)		 50
(no communicative skill less than 42)

TOEFL iBT

 46
(no less than 4 in reading, 4 in listening, 14 in speaking, 14 in writing)

46
(no less than 4 in reading, 4 in listening, 14 in speaking, 14 in writing)

64
(no less than 8 in reading, 7 in listening, 16 in speaking, 18 in writing)

64
(no less than 8 in reading, 7 in listening, 16 in speaking, 18 in writing)

C1 Advanced*

 162, no band less than 154 162, no band less than 154 169, no band less than 162 169, no band less than 162

^To be valid, IELTS One Skill Retake must be taken within 60 days of the applicant's original test score.

*Formerly Cambridge English: Advanced [CAE]


English requirement for undergraduate and postgraduate courses

Course level / English language test

Undergraduate degrees

(see exceptions) 

Undergraduate degrees in:

education

exercise and sport science

law

psychological sciences

psychology (honours)

professional degrees

Bachelor of Nursing

Master of Physiotherapy

Postgraduate courses by coursework

Postgraduate courses by research

Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours)

Master of Dietetics

Master of Occupational Therapy

Master of Teaching (Primary)

Master of Teaching (Secondary)

IELTS (Academic Module)

 Overall 6.0

No individual band below 6.0

 Overall 6.5

No individual band below 6.0

Overall 7.0

Minimum score of 7.0 in listening, reading and speaking

Minimum score of 6.5 in writing^^

 Overall 6.5

No individual band below 6.0		 Overall 7.0

No individual band below 7.0

Overall 7.0

No individual band below 7.5 in speaking and listening

IELTS One Skill Retake^

Overall 6.0

No individual band below 6.0

 Overall 6.5

No individual band below 6.0		 Overall 7.0

Minimum score of 7.0 in listening, reading and speaking

Minimum score of 6.5 in writing^^		 Overall 6.5

No individual band below 6.0		 Overall 7.0

No individual band below 7.0

Overall 7.0

No individual band below 7.5 in speaking and listening

PTE Academic

50

No communicative skill less than 50  

 58

No communicative skill less than 50		 66

Minimum score of 66 in listening, reading and speaking

Minimum score of 56 in writing^^		 58

No communicative skill less than 50		 66

No communicative skill less than 66		 66

No communicative skill less than 66 (76 in speaking and listening)

TOEFL iBT*

64

(no less than 13 in reading, 12 in listening, 18 in speaking, 21 in writing)

79

(no less than 13 in reading, 12 in listening, 18 in speaking, 21 in writing)

94

(no less than 24 for listening, reading and writing, 23 for speaking)^^

79

(no less than 13 in reading, 12 in listening, 18 in speaking, 21 in writing)

94

(no less than 24 in reading, 24 in listening, 23 in speaking, 27 in writing)

94

(no less than 24 in reading, 27 in listening, 24 in speaking, 27 in writing)

Cambridge (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)**

169

No band less than 169 

 176

No band less than 169

185

No less than 185 in listening, reading and speaking, 176 in writing

176

No band less than 169

 185

No band less than 185		 185

No less than 185 in reading, 191 in listening, 191 in speaking, 185 in writing

Occupational English Test (OET)

-

 -

Minimum of B in listening, reading and speaking

Minimum of C+ in writing^^ 

  -  -  -

Exceptions: undergraduate (bachelor) degrees in education, exercise and sport science, law, nursing, psychological sciences, psychology (honours) and psychological sciences (honours), and professional degree courses

*TOEFL iBT tests that were completed between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024 will not be accepted for Australian visa purposes.

**Formerly Cambridge English: Advanced [CAE]. From 12 February 2024 paper-based only.

^IELTS One Skill Retake must be taken within 60 days of the applicant's original test score.

^^NMBA Registration Standard: English Language Skills includes requirements around the number of test sittings from which results will be accepted 


English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS)

We also offer English language courses that can help you meet the English language requirement to study a course.