Admissions

Each institution in Australia has its own requirements for admission, so it is very important to carefully read the information available from the school before you begin.  The o­nly required examination for undergraduate and post-graduate study is the IELTS, which is also required in order to obtain a student visa.

High school. Some schools accept international students at year 11. The individual school sets the admission requirements, which generally do not include the IELTS.  Students at Australian high schools who wish to continue studying at the university level are usually required to take GCE A-level exams.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Study. The IELTS exam is required of international students for university admittance. Minimum scores for acceptance are 5.5 to 6.0 depending o­n the institution’s requirements. Work experience is also an important consideration for admission. Students are required to have at least two years of work experience for entry into postgraduate study. Some courses may also have certain pre-requisite subjects. Each institution has its own requirements, so it is best to check with the school to which you are applying.

Vocational and technical education (VTE). Usually there are no other entrance exams to VTE institutions other than the IELTS.  Scores of 5.0 or higher are required. Some courses may have certain pre-requisite subjects or require demonstrated work experience. 

Foundation Studies. If you do not meet undergraduate course entry requirements you may be able to enroll in Foundation Studies, which prepare you for further university study in Australia.  Most foundation courses require minimal IELTS scores of 5.0 to 5.5.

Testing

IELTS exam. Students who wish to study at an Australian university must take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, which measures ability to communicate in English across four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking.

This exam is designed for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication, and is the prerequisite exam for international students at most universities and institutions in the Commonwealth countries including the U.K., Canada, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

The IELTS exam is administered in two or three test sessions every month at language schools and at the British Council. A computer-based version is now available.  For further information, including exam fees, visit www.ielts.org .

GCE A-level exams. The A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education qualification in the U.K. and Commonwealth countries such as Australia.  It is taken by students in the final two years of secondary education. A-level exams are taken in a wide variety of subjects in the maths, sciences, liberal arts, languages and so o­n. A-levels are often the prerequisite for university-level study, although international students with a high school diploma are usually not required to take the A-level exam.  However, if you apply for university admission after completing a year of secondary education in Australia you may need to take the exam.