English score requirements
What the visa needs, what your course needs, and what registration bodies need for nursing and teaching.
What the visa needs
Home Affairs sets a minimum score. Your college usually asks for more.
PTE Academic
- Standard
- 47
- +10 wks
- 39
- +20 wks
- 31
SourceChecked:TOEFL iBT (Australia pathway)
- Standard
- 67
- +10 wks
- 51
- +20 wks
- 37
SourceChecked:CELPIP General
- Standard
- 7
- +10 wks
- 6
- +20 wks
- 5
SourceChecked:LANGUAGECERT Academic
- Standard
- 61
- +10 wks
- 54
- +20 wks
- 46
SourceChecked:Michigan English Test
- Standard
- 53
- +10 wks
- 49
- +20 wks
- 44
SourceChecked:IELTS Academic
- Standard
- 6.0
- +10 wks
- 5.5
- +20 wks
- 5.0
SourceChecked:IELTS General Training
- Standard
- 6.0
- +10 wks
- 5.5
- +20 wks
- 5.0
SourceChecked:Occupational English Test
- Standard
- 1210
- +10 wks
- 1090
- +20 wks
- 1020
SourceChecked:Cambridge C1 Advanced
- Standard
- 161
- +10 wks
- Not accepted
- +20 wks
- Not accepted
SourceChecked:
| Test | Standard | +10 weeks ELICOS | +20 weeks ELICOS | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTE Academic | 47 | 39 | 31 | |
| TOEFL iBT (Australia pathway) | 67 | 51 | 37 | |
| CELPIP General | 7 | 6 | 5 | |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 61 | 54 | 46 | |
| Michigan English Test | 53 | 49 | 44 | |
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | |
| IELTS General Training | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | |
| Occupational English Test | 1210 | 1090 | 1020 | |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 161 | Not accepted | Not accepted |
The second and third columns are lower because you are also enrolling in an English course before your main course.
Scores from a test taken before 7 August 2025
These are the scores that applied before 7 August 2025. They are fixed historical data — no live re-verification is needed. Source: F2025L00906 (Student Visa English Language Proficiency Instrument 2025).
| Test | Standard | +10 wks | +20 wks |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 64 | 46 | 35 |
| PTE Academic | 50 | 42 | 36 |
| Cambridge CAE | 169 | 162 | 154 |
| OET | B (all sections) | — | — |
2-year recency rule
Your test result must be no more than 2 years old on the day you applied.
For Streamlined Evidence applicants asked to provide evidence after lodging: the 2-year window runs from the day evidence was requested, not from the day you lodged.
There is no single-sitting rule for the student visa (Subclass 500).
Online and at-home versions are not accepted
These specific versions are not accepted for the student visa:
- IELTS Online
- LANGUAGECERT Academic Online
- OET@Home
- CELPIP Online
- MET Digital (at home)
PTE Academic does not have an at-home version — the test-centre version is accepted.
What your course needs
Most courses ask for a score above the visa minimum. Each college sets its own number — always check the course page.
| Course level | Typical IELTS overall |
|---|---|
| English course (ELICOS) Each college runs its own placement test. No IELTS or PTE score needed to enrol. | No test — placement test on arrival or online |
| Primary school Most primary schools do not require a formal English test for admission. | Usually none |
| Secondary school Requirements vary by school and state. Some use AEAS instead of IELTS. | 5.5 (Years 7–10); 6.0 (Year 11) in NSW — AEAS used elsewhere |
| Foundation / pathway | 5.5 (no band under 5.0) to 6.0 (no band under 5.5) |
| Certificate III / IV | 5.5 typical (range: 5.0–6.0) |
| Diploma / Advanced Diploma | 5.5–6.0 |
| Bachelor degree | 6.0–6.5 (no band under 5.5–6.0) |
| Graduate Certificate / Diploma / Master's | 6.5 (no band under 6.0) |
| PhD / research | 6.5 (no band under 6.0); 7.0 for humanities, education and law |
| Nursing Ahpra and the NMBA set these scores for nurse registration — you need them to work, not only to study. | 7.0 overall — listening 7.0, reading 7.0, writing 6.5, speaking 7.0 |
| Teaching VIT-verified 2026-08-23. VIT currently accepts only IELTS Academic and ISLPR as evidence for registration. | Speaking 8.0, Listening 8.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0 — no overall minimum |
| Medicine / dentistry / physiotherapy | 7.0 (commonly no band under 7.0) |
| Law (JD) | 7.0–7.5 |
| Social work | 7.0 in all four parts |
These are typical published figures, not an assessment of you personally. Each institution sets its own number — always check the course page before applying.
Source: typical published figures aggregated from Australian institution requirements. Figures are indicative only — not subject to live verification.
Some jobs need a higher score to work, not just to study
You can finish the course and still not be able to register for work. Check the registration body’s rule before you enrol.
Nursing
Ahpra and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) require the following for nurse registration:
- IELTS Academic: overall 7.0 — listening 7.0, reading 7.0, writing 6.5, speaking 7.0
- OET (tests on or after 23 April 2026): listening 350, reading 360, writing 350, speaking 360
Source: Ahpra — English language skills registration standard. Verified 2026-08-23.
Teaching
The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) requires four individual band minimums — there is no overall score minimum:
- IELTS Academic: speaking 8.0, listening 8.0, reading 7.0, writing 7.0
VIT currently accepts only IELTS Academic and ISLPR as evidence for teacher registration. PTE, TOEFL, OET and Cambridge are not listed.
Source: VIT — English language proficiency. Verified 2026-08-23.
The Temporary Graduate visa (485)
The Subclass 485 has a different English rule from the student visa.
- Recency: your test result must be no more than 12 months old on the day you apply — not 2 years like the student visa.
- Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders have a concessional threshold: IELTS overall 6.0, no individual band lower than 5.0.
- Passport exemption: UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland passport holders are exempt from the 485 English requirement.
Full detail on the 485 — streams, eligibility, and work rights — is on a separate page.
Temporary Graduate visa (485) →General information only — not migration advice. StudyVisaHub provides general information sourced from publicly available Australian Government publications. For decisions about a visa application, consult a Registered Migration Agent (MARN) or an Australian immigration lawyer.