In order to obtain an Australian visa, one must first demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English language to the Department of Home Affairs. All universities and colleges accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), but the IELTS band requirements in Australian universities you need depends on the specific requirements of your visa and the university you would like to attend. If you are not already familiar with the IELTS exam, possible scores are between 0 and 9. The system also allows half-points. As you can see from the article, most universities in Australia require an IELTS score of 6.5, but less competitive universities require scores less than that.
The exam involves four parts: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Your “overall band score” is the average of all scores across the four sections. Most of Australia’s top universities require an overall band score of 6.5 or more and at least a score of 6.0 in each section. However, each university has its own, unique policy. To learn more about some of Australia’s top universities and their IELTS requirements, read on!
IELTS Requirements Australia
1. The University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is an acclaimed, public school ranked first nationally by several sources including World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities. It has also ranked internationally as 32nd in the world and ranks 6th in graduate employability worldwide! The main campus houses ten colleges and offers nine generalized three-year degrees including Bachelor of Arts, Agriculture, Biomedicine, Commerce, Design, Fine Arts, Music, Oral Health, and Science. The university uses its signature “Melbourne Model,” which allows students to explore fields of interest in their three-year undergraduate courses before selecting a concentration area in their two-year graduate coursework. Students interested in the University of Melbourne will need to obtain an overall band score of 6.5 or higher on the IELTS band requirements at this Australian university is a score no lower than 6.0 on each individual section. Note that domestic applicants from a non-English speaking background may be eligible for the Access Melbourne Program, which is designed to help students overcome potential obstacles such as language barriers.
See Also: University of Melbourne Scholarships for International Students
2. The University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public, research university with a relatively average acceptance rate, situated in one of the world’s best ranked cities, Sydney, Australia. With close access to the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney harbor, and lively beaches, the campus here has been ranked as the 10th most beautiful campus in the entire world! Students have access to several on-campus galleries, museums, and the University of Sydney Library. The university is made up of six faculties and three university schools and is ranked 5th in the world for graduate employability. Prospective students should strive for an overall band score of 6.5 on their IELTS exam and no less than a 6.0 per section.
3. Australian National University
ANU is located in Australia’s capital city, Canberra. With over 20,000 students in attendance, this large university is comprised of seven teaching and research colleges including the College of Arts and Social Sciences, the College of Asia and the Pacific, the College of Business and Economics, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Law, the College of Medicine, Biology and the Environment, and finally the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Boasting more than 10,000 trees on its main campus, ANU won an International Sustainable Campus Network Award in 2009 and, in 2011, the university was ranked as Australia’s second greenest university campus. At ANU, IELTS requirements vary by program. For example, regular degree programs require an overall band score of 6.5 (at least a 6.0 in each element), while graduate law programs can require an overall score of 7.0. It is a good idea to research the particular score needed for your program of interest.
Read Also: How to Get Into the Australian National University: Admission Tips and Tricks
4. University of Queensland
The University of Queensland is a large, public, research university located in Brisbane, Australia. Students here are able to take advantage of Brisbane’s unique climate, which is said to be “perfect year-round.” For this reason, the area is popular to tourists who take advantage of the city’s restaurants, beaches, and other attractions. UQ is considered Brisbane’s top university and also ranks as one of Australia’s best research universities. It offers several degrees including associate, bachelor, master, doctoral, and higher doctorate degrees. The majority of programs at UQ require an IELTS overall band score of 6.5 or more (no less than 6.0 in each section). However, some requirements do vary by program, so prospective students should do their research.
Click to See: University of Queensland Acceptance Rates
5. Monash University
Another of Australia’s top-ranked, public universities, Monash University is unique for its many campuses including four in Victoria and one in Malaysia. The school also has teaching centers and graduate schools in Italy, India, and China. The Clayton Campus is Monash’s largest campus and it facilitates programs in the Arts, Business & Economics, Education, Engineering, IT, Law, Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Science. Monash boasts 100 research centers and 17 co-operative research centers. It is also home to the Australian Synchrotron, a synchrotron radiation facility which supports the research at Australian universities and businesses. The IELTS band requirement is 6.5 at Monash University, so please keep this in mind.
Learn More: International Merit Scholarship at Monash University
6. University of Western Australia
UWA is a public, research university with its main campus situated in beautiful Perth, the capital of Western Australia. The immense and picturesque campus features attractions like the Swan River, the Sunken Garden, and the Tropical Grove. With buildings and arches made of coastal limestone, the Romanesque Revival Architecture often draws people for weddings. The University of Western Australia features a unique, internationally recognized course model, which allows students to combine two majors into one, specialized degree. Their Bachelor’s programs include Arts, Biomedical Science, Commerce, Science, and Philosophy. Students hoping to attend UWA should score a 6.5 or higher on their overall and no less than 6.0 in each part.
Australia’s top universities offer world-class academics and some of the world’s most beautiful college campuses. With the right IELTS score, you will soon be on your way to attending the university that’s right for you and could even earn yourself on of these Australian government scholarships!
You should also check out the cost of studying and living in Australia for international students as you consider pursuing your academic goals in Australia.
We hope that this article on the IELTS requirement in Australian universities was helpful. To know more information on studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.
