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

The academic requirements are listed on our course pages, but please speak to your education agent if you need further information around Swinburne Foundation Program, UniLink Bridging Program, UniLink diplomas, vocational education (TAFE) or undergraduate courses (bachelor degrees). 

For postgraduate courses (master degrees by coursework or research and doctorate degrees), please refer to the relevant course page. 

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 courses offered at Swinburne Sarawak, Swinburne Vietnam, INTI and NCHS

Course level / English language test

Swinburne Foundation Program

Diplomas

Swinburne Sarawak

(excluding Diploma of Accountancy)

 UniLink diplomas

UniLink Bridging Program

Undergraduate degrees

(see exceptions)

Postgraduate Qualifying Program

Postgraduate courses

Linguaskill – General^

 Overall score of 140–159

No band less than 120		 Overall score of 140–159

No band less than 120

Overall score of 140–159

No band less than 120

 Overall score of 160–179

No band less than 140		 Overall score of 160–179

No band less than 160		 Overall score of 160–179

No band less than 140		  

Duolingo English Test (DET)^

 Overall score of 95

Minimum production score 80		 Overall score of 95

Minimum production score 80

Overall score of 95

Minimum production score 80

 Overall score of 105

Minimum production score 105		 Overall score of 105

Minimum production score 105		   Overall score of 120

Minimum production score 105

Exception: undergraduate (bachelor) degrees in education, law, psychological sciences, psychology (honours) and psychological sciences (honours) and professional degree courses

^Valid for students commencing Swinburne course offshore via transnational education partnerships or at the Sarawak campus (approved for use across 2024 intakes)


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

Postgraduate courses by coursework

Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours)

Master of Dietetics

Master of Occupational Therapy

Master of Physiotherapy

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
No individual band below 7.0^^		 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
No individual band below 7.0^^		 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
No communicative skill less than 66^^		 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 reading, 24 for listening, 23 for speaking, 27 for writing)^^

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)

C1 Advanced**

169
No band less than 169 

 176
No band less than 169		 -

176
No band less than 169

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

Occupational English Test (OET)

-

 -

Minimum of B (>350 marks) in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking^^ 

  -  -  -

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.