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 |
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 |
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 |
64 |
64 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 psychology (honours) |
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 |
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 |
IELTS One Skill Retake^ |
Overall 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 |
PTE Academic |
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 |
79 |
94 |
79 |
94 |
94 |
C1 Advanced** |
169 |
176 No band less than 169 |
- |
176 |
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.