Evidence of English Proficiency is essential for the rigorous assessment process that is undertaken by the Research Students Office, Faculties and Research Centres.  As research degrees require a level of sophistication and confidence with regard to the English language, particularly in the bands of Writing and Reading, language proficiency is just as an important qualifier as a research proposal. 

If you were born in Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), United States of America, Western Samoa or Zambia; and

1. have at least one qualification from one of the countries listed; an
2. the language in which they undertook the qualification was English;

then you are deemed to have met the English policy.

If you have studied a tertiary degree in a non-English speaking country for 2 years or more where the medium of instruction was English, this can be taken into consideration.  If you have studied a teritary degree in one of the English speaking countries listed above for 1 year or more, this can be taken into consideration. You will need to provide a transcript which states that the medium of instruction was English, or a letter from the University itself.  The study must have been undertaken in the last 5 years.

If you do not fit into the above you will need to undertake an Academic IELTS or TOEFL.

Please be aware that if you do not meet the Academic IELTS requirement of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each band (see box below for Academic IELTS and TOEFL scores), your admission into your research course may be delayed due to the availability of start dates for the English Language course. You must have a minimum of (Academic IELTS) 5.0 in each band to be eligible for an English course.  Further information regarding English language course dates and duration suitable for higher degree by research applicants can be assessed by clicking on the link below:

http://www.canberra.edu.au/uceli/elicos/postgraduate-preparation 

For all Faculty of Business and Government and Law applicants, please read the additional English requirements found here.

For all Faculty of Education applicants, please read the additional English requirements found here.

For both admission (and scholarship) purposes you will require an Academic IELTS or TOEFL test, for visa purposes you may require an Academic IELTS test.  Please check with your local Australian embassy or visit the immigration website: www.diac.gov.au 

Minimum English Proficiency for Admission to a Higher Degree by Research Course

We also will accept an Australian University English program providing the completion of this meets the Academic IELTS score in the table above.