English language proficiency

Who has to provide proof of proficiency in English? What do institutions accept as proof of proficiency in English? Minimum English proficiency requirements table What if I believe that I can demonstrate my proficiency in English, but cannot find the test or qualification listed in the following table?
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English proficiency requirements table

Who has to provide proof of proficiency in English?

If you have undertaken your studies in an overseas country you may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. If you have to provide proof of English proficiency and fail to do so, you will not be considered at all for the course/s to which you have applied so read the following carefully.

You MUST provide proof of proficiency in English:

If you have undertaken all of your qualifications in a country other than:
American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), United States of America or Zambia.

You DO NOT have to provide proof of proficiency in English:

If you were born in:
American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), United States of America or Zambia.
AND have at least one qualification from one of the countries listed
AND the language in which you undertook the qualification was English.

or If you were not born in: American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland), United States of America or Zambia.
BUT you have completed senior secondary study or at least one year of full-time university study in one of these countries
AND the language in which you undertook this qualification was English.

Being born in Australia or one of the countries listed does not automatically pass you for English Proficiency. You must also have at least one assessable qualification from one of the countries listed.

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What do institutions accept as proof of proficiency in English?

Qualifications from the above listed countries that may be accepted by institutions as satisfying English proficiency include:

senior secondary studies, comparable with the NSW HSC
tertiary studies, including associate diploma, diploma, advanced diploma, bachelor degree and postgraduate studies
other post-secondary studies, including certificate and advanced certificate
tertiary preparation courses including NSW TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC)
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
studies undertaken through professional organisations, including hospital-based training and armed forces training.

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Minimum English proficiency requirements table

Institutions accept various tests and qualifications as proof of proficiency in English. Read these requirements carefully in the English language proficiency table to determine the minimum each institution will accept. If you need to sit one of the tests, submit your UAC application and include details of your proposed test. Provide UAC with a verified copy of your results as soon as you receive them.

Combined Universities Language Test (CULT)

The cost to sit the CULT is $215 (including GST)

Administered in Sydney by:
New South Wales Institute of Languages, University of New South Wales, call (02) 9385 0374

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Academic Version

The cost to sit IELTS is $280, plus 10% GST if applicable – check with the testing centre for further details.

Administered in Sydney by:

International Office, University of Technology, Sydney, call (02) 9514 1536
National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research (NCELTR), Macquarie University, call (02) 9850 6337
Centre for English Teaching, University of Sydney, call (02) 9036 7900

Administered in Armidale by: UNE English Language Centre, University of New England, call (02) 6773 3192

Administered in Canberra by: The University of Canberra English Language Institute (UCELI), University of Canberra, call (02) 6201 2669

Administered in Newcastle by: The Language Centre, University of Newcastle, call (02) 4921 7183

Administered in Wollongong by: Wollongong College Australia, University of Wollongong, call (02) 4252 8803

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Administered in Sydney by: Thomson Prometric, call (02) 9640 5767

UAC's TOEFL Designated Institution code is 8619. If you want your results to be sent directly to UAC, enter this code on your answer sheets when you sit for the TOEFL examination or on the Score Report Request Forms for tests previously taken.

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What if I believe that I can demonstrate my proficiency in English, but cannot find the test or qualification listed in the table?

If you believe that you can demonstrate your proficiency in English but cannot supply proof, you must contact the Admissions Office at each institution to which you are applying.

DO NOT send this information to UAC. UAC cannot make decisions about English proficiency on behalf of institutions.

You must write to the Admissions Office at each institution to which you are applying and include supporting documentation so that the institutions can determine whether the test or qualification is acceptable. The institution will make a decision and will record that decision against your application.

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