📚 All about IELTS and PTE requirements at Australian universities and colleges

Every student that goes to Australia on a Student Visa has to prove proficiency in English at a certain level, if you are a non-native user of English - that includes most of us from Nepal.

The most common way to demonstrate proficiency is by taking PTE/IELTS tests and getting a prescribed minimum band score.

Why are IELTS/PTE requirements different for different students?

Each course a Nepali student can undertake in Australia has to have an approval from the government, which includes English proficiency requirement. The minimum required IELTS/PTE score for each course is different based on how important language skills are in that profession:

• Degrees in Law, Medicine, Nursing, Social Work have higher English requirements due to the importance of the English language when you study that course, and after you graduate.
• IT and Engineering courses have lenient IELTS/PTE requirements because they emphasise technical abilities in Maths, Sciences and Computer Programming more than anything.
• Business students benefit from having a good command of English, but since you will get plenty of opportunity to get better as you study, initial requirements for offer letter and visa tend to be very lenient.
• Commercial cookery, automotive/mechanical diplomas and many certificate level courses tend to have the lowest IELTS/PTE requirements because of the nature of coursework and actual work involved in these degrees.

Are IELTS/PTE scores considered when visa application is processed?

The Australian High Commission in New Delhi, which handles all student visa applications from Nepal, always looks at your IELTS/PTE score while issuing visas even if you and your scores have been accepted by a college or university.

What is the lowest IELTS/PTE score that a student can successfully get a visa with?

While IELTS/PTE courses are a consideration when visas are issued, certain types of students still get a visa when their scores are low; such as:

• Students doing packaged ENGLISH LANGUAGE courses before starting their primary degree
• Students approved for Foundation courses

Even scores below 5.0 (for IELTS) or below 36 (for PTE) have been issued a successful visa, given the application package shows sufficient evidence that students is a genuine applicant.

If I don't get required IELTS/PTE scores, what are my alternatives?

If you can't meet English language requirements for your chosen course, you can always opt to do a packaged English course or select a similarly designed course that might have the English language requirement that you can fulfill.

What is a Foundation Course?

Universities like University of Technology Sydney (UTS), UniSA (Location: Adelaide, South Australia), QUT (Location: Brisbane, Queensland), CDU (location: Darwin, Northern Territory), WSU (location: Sydney, New South Wales) offer excellent foundation courses for students who require a sort of 'bridging' course before they start their primary degree.

Foundation courses can last anywhere between 8 months and 16 months depending on provider University.

IELTS requirements for foundation courses tend to be lower than a primary degree because English is taught as part of the course whereby students get ample opportunity to imporove their academic English skills.

What is ELICOS/ESL/EAP etc?

Above abbreviations relate to packaged English courses that students can do before starting their primary degree. If you cannot meet entry requirements for your chosen degree, a packaged English course can open doors for you.

Does my IELTS/PTE score affect my visa chances?

While a demonstrated high English proficiency level (in other words, high IELTS/PTE scores) always work in your favour, lower scores don't immediately mean refusal. Visa success has a lot to do your overall educational and financial profile.

Having said that, an education planner/counsellor that is acutely aware of English course requirements and the effects it can have to your visa application should be your number one priority when you pick out your educational counsellor.

At iae Global Nepal, Dillibazar, we are all about finding an option for you - the best scholarship, the right city, the right pathways and yes, a way out when IELTS/PTE score came out lower than expected!

🇦🇺 Get in touch today to discuss your options for success in Australia.