English Language Requirements

Wollongong is the ideal location for students wishing to immerse themselves in Australian language and culture. UOW College offers a range of courses to help prospective students meet English language proficiency requirements for enrolment at the University of Wollongong.

• English Language Requirements
• How much English do I need?

English Language Requirements 

International students enrolling in any University of Wollongong course must meet English language requirements as well as academic requirements.

The following tables show the entry requirements for UOW courses based on IELTS, TOEFL and UOW College direct entry English courses. Visit the UOW College website for entry requirements to Diploma and Foundation Studies programs.

Program	Undergraduate	Postgraduate Coursework	Postgraduate Research
Arts	Table 1	Table 2	Table 2(j)
Commerce	Table 1	Table 2(a)	Table 2
Creative Arts	Table 1(c)	Table 1(c)	Table 1(c)
Education	Table 3	Table 2(e)	Table 2
Engineering	Table 1(k)	Table 1(k)	Table 1(k)
Health & Behavioural Science	Table 2(i) (l)	Table 2(f) (l)	Table 2(f)
Informatics	Table 1	Table 1	Table 1
Law	Table 3	Table 3(d)	Table 3
Science	Table 1(k)	Table 1(k)	Table 1(k)
Sydney Business School	-	Table 2(b)	Table 2
Graduate School of Medicine	-	Table 4	Table 4
Study Abroad Program	Table 1	-	-

 

1. Excluding Graduate Certificate in Commerce – see Table 1
2. Excluding Graduate Certificate in Business – see Table 1
3. Excluding Journalism – see Table 3
4. Excluding Maritime Studies/Policy – see Table 1 note (g); Fisheries Policy - see Table 2; and Transnational Crime Prevention - see Table 2 note (h)
5. Excluding Graduate Diploma in Education – see Table 3
6. Excluding Master of Science (Midwifery), Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology), Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) and Master of Psychology (Clinical) - see  Table 4; and Graduate Certificate in Advanced Dietetic Practice - see Table 3

Table 1

Test	Required score, plus the band scores in the next column	R	W	L	S
IELTS (Academic)	Overall score of 6.0	6.0	6.0	5.0	5.0
TOEFL (Internet-based)	79	18	20	17	16
UOW College – English for Tertiary Studies	Pass	Not Applicable

Note (g): Maritime Studies/Policy programs require IELTS 5.5 in speaking and listening, or equivalent

Note (k): Engineering and Science degrees (including Higher Degree Research) require 6.0 in all IELTS band scores.

Table 2

Test	Required score, plus the band scores in the next column	R	W	L	S
IELTS (Academic)	Overall score of 6.5	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0
TOEFL (Internet-based)	88	18	20	18	18
UOW College – English for Tertiary Studies	Credit	Not Applicable

Note (h): Transnational Crime Prevention coursework programs require IELTS 6.5 in reading and writing, or equivalent

Note (i):  Bachelor of Nursing requires 6.5 in all IELTS band scores or equivalent : iTOEFL - 20 in all band scores; UOW College ETS - 65% in Academic Reading & Writing and either Academic Listening & Speaking or Critical Literacy),

Note (j): All Arts Higher Degree Research programs require a writing band score of 6.5 in IELTS.

Note (l): Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics, Bachelor of Exercise Science &  Rehabilitation, Master of Science (Nutrition & Dietetics) and Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology require 6.5 in all band scores.

Table 3

Test	Required score, plus the band scores in the next column	R	W	L	S
IELTS (Academic)	Overall score of 7.0	6.5	7.0	6.0	6.0
TOEFL (Internet-based)	100	20	22	18	18
UOW College - English for Tertiary Studies	Distinction	Not Applicable

Table 4

Test	Required score, plus the band scores in the next column	R	W	L	S
IELTS (Academic)	Overall score of 7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0

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Cambridge Examinations

The following Cambridge ESOL Examinations are acceptable:

• CAE - Cambridge English: Advanced (also known as Certificate in Advanced English)
  • For IELTS 7.0 - Grade B with a score of 75
  • For IELTS 6.5 - Grade C with a score of 67
  • For IELTS 6.0 - Grade C with a score of 60
  • For IELTS 5.5 - Score of 47
  • For IELTS 5.0 - Score of 41
• CPE - Cambridge English: Proficiency (also known as Certificate of Proficiency in English)
  • For IELTS 7 - Grade B
  • For IELTS 6 or 6.5 - Grade C

Pearson Test of English 

The following will be acceptable on the PTE Academic:

PTE (Academic)		Equivalent to IELTS
Minimum Overall score	Minimum Communicative Skill (reading, writing, listening, speaking)scores	Overall
42	reading & writing 42; speaking & listening 36	IELTS 5
49	all 43	IELTS 5.5
57	reading & writing 57; speaking & listening 50	IELTS 6.0
64	all 59	IELTS 6.5
72	reading & writing 72; speaking & listening 65	IELTS 7.0

 

Previous Study in English

The University's English language requirements may be satisfied by successful completion of full-time secondary or tertiary studies, or equivalent qualification, with a duration of at least two years, from an approved offshore institution:

• where the sole language of instruction and assessment was English; and
• the qualifications were attained within two years of the intended commencement date of study at UOW.

Academic transcripts and an official letter from the institution certifying that English was the sole language of instruction and assessment must be provided. 

Previous study in English is considered on a case-by-case basis and does not automatically meet UOW's English language requirement.  Applicants from student visa Assessment Level 3 and 4 countries are required to provide an IELTS result - this result will be the determining factor in assessing English proficiency to UOW.  

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How much English do I need? 

Score at time of application			Estimated time required to reach entry score (weeks)
Level	IELTS	TOEFL (paper/internet)	IELTS 5.0	IELTS 5.5	IELTS 6.0	IELTS 6.5	IELTS 7.0
Advanced	6.5	575 / 88					12
	6.0	550 / 79			6 *	12	18
	5.5	525 / 70		6 #	12	18	24
Intermediate	5.0	500 / 61		12	18	24	30
	4.5	475 / 52	12	18	24	30	36
Lower intermediate	4.0	450 / 45	18	24	30	36	42
	3.5	425 / 38	24	30	36	42	48
Elementary	3.0	375 / 24	30	36	42	48	48+

# for students with 5.5 overall, but less than 5.0 in reading or writing

* for students with 6.0 overall, but 5.5 in either reading or writing 

Visit the UOW College website for more information on English language courses.

 

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