English Language
Wollongong is the ideal location for students wishing to immerse themselves in Australian language and culture. Wollongong College Australia offers a range of courses to help prospective students meet English language proficiency requirements for enrolment at the University of Wollongong.
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 WCA English courses. The Pearsons Test of English (PTE Academic) is also acceptable. Please contact UniAdvice for enquiries about specific requirements on this test.
| Program | Undergraduate | Postgraduate Coursework | Postgraduate Research |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts | Table 1 | Table 2 | Table 2 |
| 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 | Table 1 | Table 1 |
| Health & Behavioural Science | Table 2 | Table 2 (f) | Table 2 |
| Informatics | Table 1 | Table 1 | Table 1 |
| Law | Table 3 | Table 3(d) | Table 3 |
| Science | Table 1 | Table 1 | Table 1 |
| Sydney Business School | - | Table 2(b) | Table 2 |
| Graduate School of Medicine | - | Table 4 | - |
| Study Abroad Program | Table 1 | - | - |
- Excluding Graduate Certificate in Commerce – see Table 1
- Excluding Graduate Certificate in Business – see Table 1
- Excluding Journalism – see Table 3
- Excluding Transnational Crime Prevention, Maritime Studies & Maritime Policy – see Table 5
- Excluding Graduate Diploma in Education – see Table 3
- Excluding Master of Science (Midwifery) - see Table 4
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 |
|
WCA – English for Tertiary Studies (WCA Students Only) |
Pass | Not Applicable | |||
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 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 18 |
|
WCA – English for Tertiary Studies (WCA Students Only) |
Credit | Not Applicable | |||
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 | 20 | 20 |
|
WCA – English for Tertiary Studies (WCA Students Only) |
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 |
Table 5
| 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 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
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 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.
How much English do I need?
Score at time of application |
Estimated time required to reach entry score (weeks) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level | IELTS | TOEFL (paper/computer/internet) | IELTS 5.0 | IELTS 5.5 | IELTS 6.0 | IELTS 6.5 | IELTS 7.0 |
| Advanced | 6.5 | 575 / 231 / 88 | 10 | ||||
| 6.0 | 550 / 213 / 78 | 10 | 15 | ||||
| 5.5 | 525 / 195 / 70 | 10 | 15 | 20 | |||
| Intermediate | 5.0 | 500 / 173 / 61 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | |
| 4.5 | 475 / 151 / 52 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | |
| Lower intermediate | 4.0 | 450 / 133 / 45 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35+ |
| 3.5 | 425 / 113 / 38 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35+ | 40+ | |
| Elementary | 3.0 | 375 / 78 / 24 | 25+ | 30+ | 35+ | 40+ | 45+ |
Note: ETS programs are suitable for students progressing to courses with a 6.0 IELTS requirement; for courses with higher entry requirements, an additional 5 weeks for every increase of 0.5 IELTS is recommended.
Visit the WCA website for more information on English language courses.










