English language proficiency requirements
We want you to be able to study successfully in Australia. That's why our courses have a minimum English language proficiency entry requirement.
You must meet specific English language proficiency requirements to study at Federation. To demonstrate this, you'll need to provide:
- approved English language test results
or - non-test evidence, such as
- successful completion of an approved English for Academic Purposes (EAP) pathway course
- prior study within the last two years at a recognised institution.
English language test results
Your English test results must be valid when you start your course at Federation University. If you defer your first semester, your test results must still be valid when your course commences. If results indicate you need some extra English support, you may be able to do the English for Academic Purposes course packaged with your main course.
Check for approved English test results based on whether you completed your test before or after 23 April 2026.
Required results
| Academic IELTS | Pearson (PTE) | TOEFL iBT* | Cambridge-CAE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall 7.5 (no less than 8.0 in Listening & Speaking, no less than 7.0 in Reading & Writing) |
Overall 73 (no less than 81 in Listening & Speaking, no less than 65 in Reading & Writing) |
106 with minimums: Reading 24 Listening 28 Speaking 26 Writing 27 |
Overall 191 (no less than 200 in Listening & Speaking, no less than 185 in Reading & Writing) |
| Overall 7.5 (no band less than 7.0) |
Overall 73 (no band less than 65) |
106 with minimums: Reading 24 Listening 24 Speaking 23 Writing 27 |
Overall 191 (no band less than 185) |
| Overall 7.0 (no band less than 7.0) |
Overall 65 (no band less than 65) |
100 with minimums: Reading 24 Listening 24 Speaking 23 Writing 27 |
Overall 185 (no band less than 185) |
| Overall 7.0 (no band less than 6.5) |
Overall 65 (no band less than 58) |
100 with minimums: Reading 19 Listening 20 Speaking 20 Writing 24 |
Overall 185 (no band less than 176) |
| Overall 6.5 (no band less than 6.5) |
Overall 58 (no band less than 58) |
79–93 with minimums: Reading 18 Listening 18 Speaking 20 Writing 24 |
Overall 176 (no band less than 176) |
| Overall 6.5 (no band less than 6.0) |
Overall 58 (no band less than 50) |
79–93 with minimums: Reading 13 Listening 12 Speaking 18 Writing 21 |
Overall 176 (no band less than 169) |
| Overall 6.0 (no band less than 6.0) |
Overall 50 (no band less than 50) |
60–78 with minimums: Reading 13 Listening 12 Speaking 18 Writing 21 |
Overall 169 (no band less than 169) |
| Overall 6.0 (no band less than 5.5) |
Overall 50 (no band less than 42) |
60–78 with minimums: Reading 8 Listening 7 Speaking 16 Writing 18 |
Overall 169 (no band less than 162) |
| Overall 5.5 (no band less than 5.5) |
Overall 42 (no band less than 42) |
46–49 with minimums: Reading 8 Listening 7 Speaking 16 Writing 18 |
Overall 162 (no band less than 162) |
| Overall 5.5 (no band less than 5.0) |
Overall 42 (no band less than 36) |
46–59 with minimums: Reading 4 Listening 4 Speaking 14 Writing 14 |
Overall 162 (no band less than 154) |
| Overall 5.0 (no band less than 5.0) |
Overall 36 (no band less than 36) |
35–45 with minimums: Reading 4 Listening 4 Speaking 14 Writing 14 |
Overall 154 (no band less than 154) |
*TOEFL iBT: the Australian Department of Home Affairs has recently reviewed the TOEFL iBT test. Tests taken in between July 26, 2023 and May 4, 2024 will not be recognised for relevant visa sub-classes to Australia (including student visas).
Please note:
- Courses that have higher English language requirements may be excluded from using previous study to demonstrate English. Please see the explicit English language requirements (listed on individual course details pages) to verify. A final assessment will be made on receipt of full supporting documentation.
- We also accept Occupational English Test (OET) results with 'B' in all bands, but ONLY for entry into nursing courses.
- Where you have results from more than one of the above-listed English language tests, we'll only consider your most recent results to determine admission.
- We accept One Skill Retake for IELTS taken within 60 days of the original test (noting where it is accepted by accrediting bodies for courses with professional registration). (Accepted by APHRA for Bachelor of Nursing)
- We reserve the right to require applicants to take an English language test.
- Inbound study abroad / exchange applicants, or those applying to study single units, must meet the minimum English language proficiency requirements for each unit in their proposed course, as per the course entry requirements.
- A course with multiple location offerings will have the same English language requirements regardless of where and how it is delivered.
- We don't accept evidence from any English language test that's delivered completely online. These are also known as remote-proctored or at-home tests.
- We don't accept tests not listed above (e.g. IELTS UKVI, CELPIP).
| Academic IELTS | Pearson (PTE) | TOEFL iBT* | Cambridge-CAE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.0 in all brands | Overall 79 Listening 69 Reading 70 Writing 85 Speaking 88 |
Listening 26 |
Listening 186 Reading 190 Writing 210 Speaking 280 |
|
7.5 in all bands |
Overall 71 Listening 63 Reading 53 Writing 60 Speaking 82 |
Listening 24 Reading 19 Writing 22 Speaking 26 |
Listening 180 Reading 171 Writing 180 Speaking 201 |
| 7.0 in all bands | Overall 63 Listening 58 Reading 59 Writing 69 Speaking 76 |
Listening 22 Reading 22 Writing 26 Speaking 24 |
Overall 185 Listening 175 Reading 179 Writing 193 Speaking 194 |
| 6.5 in all bands | Overall 55 Listening 52 Reading 53 Writing 60 Speaking 65 |
Listening 19 Reading 19 Writing 22 Speaking 21 |
Overall 176 Listening 169 Reading 171 Writing 180 Speaking 186 |
| 6.0 in all bands | Overall 47 Listening 47 Reading 48 Writing 51 Speaking 54 |
Listening 16 Reading 16 Writing 19 Speaking 19 |
Overall 169 Listening 163 Reading 163 Writing 170 Speaking 179 |
| 5.5 in all bands | Overall 39 Listening 40 Reading 42 Writing 41 Speaking 39 |
Listening 12 Reading 12 Writing 14 Speaking 16 |
No CAE for IELTS 5.5 |
| 5.0 in all bands | Overall 31 Listening 33 Reading 36 Writing 29 Speaking 24 |
Listening 8 Reading 8 Writing 9 Speaking 14 |
No CAE for IELTS 5.0 |
*To ensure your TOEFL iBT result is valid for Australian visa purposes, you must select ‘Taking TOEFL for Australia’ when registering for your test. Results not registered under this pathway are not eligible for Australian visa purposes.
OET (Occupational English test) for Bachelor of Nursing course only:
- Listening 350
- Reading 360
- Writing 350
- Speaking 360
Please note:
- Courses that have higher English language requirements may be excluded from using previous study to demonstrate English. Please see the explicit English language requirements (listed on individual course details pages) to verify. A final assessment will be made on receipt of full supporting documentation.
- We also accept Occupational English Test (OET) results with 'B' in all bands, but ONLY for entry into nursing courses.
- Where you have results from more than one of the above-listed English language tests, we'll only consider your most recent results to determine admission.
- We accept One Skill Retake for IELTS taken within 60 days of the original test (noting where it is accepted by accrediting bodies for courses with professional registration). (Accepted by APHRA for Bachelor of Nursing)
- We reserve the right to require applicants to take an English language test.
- Inbound study abroad / exchange applicants, or those applying to study single units, must meet the minimum English language proficiency requirements for each unit in their proposed course, as per the course entry requirements.
- A course with multiple location offerings will have the same English language requirements regardless of where and how it is delivered.
- We don't accept evidence from any English language test that's delivered completely online. These are also known as remote-proctored or at-home tests.
- We don't accept tests not listed above (e.g. IELTS UKVI, CELPIP).
Non-test evidence
The following info applies to all students except those doing a Bachelor of Nursing.
You must have completed:
- an approved English for Academic Purposes (EAP) pathway course
- prior study at a recognised institution or in a recognised qualification
OR
- prior study with English as the language of instruction (qualification taught and assessed solely in English) from one of the countries listed in the table below.
| English proficiency | Study type and duration | Recognised countries/regions | Evidence required |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Competent (IELTS 6.0 and IELTS 6.5)
|
Completion of at least two years of senior secondary or Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or Advanced Diploma or equivalent post-secondary qualifications or one year of full-time tertiary study at AQF level 7 or above, or equivalent.
|
Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland) and Republic of Ireland, United States of America. |
|
| Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cook Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
|
||
|
Proficient (IELTS 7.0) |
Completion of a minimum of five years of education, with at least two of those years at a secondary or senior secondary level (or equivalent) and achievement of the required English results listed below. |
Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland), United States of America. |
|
*Accepted proof of studies includes:
- results from your senior high school qualification indicating English results that meet the course requirements
- results from an Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) accredited diploma or advanced diploma (or equivalent)
- results from one year of full-time study at AQF 7 or above, or equivalent.
If you completed your studies more than two years before the course commencement date, you must provide evidence of current employment (6 months or more), demonstrating that English has been the primary language used in your workplace.
The following table lists studies that will give you an English level proficiency of competent (IELTS 6.0):
| Country of study | Accepted qualification (completed within 2 years before course commencement) | Minimum English subject requirement |
| Australia |
Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) |
Units 3 and 4 with a study score of at least 20 in English other than English as an additional language (EAL) OR a study score of at least 20 in English as a second language (ESL) or English as an additional language (EAL) |
|
Foundation from an Australian institution |
Successful completion of a foundation course from an Australian institution | |
| Global |
GCE A Level | Grade C in English Language and Literature |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma | Minimum 4 in English | |
| Canada |
Alberta High School Diploma (AHSD) | 70% in final year English subjects |
| British Columbia Certificate of Graduation (BCCG) | 70% in final year English subjects | |
| Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) | 70% in ENG4U | |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) | Level 4 or above in English subjects |
| Malaysia |
Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) | Minimum grade C in English |
| Malaysian Independent Chinese Secondary Schools Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) | Grade B6 in English | |
| New Zealand | NCEA Level 3 | NCEA Level 3: A minimum of 18 achieved credits in English |
| Singapore | Singapore Cambridge GCE A Level | Grade B/C in a humanities subject or Grade C in English |
| United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland) |
Leaving Certificate | Successful completion of English with an overall achievement of C2 (60%) or better |
| USA (qualification completed in the USA only) |
Advanced Placement (AP) examinations | Grade 3 or higher in English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition |
Alternative evidence
If you present alternative evidence to show that you meet the English language proficiency requirements, you'll need the approval of the Senior Manager, Admissions and Scholarships.
Professional accreditation
If you qualify for a Federation University course and intend to gain professional registration to become a practitioner in Australia, you may need to meet the relevant professional accrediting agency’s English language proficiency at the time of registration, as the non-test evidence outlined above may not be acceptable.
English language proficiency for visa purposes
Even if you satisfy our English language proficiency requirements, you may still need to meet additional English requirements to get your student visa. You must submit evidence of this when we request it. See the Department of Home Affairs website for more details.
Pathways to study
If you don't meet the English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to study English for Academic Purposes to improve your English skills.