English Language Requirements

English language requirements

Scholarship applicants please note:  Applicants applying in a University of Adelaide scholarship round must provide evidence of meeting the English language requirements by the application closing date and, as scholarship rounds are relevant to specific intakes, English tests must be valid for the corresponding intake.

International applicants

The University will not require English evidence for:

  • Any applicant who is a citizen and holds a passport from one of the following countries:  Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America
  • Any applicant who has completed study at a Bachelor degree level or above from an Australian institution (onshore) within the last five years preceding the relevant semester intake
  • Any applicant who has satisfactorily completed study at a Bachelor degree or above from one of the following countries:  American Samoa, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Canada (excluding Quebec), Cook Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Ireland, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Zambia or Zimbabwe for at least one of the last two years, or at least two of the last five years preceding the relevant semester intake

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency in the form of a valid English test that has been taken within the two years preceding the relevant semester intake. See below for a list of University of Adelaide accepted English Language Proficiency tests.

Domestic applicants (including permanent residents)

Generally, if English is your first language, you are not required to provide further evidence of English language proficiency.

However, if English is not your first language, further evidence of English language proficiency will be required. You can provide evidence of the following:

  • Completion of tertiary studies at an institution where English is the medium of instruction, for a period of two years in the last five years or one year in the last two years
  • A satisfactory English test that has been taken within the two years preceding the date of commencement. See below for a list of University of Adelaide accepted English Language Proficiency tests.

University of Adelaide Accepted English Language Tests

The University accepts the following test types, noting that only tests that have been taken at an official test centre can be accepted:

  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Internet Based Test
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic
  • C1 Advanced (formerly CAE - Cambridge English: Advanced)

The English test scores required for entry to each area are outlined in the Minimum English Language Proficiency Entry Criteria for Postgraduate Research Students. 

All other English evidence will only be considered for eligibility upon the assessment of a submitted application and on a case-by-case basis. Unless you meet the above criteria, a valid English test result will be required at the time of submitting your application to avoid your application being withdrawn or deemed incomplete on a scholarship deadline.

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