University of New England

English language proficiency

University of New England recognises a number of English language tests as proof of English language proficiency. These are set out in the following tables, together with the minimum results required.

PTE Online, IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT home edition and OET@Home tests are not assessed.

Make sure you also read about qualifications that usually satisfy ELP.

Undergraduate

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Test/Qualification Minimum result required Conditions
First language English is the student's first language
Senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary study Satisfactory completion of at least 1 year of full-time or equivalent full-time study at senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary level and resulting in an AQF award or an award recognised by NOOSR
  • Must be completed no more than 5 years prior to the date of application for admission to UNE
  • Must be completed in a country in which English is the primary official language or co-official language
  • English must be the sole medium of instruction and assessment for the particular period of study claimed
IELTS6.5 overall (min. 6.5 in writing, 6.0 in speaking, listening and reading)Only Academic version results obtained no more than 2 years of date of application
TOEFL Paper-based score: not accepted

Internet-based score: 91 (min. 22 in writing, 20 in listening, speaking and reading)
Only results obtained within 2 years of date of application
UNE Advanced EAP (EAP Level 4) Successful completion of course

You must also satisfy the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council’s English language proficiency requirements.
 

Test/QualificationMinimum result requiredConditions
First language

English is the student's first language.

Completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country, including at least two years between Years 7 and 12.

Recognised countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey, Malta, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Saint Helena, Ascension and St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands.

 

TOEFL

TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test: not accepted

Paper-based Test (pBT) score: not accepted

Internet-based Test (iBT)* score: accepted

Test was taken on or before 22 April 2026: Overall Minimum Score: 94 (min. 24 in listening, reading and writing, 23 in speaking)

 

Test was taken on or after 23 April 2026: Overall Minimum Score: 91 (min. 22 in listening and reading, 23 in writing, 24 in speaking)

Only results obtained within 2 years of date of application.

 

*Taking TOEFL for Australia’ version of the iBT required for valid Australian registration purposes

 

IELTS

IELTS Indicator online test: not accepted

Test was taken on or before 22 April 2026: 7.0 overall (min. 7.0 in listening, reading and speaking, 6.5 in writing)

 

Test was taken on or after 23 April 2026: 7.0 overall (min. 7.0 in listening, reading and speaking, 6.5 in writing)

Only Academic version results obtained within 2 years of date of application

 

Academic paper and computer at test centre only 

PTE Academic

Test was taken on or before 22 April 2026: 66 overall (min. 66 in listening, reading and speaking, 56 in writing)

 

Test was taken on or after 23 April 2026: 63 overall (min. 58 in listening, 59 in reading, 76 in speaking, 60 in writing)

Only results obtained within 2 years of date of application
OET

Test was taken on or before 22 April 2026: Overall Minimum Score: n/a (B in listening, reading and speaking, C+ in writing)

 

Test was taken on or after 23 April 2026: Overall Minimum Score: n/a (350 in listening and writing,360 in reading and speaking)

Only results obtained within 2 years of date of application

 

Any profession specific OET test can be accepted

C1 Advanced, formerly CAE

Test was taken on or before 22 April 2026:Overall Minimum Score: 185 (185 in listening, reading and speaking, 176 in writing)

 

Test was taken on or after 23 April 2026:Overall Minimum Score: 178 (175 in listening, 179 in reading, 194 in speaking and 180 in writing)

Only results obtained within 2 years of date of application

 

Paper and computer at test centre only

C1 Proficiency, formerly CPE

Test was taken on or before 22 April 2026: Overall Minimum Score: 185(185 in listening, reading and speaking, 176 in writing)

 

Test was taken on or after 23 April 2026: Overall Minimum Score: 185(185 in listening, reading and speaking, 176 in writing)

Only results obtained within 2 years of date of application

 

Paper and computer at test centre only

Test/Qualification Minimum result required Conditions
First language English is the student's first language, or primary language
• Satisfactory completion of at least two (2) years of study at senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary level taught and assessed solely in English
• Taught and assessed solely in English completed in one of the following countries; Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America
Senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary studySatisfactory completion of at least 3 years of full‐time or equivalent full‐time study at senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary levelTaught and assessed solely in English and completed in one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America
IELTS 7.0 overall (min. 6.0 in reading and writing, 7.0 in speaking and listening) Only Academic version results obtained within 2 years of date of application
TOEFL Paper-based score: not accepted

Internet-based score: 94 (min. 24 in writing and listening, 23 in reading and speaking)
Only results obtained within 2 years of date of application
PTE Academic 65 overall (min. 65 in listening, reading, speaking and writing) Only results obtained within 2 years of date of application
OET B in each component (listening, speaking, reading and writing)
UNE Advanced EAP (Level 5)Successful completion of course

Test/QualificationMinimum result requiredConditions
First languageEnglish is the student's first language 
Senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary studySatisfactory completion of at least 4 years of full-time comparable senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary study
  • Completed in one of the following countries; Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, or the Republic of Ireland
  • English must be the sole medium of instruction and assessment for the period of study claimed
IELTS7.5 overall (min. 8.0 in speaking, listening, 7.0 in reading, writing)Only Academic version results obtained within 2 years of date of application
ISLPRA score of at least 4 in each of the four areas: speaking, listening, reading and writingOnly results obtained within 2 years of date of application

Test/QualificationMinimum result required Conditions
First language English is the student's first language
Senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary study Satisfactory completion of secondary study
  • Must be completed no more than 5 years prior to the date of application for admission to UNE
  • Completed in one of the following countries; Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, or the Republic of Ireland
  • English must be the sole medium of instruction and assessment for the period of study claimed
IELTS 7.0 overall (min. 7.0 in speaking, listening, reading, writing) Only Academic version results obtained within 2 years of date of application

Test/QualificationMinimum result requiredConditions
First languageEnglish is the student's first language 
Senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary studySatisfactory completion of at least 1 year of full-time comparable senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary study and resulting in an AQF award or an award recognised by NOOSR• Must be completed no more than 5 years prior to the date of application for admission to UNE
• Completed in a country in which English is the primary official language or co-official language
• English must be the sole medium of instruction and assessment for the particular period of study claimed
Or
• The time limits for the currency of qualifications do not apply where the applicant has successfully completed a tertiary qualification taught and assessed entirely in English, and has, since completion of that tertiary qualification, held residence in American Samoa, Australia and territories, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales), United States of America
Australian Year 12 or comparable overseas senior secondary studyPass in an English language subject• A pass grade or better will be applied to mean 50% or better in the English Year 12 subject or the equivalent band result that indicates a pass (in cases where Year 12 subjects are assessed in bands for example band 3 in English in the NSW Higher School Certificate)
• The subject ‘English as an Additional Dialect’ (or a subject to the equivalent of same) is NOT considered an equivalent for a Year 12 English subject
IELTS6.0 overall (min. 5.5 in each subtest)Only Academic version results obtained within 2 years of date of application
TOEFL

TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test: not accepted

Paper-based score: not accepted

Internet-based score: accepted 

 

Internet-based score: 79 (min. 22 writing)

Only results obtained within 2 years of date of application
PTE Academic57 overall (min. 50 in listening, reading, speaking and writing)Only results obtained within 2 years of date of application
UNE EAPSuccessful completion of course 

General information for University of New England

Courses available

Undergraduate

Location

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Dixson Library Learning Commons
University of New England
Armidale NSW 2351

Important dates

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