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English Language Proficiency

Schedule A: List of Countries

  • American Samoa
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Fiji
  • Ireland
  • Kenya
  • New Zealand
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland)
  • United States of America
  • Zambia

All applicants for admission to SCU must meet the University's English language requirement for admission irrespective of your study location or study mode.

You do not need to provide proof of English proficiency if:

  1. You were born in one of the countries listed in Schedule A (right) and have at least one assessable qualification from that country and the language in which you undertook the qualification was English; or
  2. You were NOT born in one of the countries listed in Schedule A but you have completed senior secondary study or at least one year of full time university study in one of the countries listed and the language in which you undertook the study was English.

If you have undertaken all of your qualifications in any other country than those listed in Schedule A (above right) you must provide proof of proficiency in English based on the comparable tests outlined in Schedule B below, please note that these comparable scores do not apply to Nursing or Education programs, postgraduate research or doctoral programs:

Schedule B: Comparable Tests

Comparable TestsRequired Score
Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CCPE)C pass
Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CCAE)C pass
Combined Universities Language Test (CULT) Overall*65
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic version only)†6.0 overall (Min. 5.5 in each subtest)
International BaccalaureatesMin. English A2 at higher or standard level
International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPRs)†3+ or better in all 4 skills
General Certificate of Education (GCE) 'A' Levels (from Britain or Singapore)C pass in humanities subject
General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) 'O' Levels (from Britain or Singapore)C pass in English
Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM)C pass in 914/920 English
Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE)Overall C pass, C pass in Use of English
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based score†550 (min 4.5 in Test of Written English (TWE))
TOEFL computer-based score†213 (min 4.5 Essay Rating)
TOEFL internet-based score†79 (min 22 Writing)
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic57

* Please note that the CULT test is no longer offered.
† The required score must have been achieved within the last 2 years

Applicants for SCU Education and Nursing programs

Applicants for SCU Education and Nursing programs should be aware of the minimum English requirements required to register as a Teacher or Nurse upon graduation. To ensure applicants can meet the minimum requirements for registration, these programs specify a different minimum English Language requirement in their Specific Award Rules.

Further Information

For information about NSW Institute of Teachers registration requirements, please visit:

Link www.nswteachers.nsw.edu.au

For information about the Nurses and Midwives Board registration requirements, please visit:

Link www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/

If you do not have the required English Test result or qualification and would like to sit a test please refer to the websites below for more information. Please note that Southern Cross University's English Language Centre in Lismore is an authorised Open TOEFL©Testing Centre.

Link English Language Centres

To register for tests using the links below:

Link International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Link Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Table 1: SCU Undergraduate English Language Proficiency Requirements

Undergraduate CoursesIELTS AcademicPeriod of ValidityTOEFL/ TWEPeriod of Validity
Undergraduate courses other than Nursing and Education6.0 overall (no less than 5.5 in any band)2 yrs550/4.52 yrs
Bachelor of Nursing 7.0 overall (no less than 7.0 in any band)2 yrs
Education courses including combined degreesIELTS 7.5 (no less than 8.0 in speaking and listening and no less than 7.0 in reading and writing)2 yrs

Table 2: SCU Postgraduate English Language Proficiency Requirements

Postgraduate Courses IELTS Academic Period of Validity TOEFL/TWE Period of Validity
*Coursework Masters, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates
*other than those listed below		6.0 overall (no less than 5.5 in any band)2 yrs550/4.52 yrs
Graduate Diploma of Education and Bachelor of Education (Secondary – Graduate entry)IELTS 7.5 (no less than 8.0 in speaking and listening and no less than 7.0 in reading and writing)2 yrs
PhD, Masters by research and Masters of Public Health6.5 overall (no less than 6.0 in any band)2 yrs580/5.02 yrs
Professional Doctorates7.0 overall (no less than 6.5 in any band)2 yrs600/5.02 yrs

Updated: 02 May 2012