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Admission requirements

Individual admission requirements for each course are listed at Course Options at a glance. Admission requirements generally include:

  • an academic qualification, and,
  • English language proficiency, and in some cases,
  • work experience.

A research proposal is required for professional doctorates in business administration, Indigenous philosophies and education. Country profiles issued by the National Office for Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) are used, where possible, to determine the Australian equivalent of an overseas qualification.

Undergraduate English Language Requirements

To be considered for admission to undergraduate programs at Southern Cross University the applicant must:

  • Have completed an educational qualification deemed to be at least equivalent to completion of Year 12 in Australia and have achieved the equivalent of the minimum entry grade for the program for which they have applied, and
  • Have met the University's English language requirement*
    • Academic IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band; or
    • TOEFL 550 with no less than 4.5 in the Test of Written English; or
    • internet-based TOEFL 79 with no less than 22 in Writing; or equivalent; and
  • Have met any course-specific requirements (e.g., a portfolio for the Bachelor of Visual Arts).

Variations in Undergraduate English Language Requirements

The following SCU undergraduate courses have different English Language requirements:

Bachelor of Nursing

  • From 2011 the entry requirement for the Bachelor of Nursing is IELTS 7.0 with no less than 7.0 in any band. Please note: to receive registration with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council an IELTS of 7.0 (in all bands) must be achieved.

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

  • The entry requirement for the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is IELTS 7.0 with no less than 7.0 in any band.

Education Programs

  • Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Education (Primary), Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) - all require IELTS 7.5 prior to entry with no less than 8.0 in Speaking and Listening and no less than 7.0 in Reading and Writing, or International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR) with no less than 4+ in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing.
  • This will also apply to any double or combined degree courses which include an education degree.
  • Note: The minimum requirement for Provisional and Conditional Accreditation in NSW after completion of an Education degree is IELTS 7.5 with a minimum of 8.0 in Speaking and Listening and a minimum of 7.0 in Reading and Writing.

Link Complete undergraduate admission requirements

Postgraduate English Language Requirements

For Graduate Entry Bachelor degrees other than those in Education, Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas other than those in Education, and coursework Masters degrees, the University's English language requirement is:

  • Academic IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band; or
  • TOEFL 550 with no less than 4.5 in the Test of Written English; or
  • internet-based TOEFL 79 with no less than 22 in writing; or equivalent.

Link Complete postgraduate admission requirements

Academic English Programs

Academic English Programs are available for students who do not meet the University's English language requirement. A pathway program is offered to students who meet the academic and work-experience requirements of the:

  • Master of Business Administration,
  • Master of Business Administration/Master of Professional Accounting package, or
  • Master of Business Administration in Hotel and Tourism Management,

but who do not meet the University's English language requirement.

Link Academic english programs

Masters Degrees by Thesis and PhD

Masters degrees by thesis and PhD require:

  • Academic IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band; or
  • TOEFL 580 with no less than 5.0 in the Test of Written English; or
  • internet-based TOEFL 92 with no less than 25 in writing; or equivalent.

Professional Doctorates

The Doctor of Business Administration, the Doctor of Indigenous Philosophies and the Doctor of Education require:

  • IELTS 7.0 with no less than 6.5 in any band; or
  • TOEFL 600 with no less than 5.0 in the Test of Written English; or,
  • internet-based TOEFL 100 with no less than 25 in writing; or equivalent.

Link Complete english language admission requirements

Updated: 19 July 2011