English Tests for the Student Visa: IELTS, PTE, TOEFL and Scores

Why are there two layers of English requirements?

When you study in Australia, you face two independent sets of English requirements:

The DHA (visa) requirement: The minimum needed to be granted a subclass 500 visa
The institution (admission) requirement: The score needed to be accepted into a specific course

Institutions usually set a higher requirement than DHA. You need to meet both — and in practice the institution’s requirement is the real threshold you have to clear.

The scores DHA requires for the subclass 500

DHA sets minimum scores by test type and level of study program. The specific rules can change and should be checked directly at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you apply.

The DHA requirement is usually lower than the institution’s requirement — and IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Cambridge are all accepted as policy-equivalent.

Note: DHA looks at both your overall score and your component skills (no single skill should be too far below the overall). Check the detailed policy guidance at the time you apply.

The institution’s requirement — often much higher

This is the level you actually need to reach:

Bachelor: Most commonly IELTS 6.0–6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0. Some fields (Medicine, Law, Teaching) may require 7.0 or above.

Master coursework: Usually IELTS 6.5 overall, with no band below 6.0.

Master research / PhD: Many institutions require IELTS 6.5–7.0, with particular emphasis on Writing and Speaking.

TAFE (Diploma / Certificate III–IV): Usually lower — IELTS 5.5–6.0, but still higher than the DHA minimum.

IELTS, PTE or TOEFL — which one?

All three tests are accepted as policy-equivalent by DHA and most Australian institutions. The practical differences:

IELTS Academic:

The most common, with scores that are easy to compare across institutions
Handwritten test, with a face-to-face speaking section with an examiner
Separate scores per skill, with the overall being the average (rounded to the nearest 0.5)
Results are valid for 2 years

PTE Academic (Pearson):

Fully computer-based, with results in 48 hours
No human examiner — suitable if you worry about “feeling nervous speaking to a person”
Scored on a 10–90 scale; an equivalent of IELTS 6.5 is roughly PTE 58–65 depending on what the institution specifies
Some people find it easier than IELTS, some find it harder — it depends on your learning style

TOEFL iBT (ETS):

More common in the US than in Australia; still accepted but less widely used
Computer-based, with speaking recorded into a microphone
Scored 0–120; IELTS 6.5 is roughly TOEFL 79–93 depending on the institution

A practical tip: Sit a practice test for both IELTS and PTE before you register officially — many people find one of the two suits their style considerably better.

When English requirements are waived

DHA and many institutions have some exemption cases:

Exemption by nationality or country of study: Citizens of countries where English is an official primary language (for example the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and Singapore in some cases) are often exempt.

Exemption by academic record: Some institutions waive the IELTS requirement if you have studied at an institution in Australia, the UK, the US or Canada for a minimum period.

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs: If your score is not high enough, many institutions let you take an academic English course at the institution before entering the main program — this is called a pathway program.

Component scores vs overall

Many people are refused because of a low component score even though their overall is sufficient:

For example: IELTS 6.5 overall but Writing 5.5 → usually refused by institutions that require “no band below 6.0.”

When you check an institution’s requirement, read both the overall and the minimum band score carefully. This is an AND condition — you have to meet all of them at once, not OR.

Score expiry — when do you need to re-sit?

IELTS, PTE and TOEFL are all valid for 2 years from the test date. If your score expires before you lodge your visa or apply to an institution, you need to re-sit.

Plan early enough that your score is still valid when you need to submit it.