English Language Requirements for International Students

English proficiency requirements form part of the entry criteria for University of Sydney postgraduate academic programs.

Note that the Australian Government has separate English language requirements for students applying for student visas from some countries. Please refer to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website for information on Government English proficiency requirements.

At the bottom of this page you can find information about English courses offered at the University of Sydney.

Demonstrating English language proficiency

Applicants who can provide evidence of satisfactory achievement in tertiary studies* in which the language of the institution and of instruction, examination and assessment was English, may not be required to provide further evidence of English proficiency. Satisfactory acheivement is determined by each faculty in accordance with the discipline concerned and their English test standards. The tertiary studies must have been undertaken no more than 5 years prior to the date of application for admission to the University of Sydney.

*For courses in the Faculty of Economics and Business and Sydney College of the Arts, the Faculties have defined ‘satisfactory achievement as follows: To meet the requirements of ‘satisfactory achievement’, applicants must present evidence of one year full-time university study in which the language of the institution was English and the language of instruction, examination and assessment was English. To be ‘satisfactory’ the applicant must have a pass average if this qualification was not used to gain admission. The study must have been undertaken at a recognized institution. Where a university has two official languages, one being English, proof must be received from the Registrar/Academic Affairs Office or equivalent that the applicant’s entire course was conducted in English.

English language test scores must be less than 2 years old at the date you apply to the University of Sydney.

English Language Proficiency Requirements for Postgraduate Courses

# Media Practice requires a minimum of 7.0 in Writing OR Speaking and a minimum of 6.0 in Listening and Reading.
##Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy require a minimum of 7.0 in Speaking and Writing.
### Translation Studies requires an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 7.0 in Reading and Writing and a minimum of 6.0 in Speaking and Listening.


The Deans of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Sydney College of the Arts may be able to exercise discretion in regards to English Language Requirements in exceptional circumstances.

English courses

If you do not meet the English requirements for your chosen course and you need to improve your standard of English before you commence your degree, English courses are available at the Centre for English Teaching (CET) at the University of Sydney.

Applicants who achieve the required grades in “English for Academic Purposes” at the Centre for English Teaching at the University of Sydney are not required to provide further evidence of English proficiency. The course must have been completed no more than 2 years prior to the date of application.

For more information contact the Centre for English Teaching (CET)