IELTS Requirement for Australia in 2026: Student Visa, University Admission and the 485 Visa
IELTS requirement for Australia: 6.0 for the student visa (5.5 with ELICOS), 6.5 with no band below 5.5 for the 485 visa, and 6.0–7.0 for admission by course.
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Australia ielts requirement plan
Free checklist for Indian students
Australia has three separate IELTS bars. The subclass 500 student visa needs an overall 6.0 (Academic or General Training), or 5.5 if your course is packaged with at least 10 weeks of ELICOS and 5.0 with 20 weeks, from a test-centre sitting within the two years before you lodge. Universities set their own admission requirement, typically 6.0–6.5 overall with no band below 5.5–6.0 for bachelor and masters degrees and often higher for nursing, teaching and some law programs, so check your course page. The Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) work visa needs 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5 from a test taken in the 12 months before you apply.
What IELTS score is required to study in Australia?
There is no single number because three decision-makers set their own thresholds. The Department of Home Affairs sets the minimum for the student visa (6.0 overall, lower with packaged English study) and for the post-study 485 visa (6.5 overall with no band below 5.5). Each university sets its admission requirement per course, usually above the visa minimum. Professional registration bodies set a third bar for regulated fields: nursing and midwifery, teaching, and some medical and legal registrations can sit above the university minimum, so check the registration body's current standard.
For an Indian student the practical target is therefore the university requirement for your course, because it is almost always the highest of the three you face at application time, and then a fresh 6.5 with no band below 5.5 in your final year for the 485 visa. Both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are accepted for the visa; universities generally require Academic.
IELTS requirement for the Australia student visa (subclass 500)
Minimum overall scores accepted by Home Affairs for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, with the equivalents in the other approved tests. Lower scores apply when your Confirmation of Enrolment packages an English course (ELICOS) or Foundation program before your main course.
| Test | Standalone course | With at least 10 weeks ELICOS or Foundation | With at least 20 weeks ELICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic or General Training) | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 39 | 31 |
| TOEFL iBT ("Taking TOEFL for Australia") | 67 | 51 | 37 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 161 | Excluded | Excluded |
| OET | 1210 | 1090 | 1020 |
| CELPIP General | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 61 | 54 | 46 |
| MET (Michigan English Test) | 53 | 49 | 44 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs, subclass 500 English language test score table (tests taken on or after 7 August 2025), checked 26 Sep 2026. Cambridge C1 Advanced is excluded from the ELICOS-packaged columns because it does not accept scores below IELTS 6.0. The test must be from the two years before lodgement (Regular evidence level) and taken at a test centre; IELTS Online is not accepted.
IELTS requirement for Australian universities by course type
Universities publish their own requirements on each course page; the bands below are indicative only and describe common practice rather than any single institution's rule, and they are not verified against individual course pages. Always confirm on the course page before booking your test.
| Course type | Indicative overall IELTS | Indicative minimum band | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation and Diploma pathways | 5.5 | 5.0 | packaged with the degree; visa threshold drops to 5.5 equivalent |
| Bachelor degrees (arts, commerce, science, IT) | 6.0–6.5 | 5.5–6.0 | some universities may accept Class 12 English marks; check the course page |
| Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) | 6.0–6.5 | 6.0 | Group of Eight universities usually 6.5 |
| Masters by coursework (IT, business, engineering) | 6.5 | 6.0 | the most common requirement Indian applicants face |
| Master of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing | Often 7.0 or higher | Often 7.0 | registration bodies set their own English standard; check the current rule and your course page |
| Teaching (Master of Teaching, Bachelor of Education) | Often 7.0 or higher | Often 7.0 or higher | teacher registration authorities set their own standard; check the course page |
| Law (JD, LLB), some communications and medicine programs | Often 7.0 | Often 6.5–7.0 | varies widely by university; check the course page |
| Masters by research and PhD | 6.5 | 6.0 | visa English evidence is not required for postgraduate research courses |
University bands are indicative, not verified against each course page, and are not a Home Affairs rule; the visa minimums in the table above are. Where a university requirement is lower than 6.0, the visa threshold still applies unless English study is packaged.
IELTS requirement for the 485 post-study work visa
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) in the Post-Higher Education Work stream requires IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5, from a test taken in the 12 months immediately before the day you apply. Equivalents for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 are PTE Academic 55, TOEFL iBT 81, CELPIP General 8, LANGUAGECERT Academic 67 and MET 58; Cambridge C1 Advanced is not accepted for the 485. IELTS One Skill Retake results are accepted if the retake is completed before you lodge. Holders of UK, US, Canadian, New Zealand or Irish passports are exempt.
Because the result must be from the last 12 months, the IELTS you used for admission two or three years earlier will not count. Book the test in your final semester so the result is ready when your completion letter is issued; you have only six months after completion to apply and must be 35 or under.
How to meet the IELTS requirement for Australia efficiently
One well-timed test can serve admission and the student visa; a second, in your final year, serves the 485.
Find the highest bar you face
Read the English requirement on your course page and, for regulated fields, the registration body's rule. That number, not the visa minimum, is your target. For most coursework masters it is 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0.
Book IELTS Academic at a test centre
Choose the Academic module unless your university explicitly accepts General Training. Book a centre-based paper or computer test; IELTS Online is not accepted for any Australian visa. Cost in India is set by the test provider; RMIT's 2026 guide puts English tests at roughly AUD 310–490 (about ₹21,000–33,000).
Use One Skill Retake if a single band falls short
If your overall meets the requirement but one band does not, an IELTS One Skill Retake can fix it. Check that your university accepts OSR results for admission; Home Affairs accepts them for the 485 if completed before lodgement.
If you land at 5.5, package ELICOS or a Foundation program
A 10-week ELICOS or a Foundation program on the same CoE lowers the visa threshold to 5.5, and 20 weeks lowers it to 5.0. Budget the extra tuition and living costs; many universities issue the packaged offer automatically.
Keep the test report valid for the visa
For the student visa the test must be from the two years before you lodge. Lodging late after an early test is a common reason for a fresh test being demanded mid-processing.
Re-test in your final semester for the 485
Aim for 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5 in the 12 months before you apply for the Temporary Graduate visa, and keep the Test Report Form number ready for ImmiAccount.
IELTS rules for Australia that catch Indian students out
- At-home tests are rejected: IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, OET@Home, CELPIP Online and at-home MET Digital are all unacceptable for Australian visas.
- Visa validity is two years for the student visa but only 12 months for the 485; an admission-era score rarely survives to graduation.
- Both IELTS Academic and General Training count for the visa, but most universities require Academic, so sit Academic unless told otherwise.
- TOEFL iBT takers must register with "Taking TOEFL for Australia" from 21 January 2026 for the score to be valid for a visa.
- The Document Checklist Tool decides whether you must attach English evidence at lodgement for your provider; even when it says no, Home Affairs may ask later.
- Postgraduate research applicants are exempt from visa English evidence, but the university still sets an admission requirement, usually 6.5.
Which test should you sit: IELTS or PTE?
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum IELTS score for an Australia student visa?
IELTS 6.0 overall (Academic or General Training) for a standalone course, 5.5 if your CoE packages at least 10 weeks of ELICOS or a Foundation program, and 5.0 with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 at a test centre within the two years before you lodge.
What IELTS score do Australian universities require for a masters?
Most coursework masters require IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0; nursing, teaching and some law and medical programs often ask for 7.0 or higher. The requirement is set per course by each university, is usually higher than the visa minimum of 6.0, and should be confirmed on the course page.
What IELTS score is needed for the 485 visa in Australia?
IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5, from a test taken in the 12 months before you apply. Equivalents are PTE Academic 55, TOEFL iBT 81, CELPIP 8, LANGUAGECERT 67 and MET 58; Cambridge C1 Advanced is not accepted. UK, US, Canadian, NZ and Irish passport holders are exempt.
Is IELTS General Training accepted for an Australian student visa?
Yes. Home Affairs accepts both IELTS Academic and General Training at the same overall score (6.0 standalone) for the subclass 500. Universities, however, generally require Academic for degree admission, so most students should sit the Academic module.
How long is IELTS valid for an Australian visa?
For the student visa the test must have been taken within the two years before you lodge (Regular evidence level). For the Temporary Graduate 485 visa the test must be from the 12 months immediately before you apply, so a fresh test is normally needed in your final year.
Is IELTS Online accepted for Australia?
No. The Department of Home Affairs does not accept any English test delivered entirely online or at home, including IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition and OET@Home. Book a paper or computer-delivered IELTS at an official test centre.
Can I study in Australia with IELTS 5.5?
Yes, through a packaged pathway. With at least 10 weeks of ELICOS or a Foundation program on your Confirmation of Enrolment, the visa threshold drops to 5.5, and Foundation and Diploma programs commonly admit at 5.5. Direct entry to most degrees still needs 6.0–6.5.
Official sources used on this page
- Department of Home Affairs — Student visa (subclass 500): English language requirements and test score table — Australian Department of Home Affairs · checked 26 September 2026
- Department of Home Affairs — Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), Post-Higher Education Work stream: English requirement — Australian Department of Home Affairs · checked 26 September 2026
- Study Australia — How to apply for your visa (English language requirement) — Australian Government (Austrade) · checked 26 September 2026
- RMIT University — Cost of studying in Australia (English test cost range) — RMIT University · checked 26 September 2026
- Xe — AUD to INR mid-market rate — Xe · checked 26 September 2026
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