English Language Requirements

English is the language of instruction at the University of Adelaide.

Demonstrating the required level of English language proficiency is a minimum requirement for admission to a Higher Degree by Research and your application will not be accepted if you do not meet the University’s language requirements.

You can learn more via the links below. If you are a permanent resident, refer to “I am a domestic applicant”.

The University will not require English evidence for:

  • Any applicant who is a citizen and holds a passport from one of the following countries: Canada (English speaking provinces only), New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
  • Any applicant who has completed study at a Bachelor degree level or above from an Australian institution (onshore) within the last five years preceding the relevant semester intake.
  • Any applicant who has satisfactorily completed study at a Bachelor degree level or above from one of the following countries: Canada (English speaking provinces only), New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States for at least one of the last two years, or at least two of the last five years, preceding the relevant semester intake.

Applicants who do not meet the above criteria will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency in the form of a valid English test that has been taken within the two years preceding the relevant semester intake.

The University accepts the following test types, noting that only tests that have been taken at an official test centre can be accepted:

  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic  
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Internet Based Test  
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic 
  • C1 Advanced (formerly CAE - Cambridge English: Advanced)

The English test scores required for entry to each area are outlined in the Minimum English Language Proficiency Entry Criteria for Postgraduate Research Students.

For a Semester 1 intake, an English test must have been taken within the two years preceding 1 January of the relevant year. For a Semester 2 intake, an English test must have been taken within the two years preceding 1 July of the relevant year.

Scholarship applicants: Applicants applying in a University of Adelaide scholarship round must provide evidence of meeting the English requirements by the application closing date and, as scholarship rounds are relevant to specific intakes, English tests must be valid for the corresponding intake.

Applicants wishing to enrol in the Pre-enrolment English Program (PEP) are required to meet the English requirements for Higher Degree by Research outlined at https://www.adelaide.edu.au/elc/our-courses/pre-enrolment-english-program-pep/how-many-weeks-of-pep-do-i-need/academic-english. Applicants who meet the English requirements by successfully completing the PEP are ineligible to be considered for a University scholarship.

Generally, if English is your first language, you are not required to provide further evidence of English language proficiency.

If English is not your first language, further evidence of English language proficiency will be required. You can provide evidence of the following:

  • Completion of tertiary studies at an institution where English is the medium of instruction, for a period of two years in the last five years or one year in the last two years
  • A satisfactory English test that has been taken within the two years preceding the date of commencement
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Internet Based Test
  • PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic
  • C1 Advanced (formerly CAE - Cambridge English: Advanced)

The English test scores required for entry to each area are outlined in the Minimum English Language Proficiency Entry Criteria for Postgraduate Research Students.

All other English evidence will only be considered for eligibility upon the assessment of a submitted application and on a case-by-case basis. Unless you meet the above criteria, a valid test English result will be required at the time of submitting your application in order to avoid your application being withdrawn or deemed incomplete on a scholarship deadline.