Over the last couple of decades, Australia has become one of the most popular destinations for higher education. Despite the drastic decrease in student mobility during COVID-19, over 600,000 international students were enrolled in Australian universities as of October 2022.
There are plenty of reasons why Australia is attracting thousands of students worldwide, sometimes even more than the residential students in the country. First, living in Australia is affordable compared to other education destinations like the UK or the USA. Second, Australia is a multicultural country that provides a comfortable and open-minded environment to its international students so they can enjoy their stay with no stress or pressure from the locals. Lastly, Australia has become one of the leading countries in technology and innovation, meaning it can offer unique research and vocational opportunities.
Without a doubt, studying in Australia has much to offer for international students, yet this also means Australian universities have high expectations for their students as well. Each Australian university has its own criteria when selecting international students, depending on their area of study and degree of education.
TOEFL Scores Accepted at Universities in Australia
As mentioned above, a great majority of the universities in Australia accept TOEFL scores; however, the minimum score may vary depending on the university or program. The following is a list of the top universities recognizing TOEFL scores and their language requirements.
1. University of Melbourne
Like every university in Australia, the University of Melbourne’s medium is entirely English, which means the university admissions will require an advanced level of English from international applicants. The University of Melbourne is highly prestigious in Australia; therefore, it seeks international students who can satisfy its advanced-level English proficiency requirement to pursue their education at their best.
The University of Melbourne is one of the Australian universities that accepts the TOEFL iBT. However, the minimum score accepted differs in every program. A minimum score of 79 is accepted for undergraduate programs, yet for some graduate programs, the limit can go up to 102.
2. University of Sydney
Founded in 1850, the University of Sydney is the oldest in Australia. Since its foundation, USYD has offered great opportunities for international students pursuing their passion for academics at the university.
International students who wish to continue their education at the University of Sydney must obtain a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 85 for both undergraduate and graduate programs. However, it is advisable that applicants must carefully research the language requirements to check the TOEFL requirements for their chosen program.
3. Monash University
Located in the city of Victoria, Monash University is the largest university in Australia. Named after the famous engineer and military leader Sir John Monash, Monash University is recognized worldwide for its innovative research activities and top-quality education.
Monash University requires a minimum overall TOEFL iBT score of 79 from non-English speaking international students for all degree programs. Yet, some programs at the university may have higher language requirements and scores.
4. Australian National University
Another Australian university accepting TOEFL certificates is the Australian National University. It is located in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, and has been operating with five campuses since 1946. ANU offers a wide variety of programs for its international students, including Business and Commerce, Law, Arts and Culture, Engineering, Computer Science, and more.
ANU requires international students to obtain a minimum score of 80 in TOEFL iBT, which applies to both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. For special language requirements in different programs, applicants can visit the university’s program catalog here.
5. University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is located in the city of Adelaide and has a rich history and culture dating back to 1874 when it was founded by the philanthropist Walter Watson Hughes. The University of Adelaide offers a variety of programs under the faculties of Arts, Law and Economics, Business, Engineering, Science, and Technology.
The University of Adelaide’s language requirements for international students can differ depending on the program they are enrolled in. The minimum TOEFL iBT score is 79 for most programs except Education, Law, Animal and Veterinary Science, MBA, and Medicine, as these programs require at least 94.
Here is what University of Adelaide scholars say about TOEFL:
“To meet the language criteria, I appeared on the TOEFL and scored 103. It took me one week to practice the test modules and improve my speed and accuracy.”
Zulfiqar Ali
6. University of Queensland
Hosting students from all around the world with its three campuses, the University of Queensland (QU) has been a leading institution for research and technology since its foundation in 1909. QU holds over 380 undergraduate and postgraduate programs in areas such as Architecture, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, Law, Health and Medicine, and Computer Science.
The University of Queensland is a highly prestigious university with challenging student selection criteria; therefore, international students are expected to prove a strong command of English for admission. The programs at QU have specific TOEFL iBT score requirements ranging from 87 to 115, so the applicants must thoroughly research the program they want to apply to.
Here is what University of Queensland scholars say about TOEFL:
“The key thing I would advise people to do when taking an IELTS or TOEFL test is to relax and treat it as you would an everyday conversation or university reading, as it’s intended to simulate situations a student would likely encounter when studying at a university overseas.”
Ilham Ramzy
7. University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales, or UNSW Sydne,y has a high reputation in the global education platforms for its innovative research facilities and organizations, as well as its top-quality education. UNSW provides strong connections with various industries in the world for its graduates, which makes the university popular for international students who wish to continue their stay in Australia for work.
One of the admission requirements for international students is to obtain a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 90 or 94 for most undergraduate or postgraduate programs at UNSW, yet specific programs may ask for 102.
TOEFL Scores of Students Studying in Australia
FAQs: TOEFL Acceptance in Australia
What Type of TOEFL Exam is Accepted in Australia?
TOEFL iBT® is required to obtain a student visa for all Australian universities. TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language, is one of the most well-known English proficiency exams recognized and accepted in more than 160 countries and 12,000 universities worldwide.
It’s important to note that the Australian government recognizes only TOEFL iBT® scores obtained in an accredited test center; therefore, students must ensure the test center provides accreditation.
What TOEFL score should I aim for to be competitive?
Target 90+ for many Master’s programs and 79–100+ for typical PhD ranges; stronger programs may expect higher. Soklyneth Khun (Swinburne) shares how meeting English benchmarks was part of her prep, and many recipients emphasize early test prep.
What if my TOEFL score is below the university minimum?
Some awardees receive funded English preparation. Rhema Wijaya (ANU) explains Australia Awards can provide an English for Academic Purposes course if your initial score is under the cutoff; the Master’s guide echoes this pathway. Kingkin Fitoriani also mentions pre-departure IELTS prep included in AAS.
Can I submit IELTS or PTE instead of TOEFL?
Usually yes—most Australian universities accept multiple tests (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Cambridge). Several Australia Awards scholars, like Sokmeng Chan (RMIT) and Baiq Nabila Tazkya (Monash), used IELTS; the Master’s guide advises checking each program’s accepted exams.
It is worth noting that international students who plan to apply to Australian universities should keep in mind that although they can obtain a TOEFL iBT score above the university requirements, it is still best to aim and get a higher score. In that way, you can stand out above other applicants.
Do you want to know more about Australian universities? Please visit our Study in Australia and Available Programs for International Students pages for more articles about studying in Australia!
