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 are 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 USA. Second, Australia is a multicultural capital 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 from 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.

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 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.

Universities in Australia Accepting TOEFL Scores

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 their advanced-level English proficiency requirement to pursue their education at their best.

The University of Melbourne is one of the Australian universities accepting 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. For course-specific graduate program language requirements, please visit the university’s page.

2. University of Sydney

Founded in 1850, the University of Sydney (USYD) is the oldest university 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 here 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. For reference, please check the university’s relevant web page.

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 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. 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.

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, or 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.

7. UNSW Sydney

The University of New South Wales or UNSW Sydney 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.

 

Lastly, it is worth reminding 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 definitely stand out above other applicants.

Do you want to know more about Australian universities? Please visit our Australia Scholarships Page for more articles about studying in Australia!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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