Reviewed by the finduni team · Last verified 15 September 2026 · Sources: Home Affairs: Student visa (subclass 500), Pearson: PTE Academic and IELTS concordance study
What changed in this update: Corrected the Subclass 500 English minimums to the current Home Affairs table. The IELTS to PTE table now follows Pearson's current concordance.
Summary
Most Australian universities require a minimum IELTS Academic score of 6.0 to 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5 to 6.0. Some competitive programmes (Medicine, Law, Education, Nursing) require 7.0+. Below is a guide to common requirements.
IELTS Requirements by University (2026)
Here are the minimum IELTS overall and sub-score requirements for popular Australian universities among Nepali students:
| University | Overall | Min. per band | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Melbourne | 6.5 | 6.0 | Some courses require 7.0 |
| University of Sydney | 6.5 | 6.0 | Business/Law may need 7.0 |
| University of Queensland | 6.5 | 6.0 | Health sciences need 7.0 |
| Monash University | 6.5 | 6.0 | Engineering needs 6.5 |
| University of New South Wales | 6.5 | 6.0 | Medicine requires 7.0 |
| University of Adelaide | 6.0 | 6.0 | Some PG courses need 6.5 |
| University of Western Australia | 6.5 | 6.0 | Check with university |
| Macquarie University | 6.5 | 6.0 | Media/Comm needs 7.0 |
| RMIT University | 6.0 | 6.0 | Design courses need 6.5 |
| Deakin University | 6.0 | 6.0 | Nursing requires 7.0 |
| La Trobe University | 6.0 | 6.0 | Check with university |
| University of Canberra | 6.0 | 6.0 | Nursing needs 7.0 |
| CQUniversity | 6.0 | 6.0 | Some courses accept 5.5 |
| Federation University | 5.5 | 5.5 | Good entry-level option |
Requirements shown are general entry. Individual courses may vary. Always confirm directly with the university admissions office before applying.
What Each IELTS Band Means for Your Australia Application
IELTS 7.0 and aboveOpens doors to all Group of Eight universities and competitive courses like Medicine, Law, and Nursing. Required for most postgraduate research programs.IELTS 6.5The most common requirement across Australian universities for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs. Accepted by the majority of top-50 universities.IELTS 6.0Accepted by many regional and newer universities. A solid score for most diploma and bachelor programs. Some universities accept 6.0 overall with no band below 6.0.IELTS 5.5Minimum accepted by a small number of universities, mainly for foundation or pathway programs. Not accepted for most direct entry undergraduate courses at major institutions.
IELTS Requirements by University: Undergraduate
| University | Overall Band | No Single Band Below |
|---|---|---|
| University of Melbourne | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Australian National University (ANU) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| University of Sydney | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| University of Queensland (UQ) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| University of New South Wales (UNSW) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Monash University | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| University of Adelaide | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| University of Western Australia (UWA) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| University of Technology Sydney (UTS) | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| RMIT University | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| University of South Australia | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| Deakin University | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| La Trobe University | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| CQ University | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| TAFE NSW | 5.5 | 5.0 |
IELTS Requirements by University: Postgraduate (Masters)
| University | Overall Band | No Single Band Below |
|---|---|---|
| University of Melbourne (Masters) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| ANU (Masters) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| University of Sydney (Masters) | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| UNSW (Masters) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| UQ (Masters) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Monash (Masters) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| University of Adelaide (Masters) | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| UTS (Masters) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| RMIT (Masters) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
IELTS Requirements for High-Demand Courses
| Course Type | Typical IELTS Requirement |
|---|---|
| Medicine / Health Sciences | 7.0 overall, no band below 7.0 |
| Nursing | 7.0 overall, no band below 7.0 |
| Education / Teaching | 7.0-7.5 overall, no band below 7.0 |
| Law | 7.0 overall, no band below 6.5 |
| Engineering / Commerce | 6.0-6.5 overall, no band below 5.5 |
| IT / Computer Science | 6.0 overall, no band below 5.5 |
Comparing IELTS and PTE Equivalent Scores
| IELTS Band | PTE Academic Overall (Pearson, July 2025) |
|---|---|
| 5.0 | 31-38 |
| 5.5 | 39-46 |
| 6.0 | 47-54 |
| 6.5 | 55-62 |
| 7.0 | 63-70 |
| 7.5 | 71-78 |
| 8.0 | 79-85 |
Pearson replaced an older table in July 2025, and some universities still publish PTE figures from the older one, so check the PTE figure on the university's own page. See the PTE to IELTS conversion guide for the full concordance.
Source: Pearson, July 2025 concordance study, Table 8.
What Happens if You Don't Meet the English Requirement?
If your IELTS score is below the direct entry requirement, you still have options:
- English language pathway: Most universities offer 10 to 20 week intensive English programmes that grant conditional entry.
- Foundation/Diploma pathway: TAFE and private colleges like Navitas or Kaplan offer diploma-to-bachelor pathways with lower English requirements (5.0 to 5.5).
- Retake the test: Book IELTS again through finduni.ai for another attempt.
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