Recognition of English Language Studies at Australian Institutions

English equivalencies

Depending on students’ educational background and country of origin, you may need to provide evidence of their English proficiency to be able to study at UOW. This page lists the UOW's English language requirements.

The following are to be used as guidelines only; additional information about an applicant's background will be taken into account when assessing eligibility for admission. These guidelines are subject to ongoing review by the University and may be amended at any time.

UOW / UOW College requirement Course and grade requirements
IELTS 5.5 Academic Skills Module 3 (60% overall, with 50% in Reading and Writing)
IELTS 6.0 English for Tertiary Studies - Overall PASS (with PASS in Academic Reading and Writing)
IELTS 6.5 English for Tertiary Studies - Overall CREDIT (with PASS in Academic Reading and Writing)
UOW requirement Course & grade requirements
IELTS 6.0

Completion of the CME 5-week Pre Direct Entry Program with an overall Pass (P) grade.

IELTS 6.5

Completion of any direct entry program with an overall Pass (P) grade.

Direct entry programs include:

  • English for Business Preparation Program (BPP)
  • English for Business & IT (EBIT)
  • English for Accounting Preparation Program (APP)
  • Direct Entry English Program (DEEP): Direct Entry English for International Studies (DEIS)
  • Direct Entry English Fast Track (DEFT)

Successful completion of Certificate IV English for Academic Purposes - acceptable for all UOW College and UOW courses.

UOW requirement Course & grade requirements
IELTS 5.0

Pre-Foundation Year English (PFY) - D+

IELTS 5.5

Pre-Foundation Year English (PFY) - C

IELTS 6.0 University English Entry Course (UEEC) - C
IELTS 6.5 University English Entry Course (UEEC) - C+
IELTS 7.0

Pre-Foundation Year English (PFY) - B

University English Entry Course (UEEC) - B

Direct Entry Courses

For Direct Entry Course, which includes the Intensive English Program at Advanced Level, applicants should provide both their Certificate and individual transcript of results (showing the overall result and assessment as either "Recommended" or "Not Recommended")

  • For IELTS 6.0 - a 50% overall result is acceptable (regardless of 'recommendation')
  • For IELTS 6.5 - an assessment of "Recommended" is acceptable (regardless of overall result)
  • For IELTS 7.0 - an assessment of "Recommended" plus an overall result of 75%

CET e-test

CET e-test results completed no more than two years before the start of academic study at UOW will also be accepted:

  • 3.75 (for courses requiring the equivalent of an overall score of 6.0 in IELTS)
  • 4.00 (for courses requiring the equivalent of an overall score of 6.5 in IELTS)
  • 4.25 (for courses requiring the equivalent of an overall score of 7.0 in IELTS)
UOW requirement Course & grade requirements
IELTS 5.5

AE3 - Pass

IELTS 6.0 AE4 - Pass
IELTS 6.5 AE5 - Pass
UOW requirement Course & grade requirements
IELTS 5.5

EAP2 - 50% pass

IELTS 6.0 EAP3 - 50-64%
IELTS 6.5 EAP4 - 65-74%
IELTS 7.0 EAP5 - 75-100%