IELTS in Australia

Do you dream of living in Australia? IELTS is one of the key tools you’ll need to secure your permanent residency in Australia.

The Australian government’s Department of Home Affairs accepts IELTS as proof of English language proficiency for all visa categories, including visas for migration.

As part of your eligibility requirements , you may need to show that you have an understanding of the English language. So, to prove this, the Department of Home Affairs can ask you to show that you’ve done an official language test, like IELTS.

IELTS is the only English test that provides General Training for migration purposes in Australia, which means you don’t have to sit an Academic English test.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs also accepts IELTS One Skill Retake for most visa subclasses. It’s important to check the Australian Department of Home Affairs website for the requirements of your particular visa subclass.

Find out more about migrating to Australia

When you choose to study in Australia, you choose to study at a world-class institute – Australian universities have continuously ranked among the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings giving a tough competition to universities all around the world.

Tertiary, vocational and English students in Australia enjoy access to high-quality education and an affordable cost of living, in one of the most beautiful study destinations in the world.

If you plan on studying in Australia, you will need to lodge your Student visa (subclass 500) application, and meet English language requirements, depending on your country of residence.

For those who need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency for university applications, you may need to take the IELTS Academic test.

For those who plan on studying in secondary education, or enrolling in vocational training, you may be able to take the IELTS General Training test.

Most universities and academic institutions have different requirements. Be sure to check with your university or education provider regarding which IELTS test to take, and what scores you need for your study application. You can contact the course provider directly, or get in touch with an education counsellor .

Find out more about studying in Australia

There are a number of options if you want to live and work in Australia. If you’re currently an international student in Australia, you could be eligible for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) , which allows you to work in Australia after graduating. There are also a number of points-based visas , in which your occupation can eventually lead to Permanent Residency, if you have a skill Australia needs.

IELTS for professional registration

There are many different professional bodies that ask for IELTS score for registration in the industry. These professions can vary from teaching , social work , nursing or engineering to name a few.

Some of these professional bodies or organisations may accept only IELTS for registration, so be sure to check their entry requirements. If you need to book an IELTS test, you have two options, with the IELTS General Training and the IELTS Academic tests. You can check with the organisation directly which test is needed.

Find out more about working in Australia

IELTS Academic or General Training. How do you know which IELTS test is right for you?

Depending on your goals, you may need to take the Academic test or the General Training test.

IELTS Academic

• usually for entry into university or higher studies;

• or for professional registration

• assesses your English language proficiency at an Academic level

Learn more about IELTS Academic

IELTS General Training

• used for migration, work, or secondary studies

• developed to test your everyday, non-academic English skills

Learn more about IELTS General Training

The organisation where you plan to work or study sets the requirements. So before you book your test, it is good to check which test is right for you.

Find out more about which IELTS test you should take

IELTS is recognised by more than 12,000 organisations, universities, immigration authorities, government agencies, professional associations, and employers in 140 countries worldwide. It is the most respected test of English in the world.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs accepts IELTS for migration purposes and for all visa applications that require evidence of English language proficiency.

Find out who accepts IELTS in Australia and what the minimum band scores are for your university or institution. 

Who accepts IELTS?