CDU - Prospective international students

Entry Requirements

Academic entry requirements
English language entry requirements

Academic entry requirements

Undergraduate courses

To be eligible for admission to Charles Darwin University, applicants must have:

Completed recognised upper secondary or equivalent Year 12 studies to the required standard
Satisfied English language proficiency requirements
Satisfied individual course requirements (for example specific subject/ course prerequisites, audition or interview).

Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Meeting minimum entry requirements does not guarantee entry to the University’s undergraduate programs.

Pathways to undergraduate degree

Students who do not meet the university’s academic entry requirements may be eligible for admission to a Certificate III, IV or Diploma or the University’s Foundation Studies program as a pathway to a degree.

Advanced standing

International students who have completed post-secondary studies may request consideration for advanced standing (transfer credit) towards an undergraduate degree at Charles Darwin University. Applications for credit must include full documentation of previous studies, including certified course descriptions. International students awarded credit based on previous studies must maintain full-time enrolment at the University as a condition of their student visa.

Articulation programs

The University has articulation arrangements with several overseas institutions in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Articulation arrangements allow students to receive credit for previous studies, thereby gaining their CDU qualification sooner.

Postgraduate courses

Entry usually requires successful completion of a Bachelor Degree from a recognised university. Some Master Degree courses require several years of relevant working experience as part of the entry qualification.

Research courses

Applicants must have successfully completed the equivalent of an Australian honours degree or masters degree.

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Certificate I-IV: Equivalent of Australian Year 10
Diploma and Advanced Diploma: Equivalent of Australian Year 12
Charles Darwin University offers a large range of vocational programs, many of which articulate into undergraduate degrees.

View further details on minimum Australian Year 12 equivalent qualifications and entry scores (.pdf).

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English language proficiency requirements

While IELTS remains the preferred English language proficiency qualification, listed below are other qualifications which would satisfy the University’s minimum English language proficiency requirements.

Regardless of CDU’s requirements and acceptance of certain equivalents, all applicants must still satisfy Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) English language proficiency (ELP) requirements for student visa applications.

Requirements for undergraduate coursework
Requirements for postgraduate coursework and research

Undergraduate Coursework
Course/Exam	Proficiency Requirement
ACL - English for Academic Purposes	An overall pass of 55% in the Diploma of English for Academic Purposes valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, except B Nursing and B Pharmacy which require 65%. Foundation and VET Cert IV: successful completion of the Cert IV English for Academic Purposes. VET Cert III: successful completion of the Cert III English for Academic Purposes.
ELTS (Academic Module)	An overall minimum score of 6 with no band less than 5.5 valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, except B Nursing and B Pharmacy which require overall 6.5 with no band less than 6. Foundation and VET: IELTS 5.5 with no band less than 5, valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)	An overall minimum score of 550 and a minimum score of 4.5 in the Test of Written English (TWE), valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, except B Nursing and B Pharmacy which do not accept TOEFL. Foundation and VET: TOEFL 530 and TWE 4, valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Computerised TOEFL (CBT)	An overall minimum score of 213 and a minimum score of 4.5 in the Essay Rating, valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, except B Nursing and B Pharmacy which do not accept TOEFL. Foundation and VET: TOEFL 200 and Essay Rating score 4, valid for 2 years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Internet Based TOEFL (IBT)	An overall minimum score of 79 and a minimum score of 20 in writing, valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, except B Nursing and B Pharmacy which do not accept TOEFL. Foundation and VET: TOEFL 72 and writing score 18, valid for 2 years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
University of Cambridge English Language Proficiency Exams	A grade of C or better in the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or a grade of A in the Certificate of Advanced English (CAE), valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Common European Framework	A certificate of English proficiency with an overall grade of B2 valid for three years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Malaysia and Brunei	A score of C or better in the General Paper in the GCE ‘O’ level examination or a Cambridge University ‘O’ level moderated score of 3B in English in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM examination) valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Singapore	A score of D or better in the General Paper in the Singapore Cambridge General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) OR a grade of C or better in English Language in the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level). Both are valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Hong Kong	A score of C or better in the English Language (Syllabus B) in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) OR a grade of D or better in the Use of English Paper at HKALE Advanced Level. Both are valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Ontario Secondary School Diploma and Canadian Pre-University program	A grade of 60% in English in the final year of the OSSD and CPU, valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa	A minimum score of C or better in Level 3 or level 4 English in the New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement or a score of 50% in English in the Fiji Form 7 examination, valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
International Baccalaureate Diploma	A grade of 4 or better in English B or English A1 or A2, valid for five years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Norway	A grade of 4 on the upper secondary school, valid for five years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Finland	A grade of 8 or better in English or English A – language within the Upper Secondary School Certificate, valid for five years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Sweden	A grade of VG in English in the Senior School Studies, valid for five years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Germany	A grade of 4 or better in English in Senior High Scholl exam (Arbitur) valid for five years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Denmark	A grade of 9 or better in Senior High School English, valid for five years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Netherlands	A grade of 8 or above on completion of 6 years of English at High School , valid for five years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Papua New Guinea	Completion of all formal PNG education.
Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe	Where formal education is conducted in the medium of English, applications will be considered by the Director International on a case by case basis.
India	A score of 65% of better in English obtained only from the All India Senior School Certificate issued by the Indian Central Board of Education or the Higher Secondary Certificate of Education issued by State Boards of Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Karnataka, valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
United Kingdom	Where English is the first language: a score of C or better in English in the Cambridge General Certificate of Education O’ level or AS level or Advanced level, valid for five years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
United States of America	Where English is the first language: a pass in English in the High School Diploma.
Postgraduate Coursework and Research
Australia College of Languages (ACL), English for Academic Purposes	An overall pass of 65% in the Diploma of English for Academic Purposes valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)	An overall minimum score of 575 and a minimum score of 5 in the Test of Written English (TWE), valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Computerised TOEFL	An overall minimum score of 230 and a minimum score of 5 in the Essay rating, valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Internet Based TOEFL (IBT)	An overall minimum score of 84 and a minimum score of 22 in writing, valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
IELTS (Academic Module)	An overall minimum score of 6.5 with no band less than 6 valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
University of Cambridge English Language Proficiency Exams	A grade of C or better in the Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or a grade of A in the Certificate of Advanced English (CAE), valid for two years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Common European Framework	A Certificate of English proficiency with an overall grade of C1 valid for three years, from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Medium of Instruction in the English Language	International applicants may be deemed to have met the English language requirements if they can provide the university with a letter from the principal or the registrar of the post secondary academic institution at which they studied, attesting that English is the primary language of instruction and assessment in the study successfully completed by the student over a minimum of a two year period. Such evidence is valid for five years from the date the applicant finished at the institution to the date of commencement at CDU. Applies only to post secondary academic studies taught completely and examined in English language.