English language proficiency

To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. All applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.

Domestic students

The minimum English language requirements for most* CDU courses can be met by evidencing of one of the below:

Year 12

Successful completion of Year 12 within Australia, or an equivalent qualification from an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below).

0.5 FTE Higher Education Study

Successful completion of at least 0.5FTE of higher education study from Australia or an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). If studies were completed from a country on the extended list, they must have been completed within the past five (5) years.

Enabling Course

Successful completion of the Charles Darwin University enabling program, or an equivalent approved enabling program of at least six months duration full-time equivalent (0.5 FTE or 40 Credit points (CP)).

TAFE Qualification

Successful completion of a recognised TAFE qualification at a Certificate III level or higher from a country on the list of English-speaking countries in the standard and extended list, where the medium of instruction was English

AHPRA Registration

Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Registration must be current at the time of course commencement.

Employment

Demonstrate a minimum of two years full-time equivalent employment, within the last 5 years, in roles where English is the primary medium of communication and which were completed in a recognised English-speaking country (see Tables 4a and 4b).

Primary Language Pathway

Eligible applicants can sign a declaration indicating that:

English is their primary language; and
that they have successfully completed six years of primary and/or secondary schooling in a recognised English-speaking country (see Tables 4a and 4b), including at least two years between years 7-12.

English Test^

Completion of an approved English test within two years of commencement, meeting the minimum scores outlined in the table below.

* Please note, these do not apply to some nursing and midwifery courses (see ‘Nursing and Midwifery English Requirements’ for more information).

^ Minimum requirements for English tests:

English tests	Postgraduate requirements	Undergraduate requirements
Duolingo (until 14 August 2026)	Overall 120	Overall 110
CDU ELICOS - English for Academic Purposes	Successful completion of EAP004	Successful completion of EAP003
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test	Overall minimum: 6.5 No band below: 6.0	Overall minimum: 6.0 No band below: 6.0
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)	Overall minimum: 176 No skill below: 169	Overall minimum: 169 No skill below: 169
Pearson Tests of English (PTE) Academic	Overall minimum: 58 No score below: 50	Overall minimum: 50 No score below: 50
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)	Overall minimum: 79 Minimum writing score: 21	Overall minimum: 60 Minimum writing score: 21

IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted, allowing candidates to retake a single skill within 60 days of sitting their initial test. One Skill Retake results are valid for two years from the date of the first test (not from the date of the Retake test) to the date of commencement at CDU.

CDU accepts combined results from two test sittings of IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or TOEFL, taken within a six-month period, if:

Both tests were under the same testing system;
The overall score in both tests meets the overall minimum noted in Table 2; and
The applicant achieved the section minimum noted in Table 2 for each section in at least one test.

Recognised English-speaking countries

Standard list

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America.

Extended list

Bermuda, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe.

For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to the CDU English Language Proficiency Policy

Nursing and Midwifery English requirements

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) requires students completing the following courses, to meet different English language standards:

WNUR02 Bachelor of Nursing
WNURA1 Bachelor of Nursing (Accelerated)
WNURE1 Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurses Pathway)
WMIDW2 Bachelor of Midwifery
SNNPR2 Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration)

You can evidence English language proficiency for these courses by:

completing a declaration that English is your primary language, or
sitting an English language proficiency test, or
being an AHPRA registered enrolled nurse.

Primary language pathway

A signed English Language Declaration indicating the following:

English is their primary language; and
They have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country*, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.

*Recognised countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jersey, Malta, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan de Cunha, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States of America, and US Virgin Islands.

English test pathway

Applicants have achieved and can supply evidence of the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests:

English test pathway	Minimum score requirements	Test information	Test results accepted from a maximum of two test sittings in a 12- month period only if:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test	Overall minimum: 7 Minimum scores: Listening 7 Reading 7 Speaking 7 Writing 6.5	IELTS Indicator Test is not accepted.	• you achieve a minimum overall score of 7 in each sitting, and • you achieve a minimum score of 7 in each component for listening, reading and speaking and a minimum score of 6.5 for writing across the two sittings, and • when using two test sittings no score in any component of the test(s) for either test sitting is below 6.5.
Pearson Tests of English (PTE) Academic	Overall minimum: 63 Minimum scores: Listening 58 Reading 59 Speaking 76 Writing 60	PTE Online is not accepted.	• a minimum overall score of 63 is achieved in each sitting, and • you achieve the required minimum scores in each of the communicative skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking across the two sittings, and • when using two test sittings no score in any of the communicative skills for either test sitting is below: 53 for listening 54 for reading 60 for writing, and 66 for speaking.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT	Overall minimum: 91 Minimum scores: Listening 22 Reading 22 Speaking 24 Writing 23	TOEFL Home Edition is not accepted.	• a minimum total score of 91 is achieved in each sitting, and • you achieve the required minimum scores for listening, reading, writing and speaking across the two sittings, and • when using two test sittings no score in any of the test sitting sections is below: 19 for listening 19 for reading 23 for writing 20 for speaking
Occupational English Test (OET)	Listening 350 Reading 360 Speaking 360 Writing 350	On paper or Computer based in testing centre. Any profession specific OET test can be accepted.	• you are tested in all four components in each sitting, and • you achieve the required minimum scores in each component for listening, reading, writing and speaking, and • when using two test sittings no score in any component of the test(s) for either test sitting is below: 320 for listening 340 for reading 350 for writing, and 350 for speaking.
Cambridge (C1 Advanced)	Overall minimum: 178 Minimum scores: Listening 175 Reading 179 Speaking 194 Writing 180	Paper and computer at test centre only	you are tested in all four components in each sitting you achieve the required minimum scores in each component for listening, reading, writing and speaking across the two sittings, and when using two test sittings no score in any component of the test(s) for either test sitting is below: 168 for listening 168 for reading 180 for writing, and 187 for speaking.
Cambridge (C2 Proficiency)	Overall minimum: 185 Minimum scores: Listening 185 Reading 185 Speaking 185 Writing 176	Paper and computer at test centre only	• you are tested in all four components in each sitting • you achieve a minimum score of 185 in each component for listening, reading and speaking and a minimum score of 176 for writing across the two sittings, and • when using two test sittings no score in any component of the test(s) for either test sitting is below 176.

* English language proficiency tests are valid for 12 months from the date of the test to the date of commencement of the course.

Enrolled nurse pathway

Supply a current AHPRA registration number in your SATAC application.

This will be verified with AHPRA to ensure it is valid and current at the time of class commencement.