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.

CDU Enabling Course

Successful completion of a Charles Darwin University enabling program of at least 0.5FTE (40 credit points).

TAFE Qualification

Successful completion of a recognised TAFE qualification at a Certificate III level or higher from Australia.

AHPRA Registration

Current AHPRA registration as a Division 1 or Division 2 nurse. Registration must be current at the time of course commencement.

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:

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, Ethiopia, 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:

• WNUR01 Bachelor of Nursing
• WMIDW2 Bachelor of Midwifery
• SNPPR1 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:

1. English is their primary language; and
2. 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: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and USA.

OR

English test pathway

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

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.