VisaChief Student visa (subclass 500) English requirements 2026
IELTS 6.0, or lower with ELICOS packaged in front - the full score table for every accepted test, old scale and new.
The short answer. IELTS 6.0 overall for a standard student visa. Package at least 10 weeks of ELICOS with your main course and the requirement drops to 5.5; package 20 weeks and it drops to 5.0. These are overall scores, not per-component minimums - the student visa works differently from the skilled visas.
Minimum scores - tests taken on or after 7 August 2025
| Test | No ELICOS | With at least 10 weeks ELICOS | With at least 20 weeks ELICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 Advanced | 161 | Excluded | Excluded |
| CELPIP General | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| IELTS General Training | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| LANGUAGECERT Academic | 61 | 54 | 46 |
| MET | 53 | 49 | 44 |
| OET | 1210 | 1090 | 1020 |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 39 | 31 |
| TOEFL iBT | 67 | 51 | 37 |
Minimum scores - tests taken on or before 6 August 2025
Older results remain usable inside their validity period (2 years for the student visa).
| Test | No ELICOS | With at least 10 weeks ELICOS | With at least 20 weeks ELICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 64 | 46 | 35 |
| CAE / C1 Advanced | 169 | 162 | 154 |
| PTE Academic | 50 | 42 | 36 |
| OET | B in each component | B in each component | B in each component |
The ELICOS trade-off
Packaging English language study in front of your main course is the standard way to lodge with a lower score, and 10 or 20 weeks are minimums rather than targets. It is not free: ELICOS adds tuition, extends your stay, and lengthens the period you must fund. Weigh it against retaking the test once.
When you may not need a test at all
Some applicants are exempt - for example, passport holders from certain English-speaking countries, applicants who completed at least five years of study in English, and some school, postgraduate research and Foreign Affairs or Defence sponsored students. Exemptions are specific; check yours against the department's criteria rather than assuming.
The student visa also has separate financial capacity, Genuine Student and health cover requirements. See the full Student visa (subclass 500) guide and the document checklist.
Not sure which level your visa needs? Run the free eligibility check, or see how English converts into points on the points calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS score do I need for an Australian student visa?
6.0 overall for a standard application. 5.5 overall if you package at least 10 weeks of ELICOS with your principal course, or 5.0 overall with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS.
What PTE score do I need for a student visa 500?
PTE Academic 47 overall for a test taken on or after 7 August 2025 (39 with 10 weeks of ELICOS, 31 with 20 weeks). A test taken on or before 6 August 2025 uses the old scale: 50, 42 and 36.
Is the student visa English requirement per component?
No. The subclass 500 uses overall scores, unlike the skilled visas which set a minimum in each of the four components.
How long is my test valid for the student visa?
Two years from the test date, and it must still be valid when you lodge.