English Language Proficiency
In addition to meeting specific academic requirements for each course, international students or domestic students born outside of selected countries are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University for each higher education course
English Language Proficiency (ELP) is required regardless of citizenship status and can be met by the following criteria:
- Country of Birth; or
- Secondary or tertiary education study; or
- English Language Proficiency test.
All applicants will be assessed individually and will be contacted by the National Admissions Team if further documentation is required.
Course ELP Requirements
You can find the ELP requirements for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses on the individual course pages. However, to quickly view the ELP requirements for undergraduate courses, you can view the CQU ELP list. Please note that some courses require a specific ELP test.
Recognised ELP Tests
The IELTS assesses your English listening, reading, writing and speaking skills, and to meet English language requirements at CQU you must choose the Academic IELTS. This test takes approximately two hours and 45 minutes and you can complete it either in a test centre on paper or on a computer, and can now also be taken online from home or another private location that has a stable internet connection. The release of test results varies depending on the format but can be between 3 – 13 days.
The Pearson PTE Academic test is a computer-based English test which measures your English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in a single two hour test. There are frequent test dates with last-minute availabilities. Plus, you can take your test either online or at a test centre. Typically, you will receive your results in 48 hours.
Find out more and book your test
The OET has been developed specifically for 12 healthcare professions: Dentistry, Dietetics, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Radiography, Speech Pathology and Veterinary Science. The OET will assess your English listening, reading, writing and speaking skills with a range of options on where and how you take the test. When booking your test, ensure you choose from the schedule that is relevant to your prospective profession. Generally, there is one date per month that tests are administered.
Find out more and book your test
The TOEFL tests your English reading, listening, speaking and writing skills and is approximately three hours to complete, including a 10 minute break. CQU requires the TOEFL iBT testing option which you can complete either at a test centre or at home. Test centres offer more than 60 testing dates each year, while if you’re testing at home there are more availabilities with appointments available 24 hours after you register. Typically, you can expect your results within 4-8 days of testing.
TIPS FOR YOUR ELP TEST
- Plan ahead - research when you can book your test and how long you will have to wait before receiving your results. Remember you need to supply them with your application before the deadline.
- Prepare and practice - all the ELP test websites provide resources on what to expect with your test and how to prepare, some also share practice tests.
- Know what to achieve - check the course requirements, so you know exactly what score you need to achieve.
- Check fees - fees for these tests can range from $200 - $600.