English Test Scores for NZ and Australia Study (2026)
Who actually sets the English score
Before any number, get this straight, because most articles get it wrong. The English score you need is usually set by the education provider, in line with national standards, not by the immigration department alone.
In New Zealand, the provider sets the English entry requirement for your course, guided by NZQA standards. Immigration New Zealand does not impose a separate single English score for every student visa. In Australia, the university sets its admission requirement, while the Department of Home Affairs sets a minimum English level for the student visa itself. So for Australia there are two numbers (the university's and the visa's), and for New Zealand the provider's requirement is the one that drives your case.
This matters because a blog that says "Immigration New Zealand requires IELTS 6.0" is repeating a common error. Always separate the university entry requirement from the immigration requirement.
New Zealand: typical scores by level
New Zealand universities commonly ask for the following IELTS Academic levels, with PTE and TOEFL accepted as equivalents. These are typical ranges; your provider sets the exact figure, so confirm on the university page.
| Study level | Typical IELTS Academic (overall) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate / bachelor | 6.0, with no band below a set minimum |
| Postgraduate / master's | 6.5, with no band below a set minimum |
| English pathway / foundation | Lower, set by the provider |
There is no single Immigration New Zealand number here: each university and NZQA-approved provider sets its own minimum, so confirm the exact overall and per-band requirement on your provider's admissions page. Most providers also accept PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, and in some cases Duolingo or an MOI letter. See our guide on studying without IELTS.
Australia: scores by level and the recent change
Australia tightened its student visa English settings in 2024, raising the minimum for the student visa. The IELTS floor for the subclass 500 student visa moved up, and the figure for the ELICOS English pathway moved up as well. The Department of Home Affairs also updated its accepted-tests list on 7 August 2025: tests taken at a secure centre, including IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, and TOEFL iBT, are accepted, the Duolingo English Test is not accepted for the visa, and fully online or at-home tests such as IELTS Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition are not accepted.
The official subclass 500 student visa English minimums (Department of Home Affairs, for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025) are:
| Test | Visa minimum (no ELICOS) | With 10+ weeks ELICOS | With 20+ weeks ELICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 |
| PTE Academic | 47 | 39 | 31 |
| TOEFL iBT | 67 | 51 | 37 |
| OET | 1210 | 1090 | 1020 |
Universities usually ask for more than the visa minimum (commonly IELTS 6.5 for postgraduate study). The IELTS floor for the visa rose from 5.5 to 6.0 in 2024, and the ELICOS pathway figure rose from 4.5 to 5.0. For the wider process, see our Australia student visa guide.
The four tests compared
| Test | New Zealand | Australia (university) | Australia (visa) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Widely accepted | Widely accepted | Accepted |
| PTE Academic | Widely accepted | Widely accepted | Accepted |
| TOEFL iBT | Widely accepted | Widely accepted | Accepted |
| Duolingo English Test | Provider-conditional | Many universities accept | Not on the DHA accepted-tests list |
The Duolingo line is the one that catches people out. It is convenient and cheaper, and many universities accept it, but it is not on the Department of Home Affairs accepted-tests list for the Australian student visa. Treat it as an admission tool, and plan separately for the visa.
Score equivalents
The most useful equivalence for Indian students is the one the Australian visa actually uses. The Department of Home Affairs treats these scores as equal for the subclass 500 student visa:
| IELTS Academic | PTE Academic | TOEFL iBT | OET |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 | 47 | 67 | 1210 |
| 5.5 (with 10 weeks ELICOS) | 39 | 51 | 1090 |
| 5.0 (with 20 weeks ELICOS) | 31 | 37 | 1020 |
Universities publish their own conversion tables and may set different cut-offs, so use your university's page for admission and the figures above for the visa.
The honesty note: university score versus visa evidence
It is worth repeating, because it is the single most useful thing on this page. The score that gets you a university offer is not always the score that satisfies the visa. For Australia, you can meet a university requirement and still need a Home Affairs-accepted test for the visa. For New Zealand, your provider's requirement drives the case, and INZ assesses your application against it.
Plan for both from the start. If you want this mapped to your course and country, book a consultation and we will confirm the exact scores you need from the official sources.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs, English language requirements for the student visa: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language
- Study Australia, English language requirements changes: https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/en/tools-and-resources/news/english-language-requirements-changes
- NZQA, English language entry requirements for international students: https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/tertiary/english-language-entry-requirements-for-international-students/
- Immigration New Zealand, visas for studying in New Zealand: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/study/study-visas/visas-for-studying-in-new-zealand/
- Pearson PTE Academic scoring and conversion: https://www.pearsonpte.com/pte-academic/scoring
- ETS TOEFL iBT score comparison: https://www.ets.org/toefl/institutions/ibt/score-scale-update.html
- Duolingo English Test, accepting institutions: https://englishtest.duolingo.com/test_takers/accepting_institutions
Last updated: 21 June 2026.
Written by the Vnext Overseas Team, Auckland and Delhi.
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