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English Language Admission Criteria procedure

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Section 1 - Preamble

(1) This Procedure is effective from 4 July for admission into study periods that commence on or after 11 November 2019.

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Section 2 - Purpose

(2) This Procedure sets out the minimum English language criteria for admission and selection of applicants into the University’s courses, and the evidence of achievement accepted by the University.

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Section 3 - Scope

(3) This Procedure applies to the University’s undergraduate and postgraduate coursework courses and higher degrees by research, and Study Abroad and exchange programs.

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Section 4 - Policy

(4) This Procedure is pursuant to the Admission Criteria and Selection (Higher Education Courses) policy and Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) policy.

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Section 5 - Procedure

(5) The University sets minimum English language proficiency standards to ensure that all students can participate in their chosen studies and have a good chance of success.

(6) For selection into a University course all applicants, whether domestic or international, must meet the minimum English language admission and selection criteria for the relevant course.

(7) In addition to English language admission and selection criteria applicants must meet the course admission criteria set out in Admission Criteria and Selection (Higher Education Courses) procedure or Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) policy as appropriate.

(8) International applicants must satisfy the Department of Home Affairs English language criteria in order to obtain a student visa to study in Australia. This requirement is in addition to the applicant meeting the University’s English language admission criteria.

(9) The University applies four standards for English language criteria (Bands A-D) for admission to all courses.  Part A – English language bands for Deakin courses sets out the bands for all courses. The Bands are benchmarked against the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as follows:

Band A
6/6
Overall 6.0, no band less than 6.0
Band B
6.5/6
Overall 6.5, no band less than 6.0
Band C
7/6.5
Overall 7.0, no band less than 6.5
Band D
7/7
Overall 7.0, no band less than 7.0

(10) Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency for the relevant Band by providing evidence of:

  1. ongoing residence or employment in an English speaking country in accordance with clause 18; or
  2. in accordance with Part B – Standard criteria for English language proficiency or Part C – International equivalences for English language proficiency:
    1. a test, completed no more than 2 years prior to enrolment at Deakin unless otherwise specified
    2. a qualification, completed no more than 5 years prior to enrolment at Deakin unless otherwise specified.

(11) Multiple tests, qualifications and residency and employment cannot be combined to meet criteria. Only a single source of evidence will be accepted.

(12) The University will not approve any waivers in relation to this Procedure.

(13) To establish a case for equivalent English language proficiency, the English Language Proficiency Request form must be completed setting out the rationale and evidence to substantiate the case. Academic Board will determine if the evidence is judged to be an equivalent level of achievement as set out in this Procedure.

Part A - English Language bands for Deakin Courses

Undergraduate courses

(14) All undergraduate courses are classified as Band A unless specified below.

FACULTY OF ARTS AND EDUCATION STANDARD
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours)
Bachelor of Education (Early Years)
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
Bachelor of Health and Physical Education		 Band C
FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND LAW STANDARD
Bachelor of Laws and related combined degrees Band C
Bachelor of Marketing (Psychology) Band B
FACULTY OF HEALTH STANDARD
For domestic applicants: all undergraduate courses offered by the Faculty of Health are classified as Band B.  
For international applicants: all undergraduate courses offered by the Faculty of Health are classified as Band B unless specified below (variance in band levels is due to professional accreditation requirements for international students).  
Bachelor of Nursing and related combined degrees
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
Bachelor of Social Work
Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry		 Band D
 
Bachelor of Medical Imaging Band D
FACULTY OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT STANDARD
Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours)
Bachelor of Forensic Science (Honours)
Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours)
Bachelor of Science (Honours)		 Band B

Postgraduate coursework courses

(15) All postgraduate coursework courses are classified as Band B, unless specified in the table below.

FACULTY OF ARTS AND EDUCATION STANDARD
Graduate Certificate of Applied Learning and Teaching
Graduate Certificate of Languages Teaching
Graduate Certificate of Specialist Inclusive Education
Graduate Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Education)
Master of Applied Learning and Teaching
Master of Languages Teaching
Master of Specialist Inclusive Education
Master of Teaching (Early Childhood)
Master of Teaching (Primary)
Master of Teaching (Primary and Early Childhood)
Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary)
Master of Teaching (Secondary)		 Completed IELTS (or equivalent) academic module test of English language proficiency, overall 7.0, no band less than 7.0, speaking and listening 7.5.

OR

Completion of a bachelor degree in Australia or other specified English speaking country as set out in clause 20, with a weighted average mark (WAM) of a least 65 or equivalent.
FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND LAW STANDARD
Juris Doctor and related combined degrees Completed IELTS (or equivalent) academic module test of English language proficiency, overall 7.0, no band less than 7.0, speaking and listening 7.5.
FACULTY OF HEALTH STANDARD
Doctor of Medicine
Master of Dietetics
Master of Psychology (Clinical) and (Organisational)
Master of Social work		 Band D

HDR courses

(16) Higher degrees by research are classified as Band B or C dependent on the relevant host Faculty or Institute, unless otherwise specified, as set out in the table below.

HOST FACULTY OR INSTITUTE STANDARD
Faculty of Arts and Education, including Institute of Koorie Education Band C
Faculty of Business and Law Band C
Faculty of Health:
- All courses except the Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical) only
Band C
Band D
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment Band B
Institute for Frontier Materials Band B
Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation Band B

Part B - Standard criteria for English Language proficiency

(17) The following table sets out the standard criteria for English language proficiency.

QUALIFICATION/TEST BAND A BAND B BAND C BAND D
Australian University Foundation Program 60% in English 70% in English 73% in English 75% in English
Australian Qualification Framework level 5 diploma program or higher (Australian university or other Australian provider) Successful completion of Diploma course with a WAM of 50 Successful completion of Diploma course with a WAM of 60 Successful completion of Diploma course with a WAM of 70 Successful completion of Diploma course with a WAM of 75
Deakin College – approved pathway programs Successful completion of Diploma course with a WAM of 50 For undergraduate programs: successful completion of Diploma course with a WAM of 50

For postgraduate programs: pass grade in each communication and academic skills instructions unit in the Master Qualifying Program (MQP) or MQP Extended		 Successful completion of Diploma course with a WAM of 70 Successful completion of Diploma course with a WAM of 75
Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) English for Academic Purposes Program (EAP)(completed no more than 2 years prior to enrolment at Deakin) EAP 3 60% EAP 4 60% EAP 4 70% EAP 4 75%  
English for Nursing: 60%
DUELI TEST (completed no more than 12 months prior to enrolment at Deakin) DUELI Test score of 6.0 DUELI Test score of 6.5 DUELI Test score of 7.0 DUELI Test score of 7.0
International Baccalaureate Diploma Grade 4 in English Grade 4 in English Grade 5 in English Grade 5 in English
Study at an institution in an English speaking country where English is the language of instruction, completed NO MORE than 2 years prior to enrolment at Deakin Successful completion of 1 academic year of full-time post secondary study equivalent or higher Successful completion of 1 academic year of full-time study at Bachelor degree level equivalent or higher with a minimum WAM of 50 Successful completion of 2 academic years of full-time study at Bachelor degree level equivalent or higher with a minimum WAM of 60 Successful completion of 2 academic years of full-time study at Bachelor degree level equivalent or higher with a minimum WAM of 65
Study at an institution in an English speaking country where English is the language of instruction, completed MORE than 2 years prior to enrolment at Deakin Entire senior secondary schooling (years 7 to 12 or equivalent) and/or post-secondary studies conducted in English Entire senior secondary schooling (years 7 to 12 or equivalent) and/or tertiary studies conducted in English Entire senior secondary schooling (years 7 to 12 or equivalent) and/or tertiary studies conducted in English Entire senior secondary schooling (years 7 to 12 or equivalent) and/or tertiary studies conducted in English and ongoing residence since graduation
Study at an institution within a non-English speaking country, but where English is the language of instruction and assessment for the whole institution, completed no more than 5 years prior to enrolment at Deakin Successful completion of 1 academic year of full-time study at a Bachelor degree level equivalent or higher, with a minimum WAM of 50 Successful completion of 2 academic years of full-time study at a Bachelor degree level equivalent or higher, with a minimum WAM of 55 Successful completion of 2 academic years of full-time study at a Bachelor degree level equivalent or higher, with a minimum WAM 60 Successful completion of 2 academic years of full-time study at a Bachelor degree level equivalent or higher, with a minimum WAM of 65
Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) English Units 3 and 4 (or equivalent Australian secondary qualifications) 25 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or 20 in any other English 30 in EAL or 25 in any other English 30 in EAL or 25 in any other English 30 in EAL or 25 in any other English

Residence or employment in an English speaking country

(18) Applicants may also demonstrate they meet the English language proficiency criteria by providing evidence of ongoing residence and employment for a period of not less than 5 years within Australia or one of the following specified English speaking countries (in an occupation requiring proficient written and verbal communication in English):

  1. Australia
  2. Canada
  3. Fiji
  4. Ireland
  5. Kenya
  6. New Zealand
  7. Papua New Guinea
  8. Samoa
  9. Singapore
  10. Solomon Islands
  11. South Africa
  12. United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales)
  13. United States of America
  14. Zambia

(19) Sufficient evidence of residency and employment is a passport and residency/citizenship documentation and supporting statements from employers with current details to allow verification.

Part C - International equivalences for English Language proficiency

(20) The following tables set out international equivalences to the standard criteria for English language proficiency set out in Part B – Standard criteria for English Language proficiency.

COUNTRY QUALIFICATION/TEST BAND A BAND B BAND C BAND D
Canada Canadian Pre-University Program (Ontario Secondary School Diploma) 50% in either final year English subjects ENG4U or ENG4C 50% in either final year English subjects ENG4U or ENG4C 60% in either final year English Subjects ENG4U or ENG4C 60% in either final year English subjects ENG4U or ENG4C
Denmark Studentereksamen Grade 7 in English A or Grade 10 in English B Grade 7 in English A or Grade 10 in English B Grade 7 in English A or Grade 10 in English B Grade 7 in English A or Grade 10 in English B
Finland Finnish Upper Secondary School Diploma (Lukionpaastotodistus) Grade 8 in English A or English (Advanced) Matriculation Exam (Ylioppilastutkinto) Pass in English (Advanced) STABEX students only: Grade 7 in English A or English (Advanced) STABEX students only: Grade 8 in English  A or English (Advanced) N/A N/A
Germany Fachhochschulereife Abitur and DAAD Fachhochschulereife with at least 3 in English; or Abitur with at least 7 in English or minimum of either:
B in all four bands of the DAAD language Certificate (if taken prior to 2015)
OR
B2 (4 star) in all three bands of the DAAD Language Certificate (undertaken from 2015)		 Fachhochschulereife with at least 3 in English; or Abitur with at least 7 in English or minimum of either:
B in all four bands of the DAAD language Certificate (if taken prior to 2015)
OR
B2 (4 star) in all three bands of the DAAD Language Certificate(undertaken from 2015)		 Fachhochschulereife with at least 2 in English; or Abitur with at least 9 in English or minimum of either:
A in all four bands of the DAAD language Certificate (if taken prior to 2015)
OR
C1 (5 stars) in all three bands of the DAAD Language Certificate (undertaken from 2015)		 Fachhochschulereife with at least 2 in English; or Abitur with at least 9 in English or minimum of either:
A in all four bands of the DAAD language Certificate (if taken prior to 2015)
OR
C1 (5 stars) in all three bands of the DAAD Language Certificate (undertaken from 2015)
Hong Kong Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) HKDSE: English level 3 with no component level less than 3 HKDSE: English level 4 with no component level less than 3 N/A N/A
India (Qualifications must be completed no more than 2 years prior to enrolment at Deakin) All India Senior School Certificate-Central Board of Secondary Education: 60% in English

Indian School Certificate-India Council for School Examination: 60% in English

Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) – State Secondary School Boards: 65% in English

Pre-University Examination Certificate awarded by a university after one year of study beyond Secondary School Certificate (SSC-Class X) in an affiliated College: 65% in English

Tamil Nadu Higher School Certificate: 120/200
 N/A N/A N/A
Malaysia   Minimum C (formerly 6C in English) in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or O-level equivalent;
AND
Completion of 2 semesters of post secondary or university equivalent study at a post secondary institution in Malaysia where English is the language of instruction and assessment with an overall average of 60%
OR
Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM): C in the STPM 914 English language or 920 English literature examinations		 Minimum C (formerly 6C in English 1119) in the SPM or O-level equivalent;
AND
Completion of 2 semesters of post secondary or university equivalent study at a post secondary institution in Malaysia where English is the language of instruction and assessment with an overall average of 65%
OR
STPM: C+ in the STPM 914 English Language or 920 English literature examinations		 N/A N/A
Netherlands Voobereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO) Grade 7 in final year English Grade 8 in final year English N/A N/A
Norway   Grade 4 in English Grade 4 in English Grade 7 in final year English Grade 7 in final year English
Sweden Slutbetyg fran Gymnasieskolan C in English C in English C in English C in English
GLOBAL (includes IELTS admission criteria as set out in clause 9)    
  GCE A Levels C grade in the General Paper
OR
C Grade in a Humanities and Social Sciences subject at Higher 1 (H1) or Higher 2 (H2) level		 C grade in the General Paper
OR
C Grade in a Humanities and Social Sciences subject at Higher 1 (H1) or Higher 2 (H2) level		 B grade in the General Paper
OR
B Grade in a Humanities and Social Sciences subject at Higher 1 (H1) or Higher 2 (H2) level		 B grade in the General Paper
OR
B Grade in a Humanities and Social Sciences subject at Higher 1 (H1) or Higher 2 (H2) level
  C1 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)) 169, no band less than 169 176, no band less than 169 185, no band less than 176 185, no band less than 185
  C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge English Advance (CAE)) 169, no band less than 169 176, no band less than 169 185, no band less than 176 185, no band less than 185
  Occupational English Test (OET) (for Health related award course entry only) Overall C Overall C+ Overall B (equivalent to an IELTS 7-7.5 range) Overall B (equivalent to an IELTS 7-7.5 range)
  Pearson’s Test of English (Academic)(PTE) 50
No less than 50 in each skill		 58
No less than 50 in each skill		 65
No less than 58 in each skill		 65
No less than 65 in each skill
  Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (Internet-based Test (IBT)) 69
Writing 21		 79
Writing 21		 94
Writing 24		 94
Writing 27
  European Study Abroad and Exchange student/programs Overall grade of C1 Overall grade of C1 N/A N/A
  TOEFL (Paper-based Test (PBT)) 550
Writing 4.5		 577
Writing 4.5		 600
Writing 5		 600
Writing 5
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Section 6 - Definitions

(21) For the purpose of this Procedure:

  1. domestic applicant: a person who is a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, a citizen of New Zealand or a person holding an Australian permanent refugee, humanitarian or protection visa
  2. higher degree by research: a doctoral degree or a research masters degree in which an approved program of research leads to an original contribution to the field of research and/or practice
  3. international applicant: a person who is not a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, is not a citizen of New Zealand or a person holding an Australian permanent refugee, humanitarian or protection visa. Temporary permanent residents are considered international applicants.