Process for Waiver of English Language Requirement

The English language requirement

UNSW has standards of English language ability that students must meet before they will be issued with an unconditional offer of a place at UNSW. The details can be found here, and cutoffs for the accepted tests of English (IELTS, TOEFL, etc) are here. The most commonly proferred qualification is IELTS, for which the cutoff is 6.5 overall, with a minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four subtests (listening, reading, speaking, and writing).

Other possible ways of meeting the English language requirement include prior study in the medium of English and Residency (PG Coursework and Research Programs only).

Waivers

Applicants who are not able to demonstrate that they meet one or more of the criteria above (tests, prior study, or residency), but who, nevertheless, believe that they satisfy the University's English language requirements, may apply, in writing, to their respective Admissions Office for consideration of a waiver. Such applicants must justify the request and provide alternative evidence, as appropriate.

The procedure for granting waivers of the English language proficiency requirements will require the Program Authority to justify the waiver in writing, and approval from the Faculty's Presiding Member. The Director, Student Services, or his/her nominee, will consider each recommendation on the grounds of equity and, if appropriate, ESOS compliance.

In cases where a student is being considered for a waiver, normally he/she must have achieved an overall IELTS score of at least 6.0 or a TOEFL score (paper-based test) of at least 550, with a minimum score of 4.5 in the TWE, a TOEFL score (computer-based test) of at least 213, with a minimum score of 4.5 in the essay component, or a TOEFL score (internet test) of at least 79, with a minimum score of 21 in Writing.

When waiver recommendations include a requirement to undertake English language improvement or support, then the Program Authority is responsible for costs associated with this improvement or support, whether this is provided by the Learning Centre, UNSWIL, or the Faculty's own program.

International applicants (and UNSW staff whose job it is to consider English waiver requests) should be aware that at the time of writing this web page, with a few exceptions for countries where the IELTS test is apparently not available) students from Assessment Level 3 or 4 countries [DIMA classification] must present an IELTS test result and achieve an overall score of 6.0 in order to be granted a student visa for university level study. Details of the DIMA requirements and the Assessment level of countries can be found at www.immi.gov.au though not necessarily easily. Links current at the time this page was written were:
Level 3: http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/574-3/eligibility-student.htm#e
Level 4: http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/574-4/eligibility-student.htm#e Assessment levels: www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1219i.pdf

The most common scenario is when a student takes an IELTS test and doesn't quite meet the required standard. In such cases, if the student has

  1. 6.0 overall and at least 6.0 in each subtest, or
  2. 6.5 overall, and at least 6.0 in all but one subtest, and 5.5 in the remaining subtest
and
then the Faculty will consider recommending waiver of the English language requirement. If the deficit is more severe, or is as above but there is no proof of English language ability, waiver may be recommended subject to English language support or improvement at the School's cost. Such instruction can be provided by The Learning Centre, or by the UNSW Institute of Languages, who should be consulted by the School to establish the amount of instruction, and the cost, to bring the student from their current IELTS (or equivalent) level up to the cutoff.

Note that just meeting (a) or (b) above is not enough - there must also be alternative evidence of English proficiency.

Process

Steps:

  1. Student applies for waiver, providing supporting evidence.

  2. Application is referred to relevant person in School (e.g. PG Coordinator, for research students)

  3. School authority examines relevant evidence and applies rules mentioned above, and recommends for/against waiver, and if applicable undertakes to pay for English instruction.

  4. Presiding Member of Faculty examines relevant evidence and applies rules mentioned above, and recommends for/against waiver.

  5. Admission authority (e.g. Direct Admissions, or GRS) examines relevant evidence, applies rules mentioned above, and determines whether waiver is to be permitted.

Note again that, for International Residents, if the Federal Government English language requirements for a visa are not met, then the student will not be able to come to UNSW, no matter what anybody at UNSW recommends.

Possibly useful links:


UNSW's CRICOS Provider No. is 00098G