English: Admission vs Visa
English: Admission vs Visa (ANZ)
Which English tests Australia and NZ accept for admission vs the student visa — the nuance that some tests (e.g. Duolingo) may be accepted for admission but not the visa.
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Tests this hub covers
IELTS
British Council / IDP IELTS / Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Year-round (test dates and session times vary by test centre)
TOEFL iBT
ETS (Educational Testing Service) · Offered more than 170 times a year at test centres (Home Edition: 24 hours a day, 4 days a week)
PTE Academic
Pearson · Regular test dates at 500+ test centres in over 115 countries (check availability at your nearest centre)
What this hub covers
- English Tests: Admission vs Student Visa Acceptance in Australia and New ZealandTwo separate gates, two separate lists · How Australia handles it (subclass 500) · How New Zealand handles it
- Is the Duolingo English Test Accepted for the Australia and New Zealand Student Visa?Admission and visa are different questions · Australia: DET is generally not on the subclass 500 list · New Zealand: defer to the recognised list
- Why Your English Score Can Pass Admission but Fail the Visa in Australia and New ZealandThe offer score and the visa score are set by different bodies · When the course needs more than the visa · Australia: score, packaging and approved tests
- Approved English Tests for the Subclass 500 and New Zealand Student Visa ExplainedWhy this list matters · Australia: the subclass 500 approved tests · New Zealand: recognised tests and outcomes
- English Test Exemptions and Waivers: Admission vs Visa in Australia and New ZealandAdmission waivers and visa exemptions are not the same · Common admission waivers · Australia: how the visa English exemption works
Guides for Australia & New Zealand
5 of 5 guides in this hub are for Australia & New Zealand.
Is the Duolingo English Test Accepted for the Australia and New Zealand Student Visa?
The Duolingo English Test is used by some universities for admission, but is generally not on the Australian subclass 500 or NZ student visa lists.
Read guideWhy Your English Score Can Pass Admission but Fail the Visa in Australia and New Zealand
Minimum English scores for a university offer and for the student visa can differ. Here is why, and how to make sure one score clears both.
Read guideApproved English Tests for the Subclass 500 and New Zealand Student Visa Explained
Which English tests each immigration authority officially lists for Australia and New Zealand student visas, and why university lists can be broader.
Read guideEnglish Tests: Admission vs Student Visa Acceptance in Australia and New Zealand
A test accepted for university admission may not satisfy the Australian subclass 500 or NZ student visa. Here is how to check both before you book.
Read guideEnglish Test Exemptions and Waivers: Admission vs Visa in Australia and New Zealand
Prior English-medium study or nationality can waive a university's English requirement, yet the visa English rule may apply differently. How to verify each.
Read guideStudying in Australia & New Zealand
Continue exploring Australia & New Zealand
Universities, entrance tests, costs and visa facts for Australia & New Zealand — all in one place, each linked to its official source.
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