What IELTS score do you need for Southern Cross University?

SCU's variations table (marked updated 4 September 2024) lists 7.0 with no band below 7.0 for the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies), Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Midwifery and Social Work, and 8.0 in every band for Speech Pathology, which cannot be packaged with English.

The Bachelor of Nursing course page sets IELTS 7.0 with 7.0 in listening, reading and speaking and 6.5 in writing, PTE 66 (56 in writing), TOEFL iBT 94 (27 in writing) or Cambridge 185, within two years of starting. The MBA, Master of Computing, Master of Professional Accounting and accounting graduate certificate and diploma list 6.5 overall, and the Global Hotel Leadership graduate certificate and diploma 6.0 with no band below 5.5.

Under Rule 2, an English test score must have been achieved within two years of your intended course start date. SCU's pathways set lower entry scores: 5.5 (no band below 5.0) for the Undergraduate Qualifying Program and diplomas, and 6.0 (no band below 5.5) for the Postgraduate Qualifying Program.

Besides IELTS, SCU's table covers Cambridge CAE and CPE, TOEFL iBT, PTE and ISLPR. Duolingo, IELTS One Skill Retake and online tests such as IELTS Online are not stated by Southern Cross University.

Requirements vary by course, and SCU can change them between intakes. Always confirm the score on your course page before you book a test. Your student visa has its own English rules, set by the Department of Home Affairs.

Your offer and your visa are assessed separately. If Home Affairs asks you for English evidence, the Student visa (subclass 500) page sets these minimums for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025: IELTS Academic 6.0, PTE Academic 47 or TOEFL iBT 67. With at least 10 weeks of ELICOS (or a Foundation or eligible Pathway program) packaged with your course they drop to 5.5, 39 and 51, and with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS to 5.0, 31 and 37.

The test must be taken within the 2 years before you lodge (Regular Evidence level), or within the 2 years before a decision if you are Streamlined Evidence level and asked for evidence. Tests delivered entirely online, such as IELTS Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition, are not accepted for the visa, and from 21 January 2026 TOEFL candidates must select 'Taking TOEFL for Australia' when registering.