Student visa · English

Study English first

Below the English score your course asks for? The Student visa accepts a lower score when an English course (ELICOS) comes before the main course. The PTE Academic study guide gets you ready for the test.

Get the PTE study guide

Read against the law in force, checked on 2 November 2026

How English study changes the visa score

47PTE AcademicThe main course on its ownIELTS 6.0 or equivalent
39PTE AcademicWith at least 10 weeks of ELICOS firstIELTS 5.5 or equivalent
31PTE AcademicWith at least 20 weeks of ELICOS firstIELTS 5.0 or equivalent

The Department of Home Affairs sets these overall scores for the Student visa (subclass 500), for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. The test must be sat within the 2 years before the visa application. A passport from the UK, the USA, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland needs no test. Studyaway prepares students for PTE Academic only.

Step 1

The score your course asks for

The college sets the entry score for each course, and it can be higher than the visa score. The course page has the detail.

Diploma of Nursing Bachelor of Nursing
PTE Academic 63 or equivalentIELTS 7AHPRA sets the score for nursing registration, with a minimum for each skill: listening 58, reading 59, writing 60, speaking 76. Tests from 23 April 2026.
Master of Nursing
PTE Academic 59 or equivalentIELTS 6.5The college sets this score for entry, with no skill below PTE 52. The NMBA requires PTE Academic 63 for registration.
Master of Social Work
PTE Academic 63 or equivalentIELTS 7The university sets the score.
Bachelor of Social Work
PTE Academic equivalent to IELTS 7no band below 7The university sets the score.
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education Master of Teaching (Early Childhood)
PTE Academic 56 or equivalentIELTS 6.5The university sets the score.
Bachelor of IT (Cyber Security)
PTE Academic 47 or equivalentIELTS 6.0, no band below 6.0The university sets the score.
Automotive Electrical Technology Automotive Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Carpentry & Construction Brick/Block Laying & Construction Painting and Decorating Wall and Floor Tiling and Building Project Support Cabinet Making and Building Project Support Engineering & Fabrication (Welding) Commercial Cookery & Hospitality Civil Construction & Design IT (Telecommunications) Aged Care and Support Early Childhood Education & Care Diploma of Community Services Patisserie & Hospitality
PTE Academic 47 or equivalentIELTS 6.0The visa score. PTE Academic 39 or equivalent is accepted with at least 10 weeks of an English course (ELICOS) before the main course.

Scores as the course pages state them, read 2 November 2026. The offer letter from the college is the final word on a course's score.

Step 2

English and the main course on one visa

The college reads your test scoreThe score sets how many weeks of English study come first: a score of 39 needs at least 10 weeks, a score of 31 needs at least 20 weeks. A score of 47 or higher needs none for the visa.
The college enrols you in both coursesThe English course (ELICOS) runs first, then the main course. The Department of Home Affairs calls this a packaged course, and the English course has its own fees and its own weeks.
Studyaway lodges one Student visa applicationOne visa covers the English course and the main course together. Studyaway arranges the package with the college and lodges the application with your score.

A higher test score means fewer English weeks before the main course starts, and lower fees. The guide's plan and mock tests are how the score goes up.

Step 3

Get the PTE study guide

eleven pages, one plan

What is in the guide

The visa score and the goal score, on page 1
What PTE Academic is: three parts, about 2 hours, the test conditions
A three-day study plan built on mock tests, and how to book the test
One page each for writing, listening, reading and speaking, with the methods and videos
Test day: the night before, the morning, after the test
Why mock tests matter most, and how many to do

A PDF from Studyaway, written for the Student visa (subclass 500). Requirement figures checked 2 November 2026.

Required

First name Last name

Email Which country is your passport from?

Where are you now?

Outside Australia In Australia

Your English test so far

The course you want to study

Terms & Conditions

Step 4

What happens next

Step 1The guide arrivesThe download opens at once, and a copy goes to your email.
Step 2Follow the planA mock test first, the four skills, more mocks, then book the test.
Step 3Check your eligibilityThe Eligibility Checker sets your score beside the visa requirements.

A person at Studyaway reads every request and replies within one business day.

Check my eligibility

Sources, read 2 November 2026: Migration (English Language Tests and Evidence Exemptions for Subclass 500 (Student) Visas) Instrument 2025, LIN 25/090 (F2025L00906), s 6, s 7 and Sch 1, as made; Migration Regulations 1994, Sch 2 cl 500.213; Department of Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500), Eligibility and Step by step (page last updated 22 October 2026), and English language visa requirements; AHPRA, Accepted English language tests (page reviewed 23 April 2026); Pearson, PTE Academic and its test format pages; course scores as the course pages and the Eligibility Checker state them. General information only, not migration advice.