The main English tests accepted by universities include IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Cambridge English qualifications. Duolingo, LanguageCert Academic, the Michigan English Test and several other options are also recognised by some institutions.
On This Page
- English Tests Universities Commonly Accept
- IELTS Academic
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- Cambridge English
- What About the Duolingo English Test?
- Some Universities Accept Additional Tests
- Why University English Language Requirements Different
- The Overall Score Is Not the Only Number That Matters
- Online Versions Can Have Different Rules
- How to Check Your Course Before Booking a Test
- How Recent Does the Test Need to Be?
- University Admission and Student Visa English Are Separate
- Which Test Should You Book?
- Sending Your English Result
- Final Takeaway
- Frequently Asked Questions
The catch is that acceptance is not universal. A test that works for one university may not work for another, and two courses at the same university can have different English requirements.
For an international student, the safest approach is to start with the universities and courses you want to apply for, then see which tests appear across all of them.
English Tests Universities Commonly Accept
These are the tests international applicants are most likely to come across:
| Test | Where it commonly fits |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Widely used for undergraduate and postgraduate admission |
| PTE Academic | Widely accepted for university study and fully computer-based |
| TOEFL iBT | Common across universities in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and other destinations |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | Accepted by many universities for higher education |
| Cambridge C2 Proficiency | Accepted by many institutions for advanced English evidence |
| Duolingo English Test | Accepted by many universities, but not by all |
| LanguageCert Academic | Available as an admission option at selected universities |
| Michigan English Test | Accepted by some institutions, including selected Australian universities |
This is why lists of English proficiency tests for international students should be treated as a starting point rather than proof that a particular university accepts every test on them.
IELTS Academic
IELTS Academic is one of the most established university admission tests. For higher education, the distinction between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training matters. Universities normally specify the Academic test.
RMIT, for example, currently accepts IELTS Academic and IELTS Academic One Skill Retake for international admission but specifically states that IELTS General is not accepted.
IELTS reports an overall band score as well as scores for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Universities often set both an overall requirement and minimum component scores. Meeting the overall score may therefore not be enough if one individual skill falls below the course requirement.
PTE Academic
PTE Academic is a common option for students who prefer to complete their English assessment on a computer. Pearson says PTE Academic is accepted for study applications by more than 4,000 institutions worldwide.
The test assesses Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening. For university applications, the relevant product is normally PTE Academic, not simply any test carrying the PTE name. PTE Core, for example, serves a different purpose and is used for Canadian immigration rather than university admission.
If PTE Academic appears on the admissions page for your chosen institution, then the next detail to look at is the score. Universities set their own minimums, and individual degrees can require higher scores than the general university standard. For students specifically considering PTE, PTEClasses’ PTE Academic registration guide covers the booking process separately.
TOEFL iBT
TOEFL iBT is another predominant English check for university admission. ETS states that TOEFL iBT scores are normal by way of greater than 13000 institutions in over a hundred and sixty international locations.
That broad recognition does not create one universal TOEFL requirement. Universities decide the score they will accept and can also impose minimum scores for individual skills. There can also be rules around the version of TOEFL being used.
RMIT, for instance, currently has specific requirements for TOEFL tests taken from 21 January 2026, while the University of Queensland states that it does not recognise TOEFL iBT Home Edition. Students planning to use TOEFL should therefore read the current university policy rather than rely on an old score-conversion table.
Cambridge English
Cambridge English qualifications appear on the admission policies of many universities. The two qualifications most often relevant to higher education are C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency.
RMIT currently accepts both for relevant study levels, while Monash also includes C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency among its recognised tests. Some institutions accept other Cambridge qualifications at particular study levels. RMIT, for example, accepts B2 First for some foundation and vocational programs, but not as its standard undergraduate or postgraduate English test.
So “Cambridge English accepted” is still too broad. The qualification named by the university is the one that matters.
What About the Duolingo English Test?
Duolingo has become a popular option because the test can be taken online and is accepted by a growing number of institutions. Its acceptance is less consistent than IELTS, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT.
That difference matters if you are applying to several universities. One institution might recognise Duolingo while another on your shortlist does not. For example, Duolingo does not appear on RMIT’s current list of accepted international admission tests, nor on the University of Melbourne’s current approved test list. Before choosing Duolingo, look at every university you are seriously considering rather than checking only one.
Some Universities Accept Additional Tests
The list does not stop at IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Cambridge and Duolingo. The University of Melbourne currently recognises LanguageCert Academic and the Michigan English Test alongside IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced.
Monash currently includes LanguageCert Academic among its English-test pathways and also lists other approved options depending on an applicant’s circumstances. OET is another example of a test whose usefulness depends heavily on the course. RMIT accepts it for selected health and medical science programs rather than as a general admission test across the university.
These less universal options can be perfectly valid, but only when the intended institution and course recognise them.
Why University English Language Requirements Different
Universities decide how much English a student needs to study successfully in a particular program. A general undergraduate course may use the institution’s standard English level. A degree involving clinical practice, teaching, law or another communication-heavy field may set a higher standard.
Monash explicitly notes that some courses have higher English requirements than its university minimum. The University of Melbourne likewise directs applicants to individual course pages because some programs have their own test standards.
This is one reason published conversion tables should be used carefully. A student might see that PTE 58 corresponds to one university’s standard entry level, then assume it will work for every degree. It may not.
The Overall Score Is Not the Only Number That Matters
University admission requirements often contain two layers:
- Overall score: the total result you need.
- Individual scores: minimum results in Reading, Writing, Listening or Speaking.
At Monash, for example, the current general PTE Academic requirement is an overall score of 58 with no communicative skill below 50. Its general IELTS Academic requirement is 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each skill.
A candidate who reaches the required overall score but misses one component can therefore still fall short of admission requirements. The same principle applies to other tests.
Online Versions Can Have Different Rules
This is an easy detail to miss. The test provider may offer an online or at-home version, but the university decides whether that version is acceptable. The University of Melbourne currently requires its approved English tests to be taken at a test centre and does not accept their online or at-home versions.
RMIT also states that at-home and online tests are not accepted for international students. UQ does not recognise PTE Academic Online or TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
Monash is different. Its current test list includes IELTS Online among the options available in certain circumstances. So an online test should never be booked on the assumption that universities treat it exactly like the test-centre version.
How to Check Your Course Before Booking a Test
The official course page should be your starting point. Look for the section covering university English language requirements, then identify the tests listed for that particular degree.
You need four pieces of information:
- the exact test accepted
- the required overall score
- any minimum skill scores
- rules covering test validity or delivery format
If the university accepts PTE Academic, for example, there is little value in reading ten general comparison articles before finding out whether you need 50, 58, 65 or another score for your course.
The same applies to IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge.
How Recent Does the Test Need to Be?
Universities can also limit how old your result may be. RMIT currently requires the English test for international admission to have been completed within two years of the course start date.
The University of Melbourne requires approved tests to have been completed within 24 months of the planned study start date. Monash applies its own time-limit rules depending on the applicant’s educational background and method of meeting the English requirement. A test that was accepted when you first began planning your studies can therefore be too old by the time your course starts.
University Admission and Student Visa English Are Separate
International students sometimes treat these as the same requirement. They are not. Your university decides what English evidence it needs for admission. The immigration authority decides what evidence is required for the student visa.
Monash specifically tells international students that its English admission standards are separate from the requirements set by Australia’s Department of Home Affairs. UQ gives the same warning on its English requirements page.
A test can therefore work for university admission without automatically satisfying every immigration condition. Students planning to study in Australia should assess the two requirements separately before paying for an exam.
Which Test Should You Book?
Start with acceptance, not popularity. Write down the universities and courses you are genuinely considering. See which tests appear across the whole shortlist.
If PTE Academic is accepted by all of them and you prefer a computer-based test, that may give you a straightforward choice. If one university accepts Duolingo but three others do not, taking Duolingo could narrow your options.
Once you know which exams are usable, then factors such as test format, result time, local availability and personal preference become relevant.
Students comparing PTE specifically with IELTS can use PTEClasses’ PTE vs IELTS guide without turning the university acceptance question into a general test comparison.
Sending Your English Result
Universities do not all verify scores in exactly the same way. Some test providers send results electronically. Some universities ask applicants to nominate the institution through their test account. Others provide their own instructions during the application process.
For PTE Academic, UQ currently tells applicants to send their scores through their online PTE account. PTEClasses also has a separate guide explaining how to send PTE scores to universities. Follow the receiving university’s instructions rather than assuming that uploading a screenshot or PDF completes verification.
Final Takeaway
IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Cambridge English are among the most widely used English proficiency tests accepted by universities. Other accepted English tests for international students, including Duolingo, LanguageCert Academic and MET, depend more heavily on the institution.
Before paying for a test, use the admissions page for your actual course. The correct test is the one your university accepts at the score and delivery format required for your program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear answers to common questions about this topic.
Can I apply before taking my English test?
Some universities allow this. The University of Melbourne says students can apply while waiting to take an English test or receive their result. If the rest of the application is successful, the offer may remain conditional until the English requirement is met. The process varies by institution, so this should be confirmed before delaying a test.
Can previous study in English replace an English test?
Sometimes, The University of Melbourne and Monash both have pathways that allow eligible applicants to meet English requirements through previous education rather than a new test. The conditions depend on where, when and how the previous study was completed. Simply attending an English-medium school or university does not automatically create an exemption.
Do foundation or pathway programs have the same English requirements as bachelor degrees?
Not always. Foundation, diploma and university pathway programs can have their own English entry standards. In some cases, the required score is lower than direct entry to a bachelor’s degree because the pathway is designed to prepare students for further study.
What happens if my university does not list the English test I have already taken?
Contact the admissions team before paying for another test. A university may have additional evidence rules that are not obvious from a general course page, but you should not assume an unlisted test will be accepted. Get confirmation from the institution first.
Can an English language course replace an English test for university entry?
Some universities offer approved English-language or pathway programs that can lead to entry without submitting a new external test result. These programs have their own entry and completion requirements, so they are not an automatic substitute for IELTS, PTE or another test. The relevant university pathway policy should be checked before enrolling.
