English prerequisites

Part of the entry requirements into Curtin Singapore is English proficiency. The minimum English language requirements are outlined below.

Approved English proficiency test

English language test	Diploma (Stage 1)	Diploma (Stage 2)	Undergraduate – Commerce/Information Technology	Undergraduate – Communications	Undergraduate – Nursing	Postgraduate
IELTS Academic (International English Language Test System)	5.5 (no band below 5.0)	5.5 (no band below 5.5) 6.0 (no band below 6.0)*	6.0 (no band below 6.0)	6.5 (no band below 6.0)	7.0 (no band below 6.5)	6.5 (no band below 6.0) 7.0 (no band below 7.0^
TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language – Internet Based Test) TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition (where TOEFL iBT testing is not available)	42 (no score below 36)	52 (R8, L7, S16, W18) 68 (R13, L12, S18, W21)*	68 (R13, L13, S18, W21)	79 (R13, L13, S18, W21)	94 (R20, L20, S20, W24)	79 (R13, L13, S18, W21) 99 (R24, L24, S23, W27)^
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)	42 (no score below 36)	42 (no score below 42) 50 (no score less than 50)*	50 (no score less than 50)	58 (no score less than 50)	65 (no score less than 58)	58 (no score less than 50) 65 (no score less than 65)^
Pearson Versant English Placement Test	50 (no score below 46)	50 (no score below 50) 56 (no score less than 56)*	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
C1 Advanced Overall Score Cambridge English Scale scores for each skill	162 (No skill below 154)	162 (No skill below 162) 162 (No skill below 169)*	169 (No skill below 169)	176 (No skill below 169)	185 (No skill below 176)	176 (No skill below 169) 185 (No skill below 185)^
OET (Occupational English Test)	–	–	Calculated average score of all components 250 R:250 W:250 L:250 S:250	Calculated average score of all components 300 R:250 W:250 L:250 S:250	Calculated average score of all components 350 R:300 W:300 L:300 S:300	Calculated average score of all components 300 R:250 W:250 L:250 S:250Calculated average score of all components 350^ R:350 W:350 L:350 S:350

* Minimum score for Curtin College Diploma of Arts and Creative Industries (Stage 2) program.

^Minimum score for Curtin University health sciences postgraduate programs.

Note: The test must have been undertaken within two years of application, however, they may be used for entry until the next immediate semester intake.

Acceptable secondary qualifications (English language proficiency for undergraduate course)

The results must have been released within five years of application, with the exception of GCSE, IGCSE, GCE AS and A Level, International Baccalaureate Diploma, and approved secondary qualifications undertaken and awarded in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America.

Country/region	Accepted qualifications	English requirement	Must be completed within 5 years of application
Non-country/region specific	GCSE/IGCSE/GCE Ordinary Level GCE Advanced Subsidiary Level	Grade C or better in one of the following subjects: English, English Literature, English Language, First Language English, English General Paper or English as Second Language	No
	GCE Advanced Level	Grade E or better in one of the following subjects: English, English Literature, English Language, First Language English, English General Paper or English as Second Language	No
	International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma	Grade of 4 or above in one of the following subjects: – English A: Literature (SL) or (HL); – English A: Language and Literature (SL) or (HL); – Literature and Performance (SL); – English A1 (SL) or (HL); – English A2 (SL) or (HL); – English B (HL).	No
Australia	Western Australia Certificate of Education (WACE)	A scaled mark of 50 or above in one of the following subjects: – English ATAR (from 2016) – Literature ATAR (from 2016) – English as an Additional Language/Dialect ATAR (from 2016) – Stage 2 or 3 English – Stage 2 or 3 Literature – Stage 2 or 3 English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EALD) – TEE English – TEE English Literature – TEE English as a Second Language (ESL)	No
Canada	High School Graduation Diploma (except Quebec)	Grade of 60% or better in final year English subject	No
Denmark	Danish upper secondary school (STX, HHX, and HF)	English Level B – grade 7 English Level A – grade 4 from 2007	Yes
Finland	Ylioppilastutkinto / Studentexamen (Matriculation Examination)	Grade of “Cum laude approbatur” in English (Advanced)	Yes
Germany	Abitur (Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife)	Grade of 4 or better in English (refer to score stated in Block II: performance in school-leaving exams)	Yes
	Germany DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst)	B2 (4 stars) in meeting minimum English (i.e. IELTS 6.5 with no band less than 6.0); or with C 1 (5 stars) in meeting higher English criteria	2 years
Hong Kong	Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)	Level 4 or above (4, 5, 5* or 5**) in the core subject English Language	Yes
India	Indian School Certificate; or All India Senior School Certificate	60% in English subject	Yes
Malaysia	SPM	1119 Bahasa Inggeris with grade A+ and CEFR C1	Yes
Norway	Vitnemål For Videregående Opplæring	Grade of 4 or better (4, 5 or 6) in English subject	Yes
Singapore	Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Level and A-Level	Grade of C or better in O-Level English, English Literature or English Language; General Paper (H1 Level) or Knowledge and Inquiry (H2 Level)	No
Sri Lanka	Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education Ordinary level or Advanced level	C (Credit Pass) in English, General English	Yes
Sweden	Högskoleförberedande Examen (from 2014)	Grade C in English 6	Yes
	Avgångsbetyg / Slutbetyg (Prior to 2014)	VG grade in English C	Yes
United States	ACT	Composite Score of 21	No
	Advanced Placement (AP) examinations	A grade of 3 or higher in English Language and Composition; or English Literature and Composition	No
	SAT (test sat from 2016)	A combined score of at least 1000 out of 1600 in the Evidence based Reading and Writing and Math in the SAT from the same sitting, with a minimum of 400 in Evidence-based Reading and Writing section and 400 in Math section.	No

Acceptable vocational qualifications (English language proficiency for undergraduate course)

The following vocational qualifications must have been taught solely in English.

Australia

AQF Diploma, AQF Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree awarded by an Australian registered training organisation

Canada

Two year full-time Diploma, two year full-time Associate Degree awarded by a recognised institution

Singapore

Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Specialist Diploma awarded by a Polytechnic; Three year full-time Diploma awarded by BCA Academy

United Kingdom

Higher National Certificate; Higher National Diploma; Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) Level 4 or 5 Diploma; National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 4 or 5 qualification; Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) level 4 or 5 qualification.

United States of America

Two year full-time Associate degree awarded by a regionally-accredited institution

Acceptable tertiary qualifications (English language proficiency for undergraduate course)

Undertaken in Australia

Successful completion of one semester full-time (equivalent to 0.5 EFTSL) of an undergraduate or
postgraduate coursework degree level study at a recognised University in Australia.

Undertaken outside of Australia

The following options must have been taught in English outside of Australia:

Successful completion of at least one semester full-time or equivalent of an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree level study at a recognised University in New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom; or
Successful completion of at least one year full-time or equivalent of an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree level study at a recognised University in Canada, Singapore, South Africa or United States of America; or
Successful completion of an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree from a recognised overseas University, assessed by Curtin University as comparable to the educational level of an Australian Bachelor or Master Degree in which Curtin University recognised English is the sole language of instruction. The degree must have been awarded within five years of application, with the exception of qualifications undertaken and awarded in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America.

Acceptable tertiary qualifications (English language proficiency for postgraduate course)

Undertaken in Australia

Successful completion of one semester full-time (equivalent to 0.5 EFTSL) of an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree level study at a recognised university in Australia

Undertaken outside of Australia

The following options must have been taught in English outside of Australia:

Successful completion of at least one semester full-time or equivalent of an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree level study at a recognised University in New Zealand, Republic of Ireland or United Kingdom; or
Successful completion of at least one year full-time or equivalent of an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree level study at a recognised University in Canada, Singapore, South Africa or United States of America; or
Successful completion of an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree from a recognised overseas University, assessed by Curtin University as comparable to the educational level of an Australian Bachelor or Master Degree in which Curtin University recognised English is the sole language of instruction.

These entry requirements are a guide only and other evidence of English proficiency may be considered. Please be advised some courses have specific English requirement criteria, refer to the course page for specific entry requirement.

Students from countries not listed should contact the Admissions Office at Curtin Singapore on admissions@curtin.edu.sg for further details.

English programs

If you do not satisfy the English language requirements, you may be able to undertake an English program at Curtin Singapore prior to joining an academic program. English programs are delivered on campus by Navitas English.