Chapter 2: Admission to research master’s candidature

2.2 English language proficiency

Sound English language skills are required for academic programs at Monash University. If an applicant's first language is not English, the English language requirement must be satisfied in one or more of the following ways:

• An overall band score of not less than 6.5 on the IELTS test conducted by IDP and the British Council. In addition, a score of at least 6.0 is required for each band score and applicants must undertake the academic module in regard to reading and writing.
  
  In the Faculty of Law and for Faculty of Arts research only degrees, an overall IELTS score of 7.0 is required (7.0 on writing module).

  In the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with individual band scores of 6.5 is required.
  
  Tests that are taken more than two years prior to application will not be accepted. Details can be found at www.ielts.org/.

• The following scores achieved in the American Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  a minimum total score of 577 together with a score of 5 or more on the TOEFL Test of Written English (TWE) (paper based score); or
  a minimum total score of 91 (internet based score) together with a minimum score of 25 in the written test and a minimum score of 22 in each of the reading, speaking and listening tests.
  
  Tests that are taken more than two years prior to application will not be accepted. Details can be found at www.toefl.org/.
  
  For applicants to the faculties of Arts, Business and Economics, Law and the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
  
  a minimum total score of 600 and a score of 5.0 or more in the TWE (paper based); or
  a minimum total score of 100 with a minimum score of 25 in each of the written, reading, speaking and listening tests (internet based test).

• The following scores achieved in the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
  
  a minimum total score of 58 together with no skill level less than borderline.
  
  Tests that are taken more than two years prior to application will not be accepted.
  
  For applicants to the faculties of Arts and Law
  
  a minimum total score of 67 together with writing above good and no other skill level less than borderline.
  
  For applicants to the faculty of Business and Economics and the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
  
  a minimum total score of 67 together with writing good no other skill level less than borderline.

• The following scores achieved in the Pearson test of Academic English (PTE Academic)
  
  a minimum total score of 58 together with no communicative skill score less than 50.
  
  Tests that are taken more than two years prior to application will not be accepted.
  
  For applicants to the faculties of Arts, Business and Economics, Law and the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
  
  a minimum total score of 65 together with no communicative skill score less than 58.

• Successful completion of a course of tertiary studies of at least two years' duration conducted entirely in English and involving formal assessment of written work, in a country where English is the official language. Evidence in the form of a letter or certificate issued by the university Registrar's office will need to be provided. Studies must be completed within the five-year period prior to application.
  
  For applications to the faculties of Arts and Law, studies must be completed within the two-year period prior to application.
  
  Where studies have been conducted entirely in English and involving formal assessment of written work in a country where English is one of two or more official languages of that country, a case may be made to the Graduate Research Committee by the relevant department/faculty. The World Factbook located at https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ lists the official languages of all countries.

• Successful completion of a course of tertiary studies of at least two years' duration at Monash University's Malaysia or South Africa campus, or an equivalent Malaysian tertiary education campus recognised by Monash University. Studies must be completed within the five-year period prior to application.
  In the faculties of Arts and Law, studies must be completed within the two-year period prior to application.

• An overall IELTS score of 6.0, writing score of 6.0 and no band score lower than 5.5; or a paper based TOEFL score of 550 with a TWE of 4.5; or internet based TOEFL score of 80 with a minimum score of 20 in the written test; or an overall CAE score of 52 with writing “good” and no other skill less than borderline; or an overall PTE Academic score of 50 with a writing score of 50 and no communicative skill score below 43
  together with
  successful completion of a minimum of 15 weeks in the Monash University HDR English Language Bridging Program (HDR-ELBP).
  
  For applicants to the Faculty of Business and Economics or the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine the requirements are a current IELTS test with an overall score of 6.5, writing score of 6.5 and no band score lower than 6.0; or a paper based TOEFL score of 580 with a TWE of 4.5; or an internet based TOEFL score of 90 with a minimum score of 22 in the written test; or an overall CAE score of 58 with writing “good” and no other skill less than borderline; or an overall PTE Academic score of 58 with a writing score of 58 and no communicative skill score below 50.
  together with
  successful completion of a minimum of 10 weeks in the Monash University HDR English Language Bridging Program (HDR-ELBP).
  
  Note: the faculties of Arts and Law do not accept applicants via this pathway.
  Applicants will not be admitted to candidature until they have successfully completed the HDR-ELBP.
  
  Scholarship applicants must have evidence of successful completion of the 15-week HDR-ELBP by the closing date for scholarships to be eligible.

• Successful completion of an English language course at the Monash University English Language Centre approved by the Graduate Research Committee.
  This pathway is only available to applicants from government-sponsored cohorts.

Full documentary evidence in support of English proficiency must be submitted with applications for candidature and scholarship. Where an applicant's first language is not English or where degree qualifications were not undertaken in the English language, Monash University reserves the right to seek further documentary evidence of English proficiency.

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