With world-class education and countless opportunities to move ahead in life, Australia has become the favourite education destination for international students. Australian universities offer students a world-class education, helping them to build and great career and future. The study programs are designed in such a way to impart students not only theoretical knowledge but the creative application of this knowledge. The expert teachers at Australian universities help students become more innovative and influential. An Australian education qualification helps students land in a better job with high salary package. Australian universities offer a wide range of courses, opening up countless opportunities for those studying here. You can seek the help of efficient study abroad consultants in Kerala for expert professional advice for obtaining an Australian student visa. There are some other pathways to study in Australia even if you have a lower IELTS score.
In order to obtain an Australian student visa, a candidate must first meet certain requirements. These include:
- Academic requirements
- English language requirements
- Evidence of funds to support your study
- Health insurance
The English language proficiency of a student is verified through tests including TOEFL, IELTS, and GRE. An international student needs a sufficient level of proficiency in English in order to survive in the country. IELTS is among the most popular English proficiency tests in the world for higher education, having been taken 3 million times the past year. Usually, a student needs a minimum IELTS score of 6.0. However, those who do not have an IELTS score above 6.0 need not be disappointed as there are still a few other pathways to obtain Australia Student Visa.
Pathways to Obtain Australian Student Visa with Lower IELTS Score
ELICOS Program
ELICOS or English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students is exclusively meant for students with low IELTS score. It is specially designed for students who need training in the English language before they commence their formal studies in Australia. Though there are other English language programs which international students can pursue, the Australian government has an official ELICOS student visa especially for students who do one of these courses.
The ELICOS student visa subclass 570 allows international students to study English in Australia at an approved Australian English school. The ELICOS student visa is only for learning English.
With ELICOS, you are free from the tension of low IELTS score but still, you have to make more efforts to get admission for the academic course you want to pursue in Australia.
Universities that admit students with low IELTS score
Usually, if you want to study in Australia, you need a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with no band less than 6.0 for postgraduate programs. For undergraduate programs, you need to score at least 6.0 overall in IELTS.
However, some universities in Australia accept applications from students with IELTS score of 5.5 in any of the sections of IELTS–either speaking, listening, reading or writing. Below is a list of some of the universities that accept Indian students with IELTS band 5.5.
Southern Cross University: Students with an overall IELTS band of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 can apply for Bachelor of Accounting at Southern Cross University. The major areas of study include taxation, law, marketing, and communication.
Academies Australasia: Students with an overall IELTS score of 5.5 can apply for Advanced Diploma of Accounting at Academies Australasia.
CQUniversity Australia: Students can apply for Bachelor of Accounting at CQUniversity Australia with an overall IELTS band of 6.0. Individual band score should not be less than 5.5
Southern Cross University: Students with an IELTS band of 6.0, with no band less than 5.5 can apply for for Bachelor of Business major in Aviation Management.
Academy of Interactive Entertainment: International students with an overall IELTS score of 5.5, with a minimum 5.0 band in writing section and 6.0 in listening section can apply for undergraduate courses in Game Design and Production and Game Art and Animation and Game Programming.
TAFE Western Australia: The Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media requires an overall IELTS score of only 5.5 with no band less than 5.0
IIBIT: Students with an overall band score of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 can apply for the Bachelor program in Information Technology at IIBT. The program covers modules including Communications & Technology; Big Data & Analytics; Cloud & Enterprise Computing; and Mobile Development Fundamentals.
Southern Cross University: The Bachelor of Business in Tourism and Hospitality Management at Southern Cross University requires students to have an overall IELTS score of 6.0, with no band less than 5.5.
Charles Sturt University: You can apply for MBA at the study centers of Charles Sturt University with a minimum overall score of 6.0. For writing, you need less than 6.0 and for all other abilities, not less than 5.5 is needed.
Some tips to score a good band in IELTS
Though students have a few options to study in Australia with low IELTS band score, it is always ideal to score maximum in the IELTS as it significantly expands the student’s choice in terms of study programs and universities. The universities offer admission to international students based on their proficiency in academics as well as language. A high IELTS score improves a student’s chance to get admission to a world-class university, which in turn will open up a lot of opportunities for them. So here are a few tips to score high in IELTS:
- Be thorough with standard English grammar. Practice daily
- Improve vocabulary. Learn more and more words every day
- Improve your writing, reading, speaking and listening skills, with focus on the requirement of IELTS
- Practice as much as you can and take up tests every day
- Take up online tests for listening and speaking skills
- Try creative writing in Elite English to improve writing skills
You need to remember that not all higher education institutions ask for IELTS score in Australia. Alternatives to IELTS are tests such as TOEFL, CAE, and PTE and sometimes you may need to qualify these tests.
So these are the different pathways to study in Australia with lower IELTS score. Australia has some of the top-ranked universities in the world. They open up vast opportunities for students to excel in their chosen career field and build a great future. ImmiLaw Global, the best Australia study abroad consultants in Kerala, offer overseas education consultancy services to those who wish to study in Australia. If you are interested to know more about Australia education, contact us now!
