International applications will be assessed by TAFE SA International Unit against each of the following criteria:
To check the specific academic and English language entry requirements for your chosen course, please visit the International Course Page.
Each individual course at TAFE SA has academic entry criteria that students must meet to be eligible for enrolment in that course. To check the specific academic entry requirements for your chosen course visit the International Course Pages. In general, the minimum academic entry is:
Most Foundation Studies Programs, particularly those offered by Australian Universities, are deemed equivalent to Year 12.
Students will receive a full offer (not conditional) unless indicated.
International Baccalaureate: Mid-Semester Report (Term 3) with the school stamp and signature from IB Diploma Coordinator
Cambodia: Provisional Certificate of Upper Secondary Education.
Hong Kong: Forecast results not accepted for HKALE – Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination OR Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
Malaysia: SPM, STPM (available each October to November before the SPM exam)
Philippines: Grade 12 Senior High School Diploma. Provisional results based on the 1st semester of Year 12 for a July commencement. Official academic transcript and final High School Diploma to be submitted by 31 May of the TAFE SA commencement year.
Singapore/Malaysia/Hong Kong/Myanmar: Cambridge A Levels, O Levels, IGSCE (equiv to O Levels)
Vietnam: Upper Secondary Education Graduation Diploma (Bang Tot nghiep Trung hoc Pho thong)
Some courses require additional entry criteria. For example, Arts courses often require a portfolio or audition and Health courses an aptitude or skills test. Visit the International Course Page for specific details.
You must be 17 years or over prior to commencement date of studies at TAFE SA.
If you don’t meet the academic entry requirements for your selected course, and you are over 21 years old, you may use your work experience to support your application. You will need to provide a detailed Curriculum Vitae/Resume which outlines your work history and tasks. This will be assessed by the relevant program area, and is assessed on a case by case basis.
The following overseas qualifications are recognised as being equivalent to Australian Years 10, 11 and 12 for entry onto our courses.
Where a score is not stated in the below table, satisfactory results of 50% minimum is required for all courses with the following exceptions where 60% minimum is required:
*Local language subjects are excluded in the assessment of academic results
If your application is deemed to require GTE assessment you will be given a Conditional Offer and be sent a link in order to complete this assessment. The guidelines on how this will be assessed can be found within our guidelines on genuine student and GTE living expenses.
For admission to a TAFE SA course, international applicants are expected to be proficient in English. This can be proven through:
Most TAFE SA courses require an Academic IELTS of 5.5 with 5.0 in all bands, or equivalent. See individual course entry criteria for confirmation of the English requirement for your course. TAFE SA accepts the following English tests:
Please view the TAFE SA Academic & English Language Comparison Table for more detailed information. In most cases, tests are valid for two years.
If you do not meet the TAFE SA English language entry requirements, you may undertake an English language course at the English Language Centre of TAFE SA or another approved provider. The English Language Centre offers English language training for students planning to study at TAFE SA or another Australian education institution.
The following qualifications have been assessed as equivalent to the required IELTS score. Successful completion is expected unless otherwise noted.
Please use the below table as a guide only as this section is currently under review. Should you have any queries, please feel free to contact TAFE SA International.
South Australian College of English (SACE)
English for Tertiary Studies I or Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) or B2 First (FCE) overall score of 162 with a minimum of 154 in all bands
English for Tertiary Studies II or Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) or B2 First (FCE) overall score of 169 with a minimum of 162 in all bands
ILSC Education Group (all campuses)
English for Academic Purposes Intermediate 3 (I3)
English for Academic Purposes Intermediate 4 (I4)
GCE O Levels English/1119 English
C6
C5
Malaysian SPM English
B
A
Kenyan KCSE English
C
Malaysia University Entrance Test
Score of 4
International Baccalaureate
English A or B grade (score of 5-7)
English A grade (score of 5-7)
*This ELICOS program does not meet the English entry requirements for the Diploma of Nursing or the Advanced Diploma of Oral Health (Dental Hygiene).
ELICOS courses, from other providers, only state the equivalence to the overall IELTS score. In these cases, a minimum band score is not required.
Other circumstances where the IELTS requirement may be waived (evidence required):
Advanced Diploma of Oral Health (Dental Hygiene) Diploma of Nursing - English entry criteria is set in line with the NBMA requirements
Students requiring English language training: some students may be requested to attend an interview or complete the Entry test for Award Courses (at their own cost) to enable an accurate prediction of the number of weeks of English language training required.
All test results are valid for two years from the date of sitting, however, for entry to TAFE SA, a test/s will not be accepted if it is older than two years from the date of commencement of the TAFE SA course.
IELTS One Skills Retake:
TAFE SA will continue to accept a combination of two English tests, in a 6-month period, as evidence of meeting English requirement as follows:
Most international and Australian Foundation Studies Programs (FSPs) are deemed equivalent to Year 12.
University of Adelaide: Students who have successfully completed the TAFE SA English for Academic Purposes 20 are assumed to have the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.0.
University of South Australia: Students who have successfully gained a Credit result or above in the TAFE SA English for Academic Purposes 20 are assumed to have the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.0.
Flinders University: Students who have successfully gained a Credit result in the TAFE SA English for Academic Purposes 20 are assumed to have the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with 6 in all sub bands.
University of Adelaide: Students who have successfully completed the TAFE SA English for Academic Purposes Advanced (20 weeks) are assumed to have the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.5.
University of South Australia: Students who have successfully gained a Pass result or above in the TAFE SA English for Academic Purposes Advanced are assumed to have the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.5.
Flinders University: Students who have successfully gained a Pass result in the TAFE SA English for Academic Purposes Advanced are assumed to have the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with 6.0 in all sub bands. Students who have successfully gained a Credit result in the TAFE SA English for Academic Purposes Advanced are assumed to have the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with 6.5 in all sub bands.
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