English Competency Requirements

All the universities require you to demonstrate a certain level of competence in English. This is so that you will have a high chance of succeeding in the course you choose. Not meeting the English Language requirements doesn’t mean you can’t attend university, but you may need to complete some further study first to improve your chances of success.

  • WACE students

    The recommended path is by attempting ATAR English, ATAR Literature, or ATAR English as an Additional Language/Dialect. If you achieve a scaled score of 50 or higher in one of these subjects, you will satisfy the English Language requirements for all five WA universities.

    If you don't achieve a scaled score of 50 or higher in an ATAR English subject, here are some other ways you may be able to satisfy the English Language requirements for direct entry into undergraduate degrees as a Year 12 WACE student:

    For Curtin:
    • A school letter grade of C or better in an ATAR English subject; OR
    • A school letter grade of A in General English or General Literature; OR
    • Sit STAT Written English in December/January; OR
    • Successfully complete the UniReady in Schools program (ECU’s UniPrep Schools also accepted).
    For ECU:
    • A school letter grade of C or better in an ATAR English subject; OR
    • A school letter grade of A in General English (when combined with an experienced-based entry application); OR
    • A minimum grade of 50 in Academic Writing completed as part of ECU’s UniPrep; OR
    • A minimum score of 140 in STAT Written English (permission will only be given if you have attempted an ATAR English subject).
    For Murdoch:
    • Completion of Year 11 and 12 in Australia.
    For Notre Dame:
    • Completion of Year 11 and 12 in Australia.
    For UWA:
    • A school letter grade of C or better in an ATAR English subject; OR
    • A final scaled mark of 50 or more in an ATAR English subject: OR
    • Complete UWA's communication bridging unit in your first semester. Check with UWA for details; OR
    • Sit STAT (both sections) in December/January – UWA conditional offer letter required; OR
    • Complete a UWA-approved English test.

  • WA non-standard schools

    Non-standard schools in Western Australia include schools like Perth Waldorf School that don't deliver WACE, or schools following the Big Picture Program. It also includes homeschooled students.

    Include with your application a statement giving full details of your upper secondary school studies. An equivalent senior secondary certificate may be required. You should check with the university/ies to confirm if you have achieved English competency with your studies.

  • Interstate schools

    If you're attending an Australian school outside Western Australia and wish to apply through TISC, check Interstate Year 12s and IB comparison for English competency requirements and prerequisites equivalencies.

    The universities will generally require that you achieve your state’s senior secondary certificate (for example HSC, VCE, QCE, SACE, TCE).

  • International Baccalaureate (IB)

    Refer to Interstate Year 12s and IB comparison for English competency requirements.

    The universities will generally require that you be awarded your IB Diploma.

  • Overseas schools

    If you are at an overseas school completing an Australian Year 12 qualification, you should follow the instructions above.

    If you are at an overseas school completing another qualification (eg A Levels, US High School Diploma, Gao Kao, NCEA), check with the university's website you are interested in applying to for English competency requirements. Follow the links below to find the information.

  • Skills for Tertiary Admission Test (STAT)

    STAT is a nationally recognised set of tests offered by TISC to help mature-aged candidates gain entry to university. STAT doesn't test knowledge of specific academic subjects but tests a range of competencies considered important for success in university study, such as the ability to understand and think critically about issues. As a result, you don't need any particular preparation to sit STAT.

    Refer to STAT for further information concerning result required.

    STAT is also used by the Western Australian universities as a second-chance test of English competence for WA year 12s. If you don't achieve English Language Competency via any of the ATAR English courses, you may be invited to sit STAT in late December/early January. This invitation will be on your Universities Admission Advice Letter (UAAL), which will also provide your ATAR and scaled scores from ATAR courses. If your UAAL doesn't invite you to sit STAT, but you've sat an ATAR English course exam, you may also sit STAT to achieve English Language Competency.

This list is not exhaustive, and you should check with the university where you are applying for more information. Some courses may have higher English requirements. Enabling courses, experience-based entry pathways and portfolio entry pathways may have differing requirements.