By pteexamprep editorial teamPublished 10 Oct 2026Updated 10 Oct 2026Reviewed 9 Oct 2026 against official sources
Short answer: an Australian student visa (subclass 500) needs a PTE Academic overall score of 47 for a test taken on or after 7 August 2025. If your principal course is accompanied by at least 10 weeks of ELICOS, a Foundation (Standard or Extended) program or an eligible Pathway program, the minimum drops to 39. With at least 20 weeks of ELICOS it is 31. These are the Department of Home Affairs figures, and the visa minimum is separate from your university's entry score.
What is the PTE score required for an Australia student visa?
The table below uses the official Home Affairs figures for PTE Academic. The column depends on the course that comes with your principal course of study.
| Your situation | Test taken on or after 7 Aug 2025 | Test taken on or before 6 Aug 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard case (no accompanying ELICOS, Foundation or Pathway) | 47 overall | 50 overall |
| Principal course accompanied by at least 10 weeks of ELICOS, a Foundation (Standard or Extended) program or an eligible Pathway program | 39 overall | 42 overall |
| Principal course accompanied by at least 20 weeks of ELICOS | 31 overall | 36 overall |
The visa checks an overall score. There are no separate per-skill minimums on the student visa table.
Is the visa score the same as the university score?
No. The visa score is the least you need to prove English for the visa. Universities set their own entry score for each course, and that score is often higher. Pearson's guidance on score use gives typical ranges:
| Course level | Typical university minimum (Pearson range) |
|---|---|
| Foundation courses | 36 to 50 overall |
| Undergraduate degrees | 51 to 60 overall |
| Postgraduate degrees | 57 to 67 overall |
Institutions decide the exact figure, so the course page on the university website is the only number that matters for admission. A score of 47 can clear the visa and still fall short of a bachelor's entry requirement. Book your test for the higher of the two numbers.
PTE score for Australia after 12th
Students finishing Class 12 usually either take a Foundation or Pathway program (or ELICOS) first, or apply straight to a Bachelor degree. The visa figure depends on what is packaged with your principal course.
- Foundation or Pathway first, then a degree: the Foundation or eligible Pathway program can bring the visa minimum to 39, as long as the rules for that program are met.
- At least 10 weeks of ELICOS packaged with the degree: the same 39 applies.
- At least 20 weeks of ELICOS packaged with the degree: the minimum is 31.
- Direct Bachelor entry with no accompanying program: the standard 47 applies.
Home Affairs describes the 10 and 20 weeks of ELICOS as a minimum, and the lower score only applies when the ELICOS is packaged with your principal course on your Confirmation of Enrolment. The list of eligible Pathway programs is in the official Migration instrument on the Federal Register of Legislation. Your university's Bachelor entry score can be higher than any of these, so aim for the admission score, not just the visa score.
Old and new PTE scores for the student visa
Pearson changed PTE Academic on 7 August 2025, and Home Affairs changed the approved scores at the same time. Results from before that date are still valid for a student visa application when the test is within the validity period. Use the table above to check which column applies to your result. For the Competent English level used in other Australian visas, the per-skill figures are 47 listening, 48 reading, 51 writing and 54 speaking for tests from 7 August 2025. The student visa does not use these per-skill figures.
Can I study in Australia without PTE?
Some students do not need to give an English test score at all. Home Affairs lists exemption categories, including:
- citizens holding a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland
- students whose principal course is a registered school course
- students whose principal course is a standalone ELICOS
- students whose principal course is registered and taught in a language other than English
- students enrolled in a registered postgraduate research course
- Foreign Affairs or Defence sponsored students, and Secondary Exchange students (AASES)
- students with at least five years of study in English in Australia, the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa or the Republic of Ireland, completed in the 2 years before applying
- students who completed the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education in Australia in English while on a Student visa, in the 2 years before applying
Check the exemption rules on the Home Affairs website before you rely on one. Holders of a British National Overseas passport may still be asked for a test score. A university can still ask for a test score even when the visa does not.
How long is a PTE score valid for a student visa?
For the Regular evidence level, the test must be completed within the 2 years before you lodge the visa application. For the Streamlined evidence level, the test must be within 2 years before a decision is made, and only if the Department has asked for evidence. At-home or online-proctored tests are not accepted for the student visa. Skilled and permanent residence visas use a different window (up to 3 years, depending on the visa subclass), so don't reuse this rule for them: see PTE score for Australia PR.
Frequently asked questions
What PTE score is required for an Australia student visa?
The standard minimum is 47 overall for a test taken on or after 7 August 2025. With at least 10 weeks of ELICOS, a Foundation program or an eligible Pathway program, the minimum is 39. With at least 20 weeks of ELICOS, it is 31.
Is the student visa PTE score the same as the university score?
No. The visa minimum is set by Home Affairs. Universities set their own entry scores, which are often higher. Check the course page of each institution.
What PTE score do I need for Australia after 12th?
For the visa, the score depends on what accompanies your principal course, so a Foundation program, at least 10 weeks of ELICOS or an eligible Pathway program lowers it to 39. The university's own minimum for the Bachelor course still applies.
Is 42 or 50 the PTE score for an Australia student visa?
Those numbers come from the older rules for tests taken on or before 6 August 2025. Tests from 7 August 2025 use 47, 39 and 31.
Can I study in Australia without a PTE score?
Possibly, if you fall into a Home Affairs exemption category, such as holding a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland (Indian passport holders are not covered by this). Check the current list before you assume you qualify.
How long is a PTE score valid for an Australia student visa?
For the Regular evidence level, the test must be within the 2 years before you lodge the application. For the Streamlined evidence level, it must be within 2 years before a decision, if the Department has asked for evidence.
PTE mein kitna score chahiye Australia student visa ke liye?
You need an overall PTE Academic score of 47 for a test taken on or after 7 August 2025. It can fall to 39 or 31 with ELICOS, a Foundation program or an eligible Pathway program.
Australia student visa ke jonno koto PTE score lagbe?
The standard overall score is 47 for tests from 7 August 2025, and 39 or 31 in the ELICOS, Foundation and Pathway cases. Your university may ask for a higher score for admission.
Is PTE Academic accepted for an Australian student visa?
Yes. PTE Academic is one of the tests approved by the Department of Home Affairs. At-home or online-proctored versions are not accepted for the student visa.
Sources and last updated
This page was last updated on 9 October 2026. The score figures come from the Department of Home Affairs student visa listing and the Competent English page. University ranges come from Pearson's PTE Academic scoring guidance. Check the Home Affairs site before you lodge, because English requirements change.
- Department of Home Affairs, Student visa (subclass 500): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500
- Department of Home Affairs, Competent English: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/competent-english
- Pearson, PTE Academic scoring: https://www.pearsonpte.com/pte-academic/scoring/
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
What PTE score is required for an Australia student visa?
For a PTE Academic test taken on or after 7 August 2025, the Australian student visa (subclass 500) needs an overall score of 47 in the standard case. If your principal course is accompanied by at least 10 weeks of ELICOS, a Foundation (Standard or Extended) program or an eligible Pathway program, the minimum is 39. If it is accompanied by at least 20 weeks of ELICOS, the minimum is 31.
Is the student visa PTE score the same as the university PTE score?
No. The visa minimum is set by the Department of Home Affairs and is the lowest score you can use to meet the visa English requirement. Each university sets its own entry score, which is often higher. Pearson's guidance gives typical ranges of 36-50 for Foundation courses, 51-60 for undergraduate degrees and 57-67 for postgraduate degrees, but you should always check your institution's published minimum.
What PTE score do I need for Australia after 12th?
After Class 12 most students either enter a Foundation or Diploma program, or go straight to a Bachelor degree. For the visa, the overall score depends on what accompanies your principal course. A Foundation program, at least 10 weeks of ELICOS or an eligible Pathway program lowers the requirement to 39. Your university's own minimum for the course can still be higher, so check the course page before you book the test.
Is 42 or 50 the PTE score for an Australia student visa?
Those numbers belong to older rules. For PTE Academic tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, the standard student visa minimum was 50, falling to 42 and 36 in the Foundation or ELICOS cases. Tests taken from 7 August 2025 use 47, 39 and 31. If you have an older result, check which test date applies to it.
Can I study in Australia without a PTE score?
Possibly, if you fall into an exemption category in the Home Affairs rules. Examples include being a citizen with a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland, enrolling in a principal course that is a standalone ELICOS or a registered school course, or having at least five years of study in English in a listed country. Check the current exemption list on the Home Affairs site before you assume you qualify, and note that a university may still ask for a test score.
How long is a PTE score valid for an Australia student visa?
For Regular evidence level, the test must have been completed within the 2 years before you lodge the visa application. For Streamlined evidence level, it must be within 2 years before a decision, if the Department has asked for evidence. Online or at-home tests are not accepted for Australian student visas.
PTE mein kitna score chahiye Australia student visa ke liye?
For an Australia student visa, you need an overall PTE Academic score of 47 for a test taken on or after 7 August 2025. It falls to 39 or 31 if your principal course comes with at least 10 weeks of ELICOS, a Foundation program or an eligible Pathway program, or 20 weeks of ELICOS for 31. Tests before 7 August 2025 used 50 in the standard case.
Australia student visa ke jonno koto PTE score lagbe?
The standard overall PTE Academic score for an Australian student visa is 47 for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025. Some ELICOS, Foundation and Pathway cases need 39 or 31. Your university may set a higher score for admission, so check both numbers.
Is PTE Academic accepted for an Australian student visa?
Yes. PTE Academic is one of the English tests the Department of Home Affairs approves for the student visa. The test must still meet the score and validity rules for its test date, and at-home or online-proctored versions are not accepted.
Official sources
- immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500 (checked 2026-10-09)
- immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english-language/competent-english (checked 2026-10-09)
- pearsonpte.com/pte-academic/scoring/ (checked 2026-10-09)