English Tests and English Entry Requirements for Students in Kuwait Planning to Study in Australia

Studying in Australia involves two separate English checks: the entry score set by the course provider, and the evidence Home Affairs may ask for when you lodge the student visa. They are not always the same test or the same score, and confusing the two is a common source of delay. This guide sets out both, in the order they typically come up during planning.

Course English requirements vary by provider

Academic entry requirements, including the English level, vary by course [S1]. Each institution sets its own threshold, so the requirement has to be checked against the specific program rather than assumed from a general rule. Some course types have their own baseline [S1]:

• ELICOS General English courses have no academic entry requirement.
• VET courses, in most cases, have no entrance exams.
• Undergraduate entry generally requires the Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Year 12) or an equivalent.
• Postgraduate entry requires at least one undergraduate degree.
• Foundation courses are usually one year, and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may reduce the credits needed.

Provider-level English entry scores for specific courses are set individually by each institution, so check the course page directly before relying on any general figure.

The application sequence

The usual sequence is to apply to the provider, receive a letter of offer, complete the acceptance form, and then lodge the student visa application with Home Affairs [S1]. English evidence can come into play at more than one of these steps, which is why it helps to plan for it early rather than leaving it to the visa stage.

Student visa English evidence

For the Student visa (subclass 500), you might need to provide English evidence at the time of lodgement. The Document Checklist Tool on the Home Affairs website is the way to confirm exactly what is required for your circumstances, and Home Affairs can also ask for evidence at any point during processing, even if it was not requested at lodgement [S2].

Timing matters: the test must generally have been taken within 2 years before lodging (Regular Evidence level), or within 2 years before the decision if the Streamlined Evidence level is requested [S2].

Online or at-home versions of tests are not accepted for this purpose, including IELTS Online, LANGUAGECERT Academic Online, OET@Home, CELPIP Online, MET Digital at-home, and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition. From 21 January 2026, TOEFL candidates must select "Taking TOEFL for Australia" when registering [S2].

Accepted tests and minimum scores

The approved tests for the student visa are C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training, LANGUAGECERT Academic, MET, OET, PTE Academic, and TOEFL iBT (select "TOEFL iBT for Australia," scored 0-120) [S3].

For tests taken on or after 7 August 2025, the minimum scores are [S2]:

For tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, the minimum scores were: IELTS 6.0 / 5.5 / 5.0, TOEFL iBT 64 / 46 / 35, CAE 169 / 162 / 154, PTE 50 / 42 / 36, and OET grade B for each component [S2]. Because these settings change, always confirm current figures on the official Home Affairs page before booking a test.

Exemptions, and the Kuwait position

Some applicants do not need to provide English test evidence for the student visa. Exemptions include [S2]:

• Citizens holding passports from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland
• Foreign Affairs or Defence sponsored students, or secondary exchange (AASES) students
• Students whose principal course is a registered school course, a standalone ELICOS course, a course delivered in a language other than English, or postgraduate research
• Students with at least 5 years of study conducted in English in Australia, the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa or Ireland
• Students with certain Australian Senior Secondary or Certificate IV+ study completed on a Student visa in the last 2 years

BNO passport holders may still need to provide evidence [S2].

Kuwait is not among the passport countries listed in the exemption category above (UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland). Based on that exemption list, Kuwaiti applicants would generally need an approved test result if evidence is requested, unless another exemption category applies, such as the 5-years-of-English-medium-study route [S2]. This reading of the rule has not been separately confirmed by Home Affairs for Kuwaiti applicants, so it should be checked using the Document Checklist Tool with your own passport and provider details before you plan around it.

Practical checklist

• Check the English entry score for your specific course on the provider's own course page, not a general figure.
• Confirm which test your provider accepts, and whether it also appears on the approved list for the student visa.
• Book a test format that counts: online or at-home versions are not accepted for the visa.
• Check the test-validity window (2 years before lodging, or before decision under Streamlined Evidence) before you sit the test.
• Run the Home Affairs Document Checklist Tool with your Kuwaiti passport and chosen provider to see your personal evidence requirements.
• Recheck the official Home Affairs and Study Australia pages close to your application date, since scores and accepted formats can change.

Because visa settings and accepted test formats change, and because English requirements sit alongside other checks such as course entry averages and Kuwait's own recognition rules, it helps to talk through your specific situation before booking tests or accepting an offer.