IELTS score requirement for University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales based in Sydney, New South Wales applies a single IELTS floor at both undergraduate and graduate level: overall 6.5 with no band below 6.0. Programme-specific minimums sit above this floor; the breakdown below lists every programme on this page that does.
Most undergraduate programmes require overall 6.5 with no individual element below 6.0. Some programmes in the Faculty of Medicine & Health and UNSW Business School set higher thresholds.
Most coursework master's programmes require overall 6.5 with no element below 6.0. The Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture and UNSW Law typically require overall 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each section.
Last verified 2026-05-19. The figures on this page are taken from University of New South Wales's own admissions page. Verify against the official source before relying on a specific number; programme directors can revise English requirements between intakes.
About UNSW and its IELTS requirement
UNSW publishes a clean 6.5 / 6.0 baseline for most undergraduate and coursework master's programmes, with Medicine (7.0/7.0) and Teaching (7.5/7.0 with 7.0 Writing) as the strict outliers. As a Go8 institution UNSW carries a strong reputation for engineering, business and law, all of which attract a heavy international IELTS-route applicant pool.
Translating the published minimum into a study target
Undergraduate applicants to UNSW need an overall IELTS Academic band of 6.5 with no band below 6.0. In CEFR terms this corresponds to B2. Most undergraduate programmes require overall 6.5 with no individual element below 6.0. Some programmes in the Faculty of Medicine & Health and UNSW Business School set higher thresholds.
For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 6.5 with no band below 6.0 (CEFR B2). Most coursework master's programmes require overall 6.5 with no element below 6.0. The Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture and UNSW Law typically require overall 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each section.
Programmes that raise the bar
Several UNSW programmes publish IELTS thresholds that sit above the institutional minimum. The current list on this page includes Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine (BMed/MD) (overall 7.0), JD (UNSW Law) (overall 7.0), MBA (AGSM) (overall 7.0). Treat these as the target if you are applying to one of them; the institutional minimum does not over-ride a programme-level publication.
How to prepare for the UNSW IELTS minimum
A target of 6.5 (CEFR B2) is achievable for candidates with strong school-level English and 4-8 weeks of focused IELTS practice. The fastest gains usually come from Listening and Reading because the question types are predictable and trainable. Sit a full-length practice test first, identify the section that pulls your overall down most, and drill that section before scheduling the live exam.
Programme-specific IELTS minimums
These programmes publish IELTS thresholds that differ from the institutional minimum above. Verify the programme page for the most current value before you apply.
| Programme | Overall | Per-section |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine (BMed/MD) | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| JD (UNSW Law) | 7.0 | 6.0 |
| MBA (AGSM) | 7.0 | 6.0 |
| Master of Teaching | 7.5 | 7.0 |
Other English tests UNSW accepts
TOEFL iBT 90 with 23 W / 22 S / 22 R / 22 L for most programmes. PTE Academic 64 with no element below 54. Cambridge English C1 Advanced 176 (no skill below 169) widely accepted.
Alternatives and thresholds change between intakes. Confirm on the official admissions page before relying on a specific alternative test.
Common questions
What is the minimum IELTS score for University of New South Wales?
What does 'no band below 6.0' mean at UNSW?
Does UNSW accept other English tests besides IELTS?
What if my IELTS score is below the UNSW minimum?
Are there programme-specific IELTS minimums at UNSW?
See where you stand against the UNSW minimum
Take a free, full-length IELTS practice test. Get your overall and per-section bands plus a personalised feedback report — no card required.
Start free practice test