English Language Entry Requirements for Coursework Programs Procedures

Approval Body: Education Committee, Meeting 2, 30 April 2008, item 11.4

Definitions

English-medium: where English is the language of instruction, communication and assessment for all aspects of study in the entire institution or substantial school or program and this is certified by the institution or department.

English-rich unit: a unit in which at least 50% of the assessment consists of written or spoken exposition in English such as essays, essay tests, reports, seminars, presentations and/or performances.

IELTS: the International English Language Testing System: see www.ielts.org.

TOEFL: the Test of English as a Foreign Language: see www.toefl.org.

1.      Introduction

1.1    In setting English entry requirements for coursework programs at Monash University, relevant considerations are:

• the level of the course to which admission is sought;
• whether applicants have lived and functioned for a substantial part of their lives in an English-speaking context, or whether they have only recently begun to study in an English-medium school or institution.

1.2    Accordingly, these procedures set out the ways in which the various types of applicants can meet the English language entry requirements of the university by fulfilling one of the alternative English entry requirements listed for that type of applicant below.

1.3    For each type of applicant, the requirements listed are the minimum requirements for admission to any course at that level. In accordance with section 6 of the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy, a Faculty Board may set higher English requirements for admission to specific courses or groups of courses.

1.4    As well as fulfilling the English language entry requirements, to be considered for admission to a course, applicants must also fulfil the academic entry requirements and any higher academic and/or English requirements for admission to the course.

2.      Applicants for single units

Applicants for single units may fulfil the English language entry requirements by one of the following:

A.  having completed the last two years of their secondary schooling, or equivalent, in an English-medium school.

B.  passing a unit in an English-medium university.

C.  passing units equivalent to 24 Monash credit points (one full-time semester) of tertiary study in an English-medium institution at Australian TAFE certificate IV level or above, or equivalent.

D.  Gaining the required result in one of the following tests of English language:

• a minimum overall IELTS test score of at least 6.5 with individual band scores required at 6.5 for Reading, 6.5 for Listening, 6.0 for Writing and 6.0 for Speaking.
• a TOEFL minimum test score of either;
• in the written TOEFL, 580 with a Test of Written English (TWE) score of at least 4.5
• in the computer-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 237 with an Essay Rating (ER) of at least 4.5 (TWE and ER tests are the same)
  Note: computer based tests have not been conducted since Sept 2006 so results will no longer be valid from Sept 2008.
• in the internet-based TOEFL, an overall score of 90 with at least 22 in the written section, and no less than 20 in any section.

Responsibility
Faculty Managers
Manager, Admissions, Student Administration & Systems
Director, International Recruitment Services
Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee (CASC)

3.      Applicants to undergraduate courses

The English entry requirements for undergraduate courses are based on a benchmark of:

• a score of 25 in units 3 and 4 of VCE English, VCE English Language or VCE Literature, or
• a score of at least 30 in units 3 and 4 of VCE English as a Second Language (ESL).

Other qualifications or test results meet the English entry requirements where they have been assessed as demonstrating a level of English skills equivalent to the skills required to gain the required score in VCE English.

3.1    Applicants whose secondary schooling was entirely in English
Applicants for undergraduate courses whose secondary schooling was entirely in an English-medium school may fulfil the English language entry requirements by one of the following:

A.  Gaining the required score in a VCE English subject as stated in section 3 above, or an equivalent result in an equivalent Year 12 or university foundation English subject.

B. Satisfactorily completing a sufficient period of tertiary study at a sufficiently advanced level. The applicant must have completed satisfactorily the equivalent of 48 Monash University credit points (a standard full-time year) of either

• university study or
• study in a TAFE or VET diploma program, or,
• study in a program that has been assessed as being taught at an equivalent level to Monash University undergraduate study.

C. Satisfactorily completing two units in a university where English is the language of instruction and assessment, provided that at least one of the units is English-rich.

D.  Satisfactorily completing a certificate IV that has been approved by Coursework Admissions & Scholarships Committee (CASC) as requiring sufficient English skills to meet the English entry requirements.

3.2    Applicants whose secondary schooling was not entirely in English
Applicants for undergraduate courses whose secondary schooling was not entirely in an English-medium school may fulfil the English language entry requirements by one of the following. (Any result or qualification listed must have been gained or completed within the two years prior to commencement of the course in which enrolment is sought.)

A.  Gaining the required score in a VCE English subject as stated in section 3 above, or an equivalent result in an equivalent Year 12 or university foundation English subject.

B.  Satisfactorily completing a sufficient period of study, at a sufficiently advanced level, in an English-medium institution, or substantial English-medium school or department within a larger institution. The applicant must have completed satisfactorily the equivalent of 48 Monash University credit points (a standard full-time year) of either

• of study in a university undergraduate award program or
• study in a TAFE or VET diploma program, or

• study in a program that has been assessed as being taught at an equivalent in level to Monash University undergraduate study.

C.  Gaining the required result in one of the following tests of English language:

• a minimum overall IELTS test score of at least 6.5 with individual band scores required at 6.5 for Reading, 6.5 for Listening, 6.0 for Writing and 6.0 for Speaking.
• a TOEFL minimum test score of either:
• in the written TOEFL, 580 with a Test of Written English (TWE) score of at least 4.5
• in the computer-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 237 with an Essay Rating (ER) of at least 4.5 (TWE and ER tests are the same)
  Note: computer based tests have not been conducted since Sept 2006 so results will no longer be valid from Sept 2008.
• in the internet-based TOEFL, an overall score of at least 90 with at least 22 in the written section, and no less than 20 in any section

D.  Successful completion of the English Language Bridging Program, at the appropriate level, at the Monash University English Language Centre or another program approved as equivalent.

Responsibility
Faculty Managers
Manager, Admissions, Student Administration & Systems
Director, International Recruitment Services
Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee (CASC)

4.      Applicants to graduate/postgraduate (GPG) coursework courses

4.1    Applicants to postgraduate coursework courses whose secondary schooling was entirely in English
Applicants to graduate/postgraduate (GPG) coursework courses whose secondary schooling was entirely in an English-medium school may fulfil the English language entry requirements by one of the following.

A. Satisfactorily completing a sufficient period of study, at a sufficiently advanced level, in an English-medium institution. The applicant must have completed satisfactorily either:

• an undergraduate degree, or
• the equivalent of at least 72 Monash University credit points (three standard full-time semesters) of a university degree or Australian TAFE diploma, or equivalent, or
• the equivalent of at least 48 Monash credit points (one full-time year) of postgraduate study.

B.  Satisfactory completing a Monash University faculty certificate, faculty diploma, executive certificate or executive diploma comprising at least 24 credit points of postgraduate-level units.

4.2    Applicants to graduate/postgraduate (GPG) coursework courses whose secondary schooling was not entirely in English
Applicants to graduate/postgraduate (GPG) coursework courses whose secondary schooling was not entirely in an English-medium school may fulfil the English language entry requirements by one of the following.

A. Satisfactorily completing a sufficient period of study, at a sufficiently advanced level, in an English-medium institution. The applicant must have completed satisfactorily either

• an undergraduate degree within the five years prior to commencement of the course of intended enrolment, or
• the equivalent of at least 72 Monash University credit points (three standard full-time semesters) of a university degree or Australian TAFE diploma, or equivalent, within the two years prior to commencement of the course for which the application was made, or
• the equivalent of at least 48 Monash credit points (one full-time year) of postgraduate study within the two years prior to commencement of the course for which application was made.

B.  Gaining the required result in one of the following tests of English language:

• a minimum overall IELTS test score of at least 6.5 with individual band scores required at 6.5 for Reading, 6.5 for Listening, 6.0 for Writing and 6.0 for Speaking.
• a TOEFL minimum test score of either
• in the written TOEFL, 580 with a Test of Written English (TWE) score of at least 4.5
• in the computer-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 237 with an Essay Rating (ER) of at least 4.5 (TWE and ER tests are the same)
  Note: computer based tests have not been conducted since Sept 2006 so results will no longer be valid from Sept 2008.
• in the internet-based TOEFL, an overall score of at least 90 with at least 22 in the written section and no less than 20 in any section.

C.  Successful completion of the English Language Bridging Program, at the appropriate level, in the Monash University English Language Centre or another program approved as equivalent.

Responsibility
Faculty Managers
Manager, Admissions, Student Administration & Systems
Director, International Recruitment Services
Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee (CASC)