Australia · Geelong/Melbourne
PTE score for Deakin University
Deakin University accepts PTE Academic for all international admissions. The standard requirement is 50 overall for undergraduate and 60 overall for postgraduate programs, with per-skill minimums too (see below).
Last verified 2026-06-19. Source: Admission Minimum Eligibility Criteria Procedure: Deakin University
PTE Academic score requirements
Undergraduate
50
overall minimum
IELTS 6.0 equivalent band per Deakin's Admission Eligibility Criteria. Some programs require higher bands.
Postgraduate
60
overall minimum
IELTS 6.5 equivalent band. Teaching programs require PTE 65 with 65 in all skills and 73 in speaking and listening. Always check individual course pages.
Visa note: Australian student visa (subclass 500): PTE Academic 47 overall for a test taken on or after 7 August 2025, or 39 if your course is packaged with at least 10 weeks of English (ELICOS) or is a foundation or pathway program, and 31 with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS. No per-skill minimum. For a test taken before 7 August 2025: 50, 42 and 36. This is set by the Australian government (LIN 25/090), not the university.
Requirements are set by Deakin University and can change. Always verify at the Admission Minimum Eligibility Criteria Procedure: Deakin University before applying.
PTE requirements by program and faculty
Deakin University sets different PTE score thresholds depending on your program. The table below lists the most common bands; always confirm the exact requirement for your intended course.
| Band / Level | Overall | Each skill | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | 50 | 50+ | Certificates, Diplomas, Associate Degrees, most Bachelor programs (excluding Health) |
| Band B | 58 | 50+ | Health-related Bachelor degrees, Graduate Certificates/Diplomas, most Masters by coursework |
| Band C | 65 | 58+ | Education-related Masters (Master of Teaching), Masters by Research in certain faculties |
| Band D | 65 | 65+ | Doctor of Psychology (Clinical), Nursing and Midwifery (NMBA-regulated) |
To find the exact PTE requirement for your specific degree, use the Deakin University Course Search and select your intended program.
What if your score is below the requirement?
A PTE score that is 2 to 5 points below the requirement is almost always a single-skill problem. One weak skill, commonly Writing or Speaking, pulls the overall score below the threshold while the other three are already sufficient.
The fastest path to closing that gap is identifying which skill is the bottleneck, then drilling it specifically. A free 10-minute diagnostic on this site identifies your weakest skill from your response patterns: no guessing, no wasted prep time.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Deakin University in Geelong/Melbourne, Australia accepts PTE Academic as proof of English proficiency for both undergraduate and postgraduate admissions. The minimum requirement for most undergraduate programs is 50 overall with no skill below 50, and for postgraduate programs 60 overall with no skill below 50.
For undergraduate entry at Deakin University, you generally need a PTE Academic overall score of 50 with no skill below 50. For postgraduate (masters or graduate coursework) entry, the standard requirement is 60 overall with no skill below 50. IELTS 6.5 equivalent band. Teaching programs require PTE 65 with 65 in all skills and 73 in speaking and listening. Always check individual course pages. Always confirm with Deakin University directly, as individual faculties and programs can set higher requirements.
Most masters and graduate coursework programs at Deakin University require a PTE Academic overall score of 60 with no skill below 50. IELTS 6.5 equivalent band. Teaching programs require PTE 65 with 65 in all skills and 73 in speaking and listening. Always check individual course pages.
Australian student visa (subclass 500): PTE Academic 47 overall for a test taken on or after 7 August 2025, or 39 if your course is packaged with at least 10 weeks of English (ELICOS) or is a foundation or pathway program, and 31 with at least 20 weeks of ELICOS. No per-skill minimum. For a test taken before 7 August 2025: 50, 42 and 36. This is set by the Australian government (LIN 25/090), not the university.
It depends on the course, because Deakin University sets its PTE bar by program. Its lowest listed band is 50 overall (Certificates, Diplomas, Associate Degrees, most Bachelor programs (excluding Health)) and its highest is 65 overall (Doctor of Psychology (Clinical), Nursing and Midwifery (NMBA-regulated)). So a score below one course's bar can still meet another's. If you are below the band for the course you want, either resit PTE Academic after work on your weakest skill, since one low skill can pull your overall down (and fail any per-skill minimum), or ask Deakin University whether it offers an English pathway program. Check the band for your exact course on Deakin University's English language requirements page.
Neither is easier in general: Deakin University accepts both PTE Academic and IELTS, and what matters is clearing its number for your course, for example 50 overall (no skill below 50) for most undergraduate programs and 60 overall (no skill below 50) for most postgraduate ones. PTE Academic is computer-delivered and scored by AI, and since August 2025 a human expert also reviews the content of seven task types; IELTS Speaking is a face-to-face interview. If a recorded format suits you better than an interview, PTE may be the easier fit. A free PTE mock shows where you stand against Deakin University's bar.
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