The English Language Entry Requirements of Australian Universities for Students of Non‐English Speaking Background

Abstract

The English language proficiency of international students entering university has increasingly become a matter of concern for many academics and has also received considerable media attention. For this reason, a survey was conducted to ascertain what Australian universities require in terms of English language proficiency for non‐English Speaking background (NESB) students, whether international, permanent residents or Australian citizens. This article presents the findings of the survey and discusses the 61 pieces of evidence accepted by the universities as fulfilling their English language requirements. The general comparability and validity of the proficiency qualifications are examined and the conclusion is drawn that many of the pieces of evidence accepted are inadequate measures of language proficiency for academic study.