Monash University IELTS requirement: minimum band scores for 2026
Monash University based in Melbourne, Victoria publishes 3 named IELTS levels (Standard, Higher Standard, Higher Plus). The level that applies to your application depends on the specific course you intend to study, not on whether you are applying at undergraduate or graduate level. The cards below show the institutional starting points; the tier table further down explains which level each cluster of courses uses.
Monash University requires a minimum IELTS Academic score of 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 for undergraduate admission and 6.5 overall for graduate study as of 2026. Individual programmes may set higher thresholds. All figures are sourced from the Monash admissions page and verified on 2026-05-19.
The Monash Standard requirement is overall 6.5 with no band below 6.0. Higher thresholds apply for Medicine, Pharmacy, Education, and several Faculty of Arts streams.
Most coursework postgraduate programmes use the Standard requirement (6.5 / 6.0). Higher Standard (7.0 / 6.5) applies to many Education, Public Health and Social Work degrees; Higher Plus (7.5 / 7.0) applies to clinical Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing.
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Last verified 2026-05-19. The figures on this page are taken from Monash University's own admissions page. Verify against the official source before relying on a specific number; programme directors can revise English requirements between intakes.
About Monash and its IELTS requirement
Monash uses three explicit named tiers: Standard, Higher Standard and Higher Plus. Most undergraduates need the Standard (6.5 / 6.0); regulated clinical programmes - Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing - sit at Higher Plus (7.5 / 7.0). The Monash MBA is unusually accommodating at the Standard level.
Translating the published minimum into a study target
Undergraduate applicants to Monash need an overall IELTS Academic band of 6.5 with no band below 6.0. In CEFR terms this corresponds to B2. The Monash Standard requirement is overall 6.5 with no band below 6.0. Higher thresholds apply for Medicine, Pharmacy, Education, and several Faculty of Arts streams.
For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 6.5 with no band below 6.0 (CEFR B2). Most coursework postgraduate programmes use the Standard requirement (6.5 / 6.0). Higher Standard (7.0 / 6.5) applies to many Education, Public Health and Social Work degrees; Higher Plus (7.5 / 7.0) applies to clinical Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing.
Monash uses multiple named IELTS levels
Monash University publishes 3 named English-language levels and applies a different one depending on the course you are applying to. The right target is the level the specific programme requires, not the lowest published level. Confirming the level on the programme page before you sit the test saves a retake.
Programmes that raise the bar
Several Monash programmes publish IELTS thresholds that sit above the institutional minimum. The current list on this page includes Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) - graduate entry (overall 7.0), Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) (overall 7.0), Master of Teaching (overall 7.5). 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 Monash 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.
Named IELTS levels at this university
This university publishes more than one named level. The correct target depends on the course you apply to - confirm against the programme page.
Most undergraduate and coursework postgraduate degrees
Selected Education, Social Work, Public Health and Arts streams
Clinical Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing professional registration
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 Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) - graduate entry | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Master of Teaching | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| Monash MBA | 6.5 | 6.0 |
Other English tests Monash accepts
TOEFL iBT 79 with W 21 / S 18 / R 13 / L 12 at Standard. PTE Academic 58. Cambridge English C1 Advanced 176 with no element below 169 widely accepted across faculties.
Alternatives and thresholds change between intakes. Confirm on the official admissions page before relying on a specific alternative test.
Official sources
- Monash University - official English-language requirements (primary source for the bands on this page)
- IELTS.org - IELTS scoring in detail (official nine-band scale and how each band is awarded)
- British Council - IELTS band scores explained
Common questions
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