Notice of Legislation Change: effective 5 October 2001
Exemption from English Language Testing for Certain Offshore Masters and Doctorate Students
Client summary
From 5 October 2001 immigration law has been amended to permit the Minister to gazette certain courses which are conducted in English and which are at the undergraduate level or higher. Assessment Level 3 and 4 applicants who apply outside Australia to study a Masters or Doctorate course will not have to provide evidence of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score if they have successfully completed a course that has been gazetted under these provisions.
Technical details Additional information: A power has been created for the Minister to gazette certain institutions from which an undergraduate award or higher would be sufficient to meet the English language proficiency requirements at Assessment Level 3 and 4 of the Masters and Doctorate Sector. Applicants in this Sector who apply outside Australia and who have successfully completed a gazetted course will therefore not be required to provide evidence of an IELTS score.
Courses will be gazetted following further consultation with the Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee. Applicants will not be able to take advantage of the amendment until the courses have been gazetted.
Instructions: PAM 3 guidelines (GenGuidelines G) will be amended to advise decision-makers to check for any relevant Gazette Notices.