Academic Requirement

1. Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 6 weeks of Certificate III in ESL (Further Study) at Upper Intermediate level at the Ashmark Institute of Australia or another registered training organisation. The course needs to have been completed no more than one year prior to the student’s application for admission into Ashmark Institute’s VET program. OR
2. Satisfactory completion of 6 – 10 weeks of Upper Intermediate level from a National ELT Accreditation Scheme (NEAS) Accredited English Institution. The course needs to have been completed no more than one year prior to the student’s application for admission into Ashmark Institute’s VET program. OR
3. To the satisfaction of Ashmark Institute, formal evidence that the student has achieved an IELTS Band Score of 5.5 within two years of the student’s application for admission into Ashmark Institute. OR
4. Achieving a pass mark of 65% or higher on the Ashmark Institute of Australia’s Entry Test. OR
5. For students from countries in which English is the mother tongue, no formal English proficiency testing is generally required for direct entry into a VET course.

1. In the above evidence list, should any point contradict government policies relating to the issuing of student visas, government policies shall always take precedence over Ashmark Institute policies.
2. For students applying from overseas, the school reserves the right to conduct a phone interview with the student prior to enrolment to assist Ashmark Institute in assessing whether the student’s English is adequate for the course. The phone interview will be approximately 10-15 minutes in duration and will cover a range of topics dealing with every day matters and topics relating to the course the student intends to enrol in.
3. On the basis of the phone interview, Ashmark Institute will advise the student, if he or she needs to undertake an ESL program and how many weeks duration.
4. In addition to this phone interview, the student may be required to undertake further tests, including a reading and/or writing test, on arrival in Australia. If the student is deemed not to have English skills adequate for the course, the student will be asked to undertake English studies until such time, as the school is satisfied that the student’s English is adequate for the VET course the student has enrolled in.
5. All English Language proficiency tests are assessed by a suitably qualified staff member within the English Language Department.
6. If the Institute assesses that the student requires further ESL tuition prior to entry into a VET program, the student may choose to study either at Ashmark Institute or another Institute registered to deliver government approved ESL courses.

1. For students from countries for which the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) requires evidence of a Year 11 or 12 qualification or their equivalent, the Institute works in accordance with DIAC’s policy and, hence, direct entry into a VET program can only be achieved on presentation of a formal Year 11 or 12 Certificate or their equivalent.*
2. For students from those countries for which DIAC allows the provider to determine whether the student’s academic qualifications are adequate for the course, the school requires evidence that at least 3 years of high school has been satisfactorily completed.
3. Ashmark Institute may also consider an applicant’s work experience, as evidence of appropriate qualifications for entry into a VET program.