Management says this does not reflect a change of standards and is in-line with the majority of unis in other states

Murdoch University will not require a pass in ATAR English (or equivalent) as a pre-requisite to entry for domestic school leaver students, the WA Tertiary Institutions Service Centre advises the state’s schools.

From first-semester next year, Murdoch U will accept two years of VET or two years of Australian senior school study for domestic students “as evidence of meeting English competency for courses with minimum English requirements.”  This does not apply to all courses, with the Bachelor of Nursing requiring length of study in English.

According to Murdoch U, this new approach brings the university into line, “with the majority of Australian universities in other states.”

“It is out of step with our market position as a recruiting university that we have more stringent English barriers than several Go8 universities.”

Murdoch adds, “this initiative does not in any way reflect a change in standards.  It instead acknowledges that to have attained the selection rank required for entry to university inherently indicates that the student has met the requisite English language competency.”

TISC adds Murdoch U, “is implementing additional diagnostic testing for students in their first semester to assist the better deployment of mathematics and English support to ensure students have the best likelihood of success.”