Unlike most US graduate schools, Australian universities — including the Australian National University (ANU) — generally do not require the GRE for graduate admission. Admission is based primarily on your undergraduate transcript, references, and (for research programmes) a research proposal.
Does ANU Require the GRE?
| Programme Type | GRE Required? |
|---|---|
| Coursework Master's (most disciplines) | No |
| MBA / Master of Business Administration | No |
| Research Master's / PhD | No — GRE not part of standard requirements |
| US dual-degree or exchange programmes routed through ANU | Occasionally required by the partner institution, not ANU itself |
ANU's admissions process for both coursework and research degrees is grade- and credential-based, using the Grade Point Average (GPA) equivalence tables ANU publishes for international qualifications, rather than a standardised aptitude test.
When You Might Still Need the GRE
- Joint or dual-degree programmes with a US partner university may require GRE as part of the US institution's admissions process.
- Highly competitive PhD scholarships occasionally accept (though rarely require) a GRE score as supplementary evidence of quantitative or verbal aptitude, particularly for applicants whose undergraduate transcript is difficult to benchmark internationally.
If you're unsure, confirm directly with your specific ANU college (e.g., Crawford School of Public Policy, College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics) — policy can vary by programme even where the general university position is "not required."
What ANU Actually Evaluates Instead
| Factor | Weight |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate GPA / WAM equivalent | Primary factor |
| Relevant coursework / major | High |
| Research proposal and supervisor fit (PhD) | Critical for research degrees |
| References | Moderate |
| English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL) | Mandatory, separate requirement |
GRE vs. English Proficiency — Don't Confuse the Two
Even though ANU does not require the GRE, IELTS or TOEFL is still mandatory for applicants whose prior education was not conducted in English. This is a completely separate requirement from any aptitude test:
| Requirement | ANU Policy |
|---|---|
| GRE | Not required for standard admission |
| IELTS | Required — see our ANU IELTS Requirements guide |
| TOEFL | Required — see our ANU TOEFL Requirements guide |
Should You Take the GRE Anyway?
If ANU is one of several schools you're applying to and your other target universities (particularly US schools) require the GRE, it makes sense to prepare for and take the test regardless — a strong GRE score never hurts an application, even where it's optional or not required, and can strengthen scholarship applications for research-intensive programmes.
Prepare for IELTS with Gabble — the mandatory English requirement for ANU, regardless of GRE. AI-powered speaking and writing feedback with instant band scores. Or prepare for TOEFL.