About OPELA - for students

The English Language Policy (the policy) sets out the framework for English language proficiency requirements and support at UTS. This is in addition to the Admissions and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, which outlines the English language admissions standards. OPELA helps identify students who need help to develop their academic language to ensure that students meet the English language proficiency requirements for their course.

All students are required to complete an online post-enrolment language screening task. You may think that your academic language is sufficient for university study. However, we still require you to complete OPELA. It is only by screening all students that we can identify those who need language support. By completing OPELA you are helping us provide academic language and literacy support to students who may need it.   

OPELA is available to students from orientation week. Students can access OPELA from their Canvas dashboard. 

No, you do not need to prepare for OPELA. OPELA is not a test, there are no preparation materials aside from the short practice exercises before each component of the OPELA task.

Yes, you still have to do OPELA. OPELA focuses on your level of Academic English language, not your level of everyday English language.

No, OPELA provides a form of feedback for you to use rather than a “result”. Your OPELA information is not included in your academic record and will not appear on your official Academic Transcript or your Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS). 

Your result and feedback will be available to you at My Student Admin immediately after completing OPELA. If your result from OPELA is 'Basic Proficiency', you must attend Language Development tutorials. Your feedback will provide you with information on how to start attending Language Development tutorials.

The feedback provides you with a snapshot of your current academic proficiency as follows:

• Basic Proficiency: Your result suggests that you will need to spend a significant amount of time improving your Academic English throughout your degree.  You will be required to attend Language Development Tutorials every week starting from week 3 or 4 of the teaching session. These tutorials are in addition to your normal study load, and attendance is compulsory. 
• Intermediate proficiency: While it is likely you will be able to meet the demands of your course, you should further develop your language skills by accessing the language development activities, resources, and services that are available. 
• Good proficiency: You have good foundations in academic language for university study. However, you should continue to develop your language skills during your course. 

Language screening tasks are compulsory. If you do not complete OPELA / In-class written diagnostic, you have not met the minimum requirement of your subject. Depending on your faculty, you will receive a FAIL (X) or Withheld (W) grade for your subject until you have completed the task.

Please register with the UTS Accessibility Service.  Accessibility Services will then be able to refer students to the appropriate alternative arrangements. 

Language development tutorials have an attendance requirement of 80%. This means you can only miss one tutorial. Missing more than one language development tutorial will result in you receiving a FAIL (X) or Withheld (W) grade.

If you are eligible, you will be contacted by opela@uts.edu.au, about the steps you need to remove your FAIL (X) or Withheld (W) grade.

UTS offers free academic and English language workshops as well as subject-specific programs, such as UPASS, to all current students. These are run by the Higher Education Language and Presentation Support (HELPS) team who can assist you by providing individual, peer-assisted and group support in a friendly and respectful environment.

HELPS services are highly recommended regardless of what proficiency you receive from OPELA. Visit HELPS for more information.

The UTS Library is also an excellent source of support and resources to help you with your studies.