All applicants must demonstrate strong English language skills when applying to our international degree programmes taught in English. Accepted methods of proving English proficiency are listed on this page.
Applicants must either (1) achieve the minimum required language test scores to be considered eligible or (2) meet the language proficiency criteria (see below). All documents proving your language skills must be uploaded to your online application by the application deadline. It is the applicant's responsibility to make testing arrangements and to ensure the test results are delivered on time. No exceptions will be made. You can demonstrate your English language skills through the following tests, examinations, or degrees:
Accepted language tests
Language proficiency can be demonstrated by taking one of the internationally recognized English language tests listed below. Applicants must upload their test result document to the online application form during the application period. Where possible, select the University of Eastern Finland as the recipient of your test results when taking the test.
TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE certificates are valid for two years from the date they are issued. The test results must be available for online verification from January 8, 2023, onwards. The language test results must be electronically verifiable through the test organizer's online service.
TOEFL iBT: minimum overall score 78 is required
Also TOEFL iBT Home Edition test is accepted.
We require test scores directly (electronically) from ETS. Applicants can order their score reports through their test taker profile by indicating UEF institution's code 9779. Our university does not need any paper documents from the test organizer, as we verify TOEFL test results using ETS's online verification system.
We accept also MyBest Scores. Additional information can be found at ets.org/toefl
IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score 6.0
Also IELTS (Academic) online test is accepted, and we accept IELTS One Skill Retake test results.
We accept test scores only directly (electronically) from the IELTS test organizer. On the application form, you must provide the Test Report Form (TRF) number. This number must be entered in full, as results cannot be located otherwise. Additionally, please upload your test results report to the application form.
PTE (Academic): minimum overall score 54
C1 Advanced: minimum score C
C2 Proficiency: minimum score level C1
YKI: A National certificate of language proficiency in English done at level 4 in all different areas. More information of YKI.
Matriculation examinations
You can prove your language skills with the following examinations:
- Finnish matriculation examination*, English language (A-language, advanced syllabus) completed with a minimum grade of magna cum laude approbatur (M)
- International Baccalaureate degree (IB):
- diploma completed in English,
- successful completion of A level English exam (literature / language and literature / literature and performance),
- completion of B level English exam, minimum grade of 5 (good).
- European Baccalaureate (EB) degree:
- L1-language (English) completed successfully
- L2 – or L3 language (English) completed with a minimum grade of 7.
- Reifeprüfung (RP) or DIA degree (German school of Helsinki) Satisfactory completion of:
- English A written scores completed successfully
- oral score being minimum of 8
*Applicants who prove their English language skills with the Finnish matriculation examination and have completed Finnish matriculation examination in or after 1990 do not need to upload the degree certificate as these are electronically available through Studyinfo
Upper secondary level degree
You can prove your language skills with upper secondary education conducted in English. A language test is not required if you have completed your upper secondary education degree in English language in EU/EEA -countries, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or in Switzerland.
The degree/programme must be taught and assessed entirely in English. If you verify your language skills with your education degree completed in the above-mentioned countries, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents. Please note: If your documents do not explicitly mention English as the medium of instruction, you must provide an additional official statement issued by a representative of your educational institution confirming this.
University level degree
A language test is not required if you have has completed a bachelor’s, master’s or higher degree in English language in EU/EEA -countries, or in one of the following countries:
Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South-Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The degree/programme must be taught and assessed entirely in English. If you verify your language skills with your education degree completed in the above-mentioned countries, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents. Please note: If your documents do not explicitly mention English as the medium of instruction, you must provide an additional official statement issued by a representative of your educational institution confirming this.
Please note
Online studies or studies completed on offshore campuses outside the accepted countries/area cannot be used to indicate language skills, even if the degree-awarding institution is in one of the accepted countries.
Kindly note joint programmes may have variation in the language requirements, please check the programme specific instructions.
Incomplete degrees
If you prove your English skills with a degree that is not yet completed, it must be the same degree that gives you eligibility for the programme. You cannot prove your English skills with another incomplete degree.