English requirements

Proof of proficiency in English:

When applying for admission to international master programmes, all applicants outside the Nordic countries must provide evidence of academic achievements and skills in English.

Letters of proficiency from universities are not approved to meet the English requirement. Accepted exemptions are mentioned below.

The document should be named Proof of English.

You need a certificate from one of the following tests:

IELTS:

International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) with at least 6.0 points. The test must be of the type Academic. We do not accept the IELTS Home test. Upload a copy of your official test result with a legible TRF number in the bottom right corner. HVL will verify your test result online.

TOEFL:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with at least 550 points for Paper-based test (PBT), or at least 80 points for Internet-based test (IBT).   

We accept the TOEFL iBT Home edition test. We do not accept TOEFL My Best Score to meet our English language requirements. Upload a copy of your official Test Taker Score Report. The TOEFL test result cannot be more than two years old when you apply for admission.

Pearson PTE Academic:

Pearson PTE Academic with an overall score of at least 59. We do not accept the Pearson PTE Home test. Upload a PDF of your score report and HVL will verify your result.

Cambridge English Examinations:

Cambridge ESOL Examinations:

- B2 First – Previously known as First certificate in English with the result B or better, or,

-C1 Advanced - Previously known as Certificate in Advanced English with the result C or better, or

-C2 Proficiency - Previously known as Certificate of Proficiency with the result C or better

Upload your Statement of Results to the application portal and HVL will verify the result.

You normally do not have to document your skills in English if you have:

• Have completed at least one year of your university studies in academic subjects with English as the language of instruction  in Great Britain, Ireland, USA, Canada, New Zealand or Australia. Please note that branch campus, validated and franchised programmes and distance learning students are not exempt from providing an English test.
• Bachelor degree or minimum one year of master studies (60 ECTS) with English as the medium of instruction completed in one of the Nordic countries
• University degree in English language and/or literature (a degree in other disciplines taught in English does not meet this requirement)

Please note that having worked in an English speaking environment or lived in an English speaking country does not satisfy the English language requirement.