Language Requirement for Master’s degree

In addition to educational and work experience requirements, sufficient proficiency in the English language is required to be accepted into English Master’s degree programmes. If the applicant has not demonstrated sufficient proficiency in the English language by the application deadline, the eligibility provided by the applicant’s educational background and/or work experience will not be evaluated. All documents that prove your language skills must be attached to your online application by the application deadline.

The language test result must be valid for a minimum of one day during the application period. It is always the applicant’s responsibility to make testing arrangements for themselves and to make sure the test results are delivered on time. It may take several weeks before the test results are published. The authenticity of the test results will be automatically checked with the test organizer.

The applicant must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in the English language during the application period by one of the following methods: 

TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition

  • Minimum requirement score: 92 (with a minimum of 20 in writing section)
  • TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date.
  • Only scanned final test results accepted (no temporary results or applicant's screenshots from online pages).

TOEFL rDT (Revised Paper-delivered Test)

  • Minimum requirement scores:
    • Reading 20
    • Listening 20
    • Writing 20
  • TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date.
  • Only scanned final test results accepted (no temporary results or applicant's screenshots from online pages).

IELTS Academic or IELTS Indicator

  • Minimum requirement: Overall score 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 per each section
  • IELTS test report forms are valid for two years.
  • Only scanned final test results accepted (no temporary results or applicant's screenshots from online pages).

Pearson Test of English, PTE Academic, PTE Academic Online

  • Minimum requirement: Overall score 62, with a minimum of 52 in writing section
  • Once you receive your test score, send it to Oulu University of Applied Sciences from your PTE account. After this, we should have access to your test results within 48 hours. Be advised that online language test results will only be accepted from the test organiser.
  • The PTE Academic scores are valid for up to two years from the date of the exam.
  • Only scanned final test results accepted (no temporary results or applicant's screenshots from online pages).

C2 Profiency (aiemmin Cambridge English: Proficiency, CPE)

  • Pass Level A, B, C or level C1 certificate
  • No expiry date for test result.
  • Only scanned final test results accepted (no temporary results or applicant's screenshots from online pages).

C1 Advanced (former Cambridge English: Advanced, CAE)

  • Pass Level A, B, C
  • No expiry date for test result.
  • Only scanned final test results accepted (no temporary results or applicant's screenshots from online pages).

National Certificate of Language Proficiency by Finnish National Board of Education

  • Skill level 5 in the following subtests; reading, writing, listening and speaking
  • No expiry date for test result.
  • Please notice that this test is only available in Finland. National language proficiency certificates from other countries are not accepted.
  • Only scanned final test results accepted (no temporary results or applicant's screenshots from online pages).

Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral degree in English in EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United States

  • The degree must be completed in a university or university of applied sciences in EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United States excluding online degrees and offshore campuses.
  • Please note that the document must clearly state that the language of education is English
  • Upload a copy of the transcript of records of Bachelor, Master or Doctoral`s degree conducted in English language to the electronic application. If original document is not issued in English, Finnish or Swedish, translation to one of the languages is also required.

20 ECTS credits of studies conducted in English language at a Finnish higher education institution

  • Credits must be completed at a Finnish University or a University of Applied Sciences.
  • Courses can include e.g. internships and language courses as long as the language of instruction can be verified to be English.
  • The transcript of records must be clearly stating the courses completed in English.
  • Upload a copy of transcript of records from a Finnish university or a university of applied sciences in Finnish, Swedish or English.
  • Studies conducted in English at a university outside of Finland for example during student exchange are not accepted.

Higher education degree completed in a Finnish higher education institution

  • You can prove your language skills with a degree completed in a Finnish university or university of applied sciences if you have demonstrated foreign language proficiency in the English language in accordance with the Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004) or University of Applied Sciences Degrees (1129/2014).