Language requirements for Bachelor's Degree Programmes
Applicants must have excellent English language skills and a certificate that proves those skills.
Due to legislative regulations as well as for the University’s reputation and high quality, the criteria of the selection process must be transparent and equal. Uniform admission criteria and ways of proving English language skills in the whole University clarify the selection process from the perspectives of the applicant, representatives of the University, and partners and strengthen its reliability. The ways and detailed criteria of proving English language proficiency at the University of Turku are based on national recommendations.
Read the full Rector's Decision on demonstration of English proficiency in degree student selection here.
Degrees or statements of language proficiency not mentioned on this page will not be accepted.
> Note! If you apply on the basis of a SAT test, you do not have to provide a separate certificate of English language proficiency.
Language skills can be indicated by taking one of the internationally recognized English language tests listed on this page.
- The test result must be available and attached to the application form by the end of the supplementation period (29 January 2025) for verification purposes.
- The test result must be verifiable for at least one month after the application time has ended (22 February 2025)
You must reach the minimum required test results to be considered eligible to the University of Turku. Only the tests listed below will be accepted. No exceptions will be made.
When taking the test please choose University of Turku as a recipient of your results when possible.
Some test organisers give an expiration date on the tests. If your language test result is verifiable from the online verification service of the organiser until the set deadline of the University of Turku, it is sufficient for applying to the University of Turku.
- The IELTS test cannot be verified after three years.
- The TOEFL test cannot be verified after two years.
- The PTE test cannot be verified after two years.
- If the test scores can no longer be verified, the test is not valid and the you are advised to retake the test.
TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language.
- A minimum overall score of 78 and the writing test score 20 or more on the internet-based test (IBT).
- The TOEFL iBT Home Edition is accepted.
- University of Turku code 9701.
- Combined test scores from different test dates are not accepted (e.g. TOEFL MyBest scores is not accepted).
- More information about the TOEFL test
- Locate a test site
IELTS – International English Language Testing Service test (Academic).
- an overall band score of 6.0. and the writing test score 5.5. or more.
- The IELTS Online test is accepted.
- The IELTS General Training test is not accepted.
- IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted.
- More information about the IELTS test
- Locate a test site
C2 Proficiency (previously CPE) – Cambridge English Qualifications with pass grade A, B or C.
C1 Advanced (previously CAE) – Cambridge English Qualifications with pass grade A, B or C.
PTE – Academic test with a minimum overall score of 54 and the writing test score 42 or more.
- PTE Academic online test is accepted.
- More information about PTE – Pearson Test of English
- Locate a test site
YKI – Finnish certificate for language proficiency in English with a minimum score of 4 in all subtests (reading comprehension, writing, speaking and listening comprehension). You can combine the different examinations.
You are exempt from taking an English language test if you hold one of the following.
- Secondary education in English in an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, the United States or Switzerland. Degrees completed in other countries regardless of the language of the tuition are not accepted as proof of language skills.
- Finnish matriculation examination in English language completed at advanced (A) syllabus level, minimum grade of magna cum laude approbatur
- IB Diploma Programme:
- Programme completed in English
- A-level English test (literature/language and literature/literature and performance) passed
- B-level English test passed with at least grade 5 (good)
- European Baccalaureate Examination:
- L1 language (English) passed
- L2 or L3 language (English) completed with a grade 7 or above
- DIA/RP examination (Deutsche Schule Helsinki), English as an A language
- with a pass mark in writing
- orally with at least grade 8
You are exempt from taking an English language test if you have a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) or an equivalent degree in an English-language programme in an EU/EEA country or one of the following countries:
- Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Dominica, Cameroon, Canada, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Dominica, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, South Africa, United Kingdom, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, Zimbabwe, Zambia.
Degrees completed in other countries regardless of the language of the tuition are not accepted as proof of language skills.
At least half of the degree must be completed in English in the countries mentioned above and the language of instruction of the degree must be clearly indicated in the degree certificate or transcript of record or diploma supplement. If the language of tuition is not stated in the academic documents the applicant should provide an official statement from the university issuing the degree.
If the language of instruction is not clearly stated, the applicant must provide proof of language skills in one of the other ways accepted by the University.
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 located in one of the accepted countries.
If the degree you use to prove your language skills is different from the one used as a basis for eligibility for the programme, the degree must be earned by the time of application.
You are exempt from doing a language test if you hold a bachelor's (or higher) degree from a university or university of applied sciences in Finland, if you have demonstrated language skills in the English language according to the requirements concerning foreign language studies in Bachelor's and applied university degrees in Finland ( Valtioneuvoston asetus 1039/2013).
