Language Skill Requirements

Students are required to have adequate language skills in order to succeed in their studies. The requirements are programme specific. In some programmes one is required to have an official proof of his/her language proficiency and in some programmes the applicants language skills are tested or proved in another way, therefore it is important to check the language skill requirements of all the programme(s) you are planning to apply for.

As a general rule the student must have language proficiency that will allow his/her success in studies. The following are the general language skill requirements for programmes instructed in English. You can use these as a guidance for the level of English language skills, but the skills level may also be tested or proved in some other manner which you must find out from the selection criteria of each programme.

The minimum language skills requirement is one of the following:

IELTS score academic level 6.0 (in some programmes academic level 5.5)
TOEFL score 550 for the paper-based test (PBT)
TOEFL score 213 for the computer-based test (CBT)
TOEFL score 79-80 for the internet-based test (iBT)
grade C in the Finnish Matriculation examination in advanced level English (IB-examination grade 4 completed in Finland, Reifeprüfung –examination grade 7 completed in Finland or EB-examination grade 6.00-6.95)
skills level 4 in English in the Finnish National Certificate of Language Proficiency

In addition, secondary school education in English completed in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, or a Bachelor or Master degree completed in English in one of these countries, is accepted as a demonstration of sufficient English language skills. In some programmes also a higher education degree in English completed and/or work experience in English gained in Finland can be accepted as adequate proof of English language proficiency. Please check the programme specific requirements!

Both TOEFL and IELTS test results are valid for two years. The Finnish National Certificate of Language Proficiency does not have a set date of validity.

TOEFL test results are only accepted directly from the Educational Testing Service. Oulu UAS’s Designated Institution Code of TOEFL is 0530 which you can use when ordering the test report. In Oulu University of Applied Sciences the report can be sent to the following address:

OULU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
Admissions Office
P.O.BOX 405
FI-90101 OULU, FINLAND

Further information on TOEFL and IELTS language tests

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is administered by the Education Testing Service ETS. The TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) is offered 30-40 times a year, at more than 4,300 authorised test centers throughout the world. The TOEFL Paper-based Test (PBT) is offered 6 times a year in areas where TOEFL iBT is not available and to supplement the TOEFL IBT testing network.

The International English Language Test System (IELTS) is jointly managed by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL) through more than 500 locations in 120 countries.

Taking a language test in Finland

Both IELTS and TOEFL tests can be taken in Finland only in Helsinki, the National Certificate of Language Proficiency also in Oulu (test dates ca twice a year). Please notice that due to the popularity of the tests, the tests dates close to the application deadlines may be fully booked months ahead, so it is advisable to start arrangements for a language test in good time.

For further information on completing the tests in Finland, please visit the websites of the test organisers:

IELTS: Finnbrit
TOEFL: Fulbright Center, Premeria
Finnish National Certificate of Language Proficiency: National Board of Education