How to prove your language proficiency
All applicants must demonstrate strong English language skills when applying to our international degree programmes taught in English. Accepted methods of proving your 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.
As a general rule, you are not required to prove your English language skills with a language test if you have graduated from a higher education institution in Great Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or an EU/EEA country, and your degree was fully completed in English.
It is crucial for the admissions process that applicants verify their language skills as required by the programme. Only the methods listed in the admission requirements for the specific programme will be accepted for proving language proficiency. No waivers to the language proficiency requirement will be granted. You should check the programme-specific language requirements on the programme's website or in the programme descriptions on Studyinfo.fi.
You can demonstrate your English language proficiency through the following tests or degrees:
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 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, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents.
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
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, the language of instruction must be clearly indicated on the educational documents.
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
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 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.
Applicants must achieve the minimum required test scores to be considered eligible. Please review the programme-specific minimum score requirements. If your language test score falls below the required minimum, your application will not be considered for admission. No exceptions will be made.
If you are applying to more than one programme and using a language test to verify your language skills, we only need to receive the test result once.
- TOEFL iBT (Internet-based test), also TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- IELTS (Academic), also IELTS online
- PTE (Academic)
- C1 Advanced (former CAE)
- C2 Proficiency (former CPE)
- National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI-test)
IELTS Academic: 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.
We also accept IELTS online and IELTS One Skill Retake test results.
TOEFL: Our institution's code for ordering your official TOEFL Test score from ETS is 9779. There is no department code, this can be left blank.
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
The University of Eastern Finland also accepts TOEFL iBT Home Edition test results. Please check the equipment and environment requirements from ETS websites.
PTE Academic: Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic is a paperless test. Once you receive your test score send it to the University of Eastern Finland from your PTE account. Choose Finland as the ‘Country’, ‘University of Eastern Finland’ as the ‘Institution’ and click ‘Search’. Then select the university you want to send your results to and confirm your order. 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 organizer.
Our university also accepts PTE online test results.
C1 Advanced (formerly known as CAE) and C2 Proficiency (formerly known as CPE): There are two ways for a candidate to share their results with UEF: You can log into the Candidate Results website and choose to share your results with the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). Or you can share your Exam Reference Number from the Statement of the Results with the programme coordinator. For more information please check the Cambridge English websites.
National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI-test): level 5 in the reading comprehension, writing and speaking subtests is required.
Alternative ways for demonstrating language proficiency
Some programmes may offer additional methods for proving language proficiency. Please check the programme-specific language requirements on the programme's website or in the programme descriptions on Studyinfo.fi.