Language requirements for the January 2024 intake

English language proficiency needs to be met by every applicant and it can be proved only in one of the below listed ways.

Language test certificates

Depending on the language test in question, part of the language test certificates may be uploaded to the online application form by the applicant. Please see instructions for each test on this page.

Some language certificates are asked to be submitted directly by the language test provider to the University. These certificates should be submitted either by e-mail at admissions(at)uwasa.fi or at: University of Vaasa, Admission Services ref. Master's application, P.O. Box 700, FI-65101 Vaasa, Finland.

If you meet the language requirements with your previous degree, and the language skills required by the University of Vaasa are shown in your educational documents (Degree Certificate or Transcript of Records), you do not have to submit additional attachments.

A Language Certificate issued by your home university or any other institution or organisation is not accepted.

Language requirements

Language tests (valid two years from the date of the test)

  • IELTS test results (academic band) with minimum overall band score of 6.0 (each section minimum 5.5)
  • TOEFL iBT (internet-based) TOEFL iBT Home Edition or TOEFL iBT Paper Edition minimum overall score 80, MyBest scores are accepted
  • PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English, Academic band) or PTE Academic Online results with minimum overall score of 54
  • National Certificate of English Language Proficiency (arranged by Finnish National Agency for Education) with minimum overall language proficiency level 5, advanced.
  • C1 Advanced test (Certificate in Advanced English) with minimum pass grade C
  • C2 Proficiency test (Certificate of Proficiency in English) with minimum level C1

Higher education in English in countries mentioned below

  • English language course(s) included in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree conducted in Finnish or Swedish in Finland
  • Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree conducted in English language in Finland or another EU / EEA country, United Kingdom, Switzerland, United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand
  • Degrees completed in English on offshore campuses are accepted if the main university is located in one of the countries listed above.
  • Studies in English as exchange student in a Higher Education Institution in Finland or another EU / EEA country, United Kingdom, Switzerland, United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree with English as the major subject (English language/literature/philology)

Secondary education in English certificates

  • Certificate of secondary education completed in English language in Finland or another EU / EEA country, United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand
  • Certificate of English as the A language with a minimum grade of Magna Cum Laude Approbatur as part of a Finnish Matriculation examination
  • Certificate of English as the A1 language (minimum grade 2) or A2 language (minimum grade 5) as part of an International Baccalaureate examination
  • Certificate of English as the A language (literature/language and literature/language and performance) as part of an International Baccalaureate examination (minimum grade 2)
  • Certificate of English as the LI language (minimum grade 4) or LII language (minimum grade 7) as a part of European Baccalaureate examination
  • Indian 12th (XII) Standard English or English Core with a minimum grade of 80% or A2 (CISCE & CBSE boards only)
  • Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) English with a minimum grade B- (B minus)
  • West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) English with a minimum level of B3 (West African Education Council (WAEC) Board)
  • Cambridge GCE A-level/International A-level or AS-level/International AS-level in English language or English Literature with minimum grade C
  • IGCSE/International GCSE (English as) First Language with a minimum grade of C or 4
  • IGCSE/International GCSE (English as) Second Language with minimum level B or 6 including speaking endorsement (Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel or Oxford exam boards)

How to submit certain test results

IELTS

The University accepts language test results uploaded directly to the online application form by the applicant, or in paper format both from the test centre and from the applicant directly. If requesting the IELTS test centre to forward your language test results to the University of Vaasa, please write down University of Vaasa as the receiver of the test result.

TOEFL

When requesting the TOEFL test centre to forward your results to the University of Vaasa, please fill in the University of Vaasa's Institution Code 0647 in the Score Report Recipient field. The testing centre must send the score slip directly to the University or make its electronic equivalent available. Please note that test results sent by the applicant are not accepted.

PTE Academic

Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic is a paperless test. Once you receive your test score, please send it to the University of Vaasa from your PTE account. Choose Finland as the 'Country', University of Vaasa as the 'Institution' and click 'Search'. Select University of Vaasa and the programme you are applying to. Then confirm your order. After this, University of Vaasa should have access to your test results within 48 hours. Please note that online language test results are only accepted through the test organiser website, and not as a copy on your application form.

National Certificate of English Language Proficiency by the Finnish National Board of Education

Submit your test results to the University of Vaasa together with your application. Your result will be verified from the organiser.

C1/C2

Submit your test results to University of Vaasa together with your application. Your results will be verified from the test organiser. Include your Candidate's ID (three letters and six numbers) and secret code (four numbers), if applicable. If you do not have these codes, you can request them from the testing organisation. If the codes are unavailable, you should ask the test organiser for the Certifying Statement from Cambridge ESOL to be sent directly to the University of Vaasa.