Language requirements

The TOEFL scores are valid for two years after the test date. Please note that we only accept the TOEFL iBT test.  As the TOEFL PBT test is no longer offered, it will not be accepted.

TOEFL language tests must be reported to Tampere University with the institutional code 9871. Please make sure you use the correct institutional code. Tampere University will verify the TOEFL results through the online verification system provided by ETS. The scores can be accessed approximately 1-2 weeks after the delivery order has been made.

In admissions to masters programmes in 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tampere University also accepts TOEFL iBT Home Edition / TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test as evidence of your English language skills. Read more about the Special Home Edition test on the TOEFL website.

ETS website (ets.org)

The IELTS Academic scores are valid for two years after the test date. Please provide your TRF number on the application form and upload the IELTS certificate to your application online.

In admissions to master’s programmes in 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tampere University also accepts IELTS Indicator test as evidence of your English language skills. Read more about the test on the IELTS Indicator website.

IELTS website (ielts.org)

The PTE Academic scores are valid for two years after the test date. Please provide your Score Report Code (SRC) on the application form and upload the PTE certificate to your application online.

PTE Academic website (pearsonpte.com)

If you have taken C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency test after 2005, the results can be verified electronically. For verification purposes, you will need to provide your candidate's ID number (e.g. ABC123456) and reference number, and ask Cambridge to share the results with Tampere University. Please give these two codes on your application form and upload a copy of your language certificate to your application online. As older test results cannot be verified electronically, please contact the Tampere University Admissions Office (admissions.tau [at] tuni.fi) when applying with a C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency taken before 2005.

C1 Advanced (CAE) cambridgeenglish.org

C2 Proficiency (CPE) cambridgeenglish.org

The National Certificate of Language Proficiency (Finnish: Yleinen kielitutkinto, YKI-tutkinto) in the English language is a language proficiency test for adults in Finland. If you have taken this test, please upload a copy of your language certificate to your application online.

The results of separate sittings of the language test can be combined.

National certificates of language proficiency oph.fi

You will not be required to take a language test if you have completed an upper secondary degree or a university degree with English as the language of instruction in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland, the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.

Please note that if you have received a university degree from a higher education institution located in one of the countries listed above but completed the studies entirely on a satellite campus that is not located in one of the countries listed above, you will not be eligible for exemption from the English language requirement. You must have resided in the country while studying.

If the programme leading to the degree was offered through the medium of multiple languages, at least 50% of the courses counted towards the degree must have been taught in English.

If the degree that would make you eligible for exemption from the English-language requirement is unfinished at the time you apply for admission to Tampere University, you will only be eligible to apply for exemption if the same degree makes you eligible for admission to Tampere University (ie. it is the Bachelor's degree that you apply with).   

If you request an exemption from submitting a language test based on previous studies, you must submit a certified copy of your degree certificate, official transcript of records, diploma supplement or other official document issued by the awarding institution confirming your language of instruction as English. Please note that if you apply for an exemption from submitting a language test score on the basis of previous studies that are other than the studies on the basis of which you apply to the Master’s Programme, you must submit certified copies of your documents by post (and its translation unless issued in English, Finnish or Swedish). Please note that the country-specific requirements concern these documents as well, if applicable.  

You will not be required to take a language test if you have completed a degree at a Finnish university or university of applied sciences that includes compulsory studies in the English language and it thereby demonstrates your language proficiency as set out in the Government Decree on University Degrees (Section 6; 794/2004) and the Government Decree on Universities of Applied Sciences (Section 7; 1129/2014). 

The studies you have completed in the English language must be listed in your degree certificate, official transcript of records, diploma supplement or other official document issued by the awarding institution.

If the degree that would make you eligible for exemption from the English-language requirement is unfinished at the time you apply for admission to Tampere University, you will only be eligible to apply for exemption if the same degree makes you eligible for admission to Tampere University (i.e. it is the Bachelor's degree that you apply with).   

Please submit the educational documents of the degree according to the country-specific requirements for Finland, i.e. submit the documentation on the application form online. 

A minimum of 25 credits earned by completing English-taught courses at Tampere University in the space of a single semester before the application deadline.

If you request an exemption from submitting a language test based on previous studies at Tampere University, you must submit a  scanned copy of your transcript of records as documentation confirming your English language proficiency on the application form online.  Tampere University will verify your studies electronically.

A Finnish or international matriculation examination with a:

• Minimum grade of magna cum laude approbatur (M) in English language (advanced syllabus) in the Finnish matriculation examination.  
• Applicants who hold the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma:
  • successful completion of the International Baccalaureate Diploma in English; OR 
  • successful completion of A Level English (literature / language and literature / language and performance); OR 
  • a minimum score of 5 (good) in B Level English. 
• Applicants who hold the European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma: 
  • successful completion of L1 in English, OR 
  • a minimum score of 7 at L2 or L3.  
• Applicants who hold the Reifeprüfung Diploma (German School in Helsinki) or the German International Abitur (DIA) Diploma:  successful completion of written A Level English OR a minimum score of 8 in oral A Level English.  

If you request for an exemption from submitting a language test based on Finnish or international matriculation examination, you must submit a certified copy of your diploma as documentation confirming your English language proficiency. If your Finnish matriculation examination was completed in 1990 or later, and you have a Finnish personal identification code, you do not need to submit an officially certified copy by post. Otherwise, you must submit the certified copy of the diploma by post,  according to general requirements for educational documents.