Language requirements

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Tampere University

When applying to a Master’s programme at Tampere University, you must submit evidence of your good command of the English language for academic purposes. You have two options of demonstrating your English language proficiency: language tests or previous studies.

In both cases you must submit a document as a proof of language skills. Please see detailed instructions and additional information below.

English language tests

Test name	Minimum test result for Master's programmes at Tampere University
TOEFL iBT / TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition	92 overall with no section below 20
IELTS (academic) / IELTS Indicator	6.5 overall with no section below 5.5
PTE (academic)	62 overall with no section in Communicative Skills below 42
C1 Advanced*	C
C2 Proficiency*	C1
National Certificate of Language Proficiency (English)	Proficiency level 5

*The previous CAE and CPE have been renamed as C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

The language test must be completed at the latest on 13 January 2021, which is the application deadline. The results may be delivered to Tampere University afterwards. If you have already taken the test, please note that the test score must be valid at least until 13 January 2021. Please upload your language test result to the online application. Tampere University will verify all language test results online.

Please note to book a language test well in advance. There might not be many test dates available or they may get fully booked early.

Accepted language tests and detailed instructions

TOEFL iBT

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 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tampere University also accepts 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)

IELTS (academic)

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 2021, 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)

PTE (academic)

C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

If you have taken C1 Advanced or and 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 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

National Certificate of Language Proficiency (English)

Previous studies

It is possible to be exempted from submitting a language test score if you have completed particular studies listed by Tampere University that demonstrate your good command of English for academic purposes. If you apply without a valid language test result, carefully examine the exemptions below. The language in which your degree was taught must be stated in your degree certificate, an official transcript of records, diploma supplement or other official document issued by the awarding institution.

Only studies that fulfill the criteria below will be accepted. The detailed information concerning the studies and instructions on how and what documents to submit is listed below.

Exemptions and detailed instructions

Secondary education and/or a higher education degree taught in English in Finland or an other EU/EEA country, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States

If you have completed your secondary education and/or a higher education degree taught in English in Finland or an other EU/EEA country, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States. You must have resided in the country while studying. Please note that degrees completed online or degrees completed in English in countries other than the ones listed above will not be accepted. Applicants who have received a university degree from a higher education institution located in one of the countries listed above, but have completed the studies on a satellite campus that is not located in one of the countries listed above, will not be eligible for exemption from the English language requirement. Applicants who have completed a university degree entirely online will not be eligible for exemption from the English language requirement.

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 of submitting a language test based on previous studies, you must submit certified copies of your degree certificate and transcript of records as documentation confirming your English language proficiency. Please note that if you apply for an exemption of 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.

Degree awarded by a Finnish university or university of applied sciences

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 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).

If you request an exemption of submitting a language test based on a Finnish university/university of applied sciences previous studies, you must submit copies of your degree certificate and transcript of records as documentation confirming your English language proficiency on the application form online. Please submit the educational documents of the degree according to the country-specific requirements for Finland.

Tampere University

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 of submitting a language test based on previous studies at Tampere University, you must submit a 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.

Finnish or international matriculation examination

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 of 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.