Demonstrating Language Proficiency
Please find below lists of approved language tests and other methods of demonstrating proficiency in the Finnish and English languages, as well as further instructions on how and where you should submit documentation of your language skills. When applying to master’s or doctoral level studies, the applicants are required to demonstrate a good command of the English and/or Finnish language. When applying to bachelor’s level studies, the applicants are required to prove that they have a working knowledge of the Finnish language.
|
Finnish Language
|
|
• National Certificate of Finnish Language Proficiency by the Finnish National Board of Education (Skill level 5 as average value)
• Civil Service Finnish Language Proficiency Test by the Finnish National Board of Education (graded good or higher - the grade consists of two parts: oral proficiency and written proficiency)
• Basic education in Finnish (comprehensive school)
• Secondary education in Finnish
• Finnish as a mother tongue with a passing grade as part of Matriculation Examination
• Finnish as a second language as part of Matriculation Examination (graded magna cum laude or higher)
• Finnish language as part of IB degree (A language), EB degree (LI language) or Reifeprüfung degree
• A language test or language studies as part of a higher education degree (polytechnic or university) demonstrating good oral and written proficiency in Finnish as the second language (graded good or higher)
• At an institution of higher education, the minimum of 70 ECTS cr. (35 credit units) or the grade cum laude approbatur in Finnish language, or has received a certificate (attested by an institution of higher education) indicating studies in an equivalent subject.
• Polytechnic degree in Finnish
• Bachelor’s degree in Finnish
• Master’s degree in Finnish
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with Finnish as the major subject
• Maturity examination in Finnish as part of a higher education degree (graded as pass)
|
|
English Language
|
|
• National Certificate of English Language Proficiency by the Finnish National Board of Education (Skill level 5 as average value)
• TOEFL PBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language, Paper Based Test - score of 553-563 or higher)
• TOEFL CPT (Test of English as a Foreign Language, Computer Based Test - score of 217-223 or higher)
• TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet Based Test - score of 81-85 or higher)
• Cambridge ESOL’s CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English - pass level A, B or C)
• Cambridge ESOL’s CAE (Certificate in Advanced English - pass level A, B or C)
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System - score of 6.5 or higher)
• Secondary education in English in one of the Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden), the Great Britain, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand
• English language as part of IB degree (A language), EB degree (LI language or LII language)
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in English in one of the EU or EEA Countries, or in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA
|
Criteria for documentation
• Only official TOEFL scores mailed directly from the TOEFL office are accepted
• Regarding IELTS language tests, copies of the original certificate are also accepted. The score will be cross-checked with the data-base of the organiser of the test.
• Regarding National Certificate of Language Proficiency and Civil Service Language Proficiency Tests, copies of the original certificate are also accepted. Authenticity of the documents will be cross-checked with the organiser of the test.
• Regarding CAE and CPE language tests, copies of the original certificate are also accepted. Authenticity of the documents will be cross-checked with the organiser of the test.
• Faculties may, under special circumstances, decide that the entrance examination in Finnish is enough to demonstrate language proficiency in the Finnish language.
• Faculty decisions may differ from the above mentioned defined language requirements due to special requirements of a certain educational field.
• Faculties may, under special circumstances, approve some other way of demonstrating language proficiency than what is defined above.
Submitting Language Proficiency Documents
When applying to bachelor’degree studies, all language test results or other approved documents demonstrating language proficiency must be sent to the University of Lapland (University of Lapland, Student Services, P.O.Box 122, FI-96101 Rovaniemi Finland). It is the applicant’s responsibility to make testing arrangements for her/himself. Please note that you have to mark your name and your YSHJ application identification number (hakulomaketunnus) to all of the required enclosures.
When applying to master’s degree studies, all language test results or other approved documents demonstrating language proficiency must be sent to
University Admissions Finland (University Admissions Finland Yliopistonkatu 2 FIN-00170 Helsinki FINLAND).
Please note that the testing centre must send the test results directly to University Admissions Finland by the application deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make testing arrangements for her/himself.
- When filling out the TOEFL Registration Form, please fill in University Admissions Finland’s Institution Code 3138 in the Score Report Recipient field.
- The applicant should indicate in Section 23 of the IELTS registration form that University Admissions Finland is able to verify the score electronically. The testing centre will then make your IELTS score available to UAF.
When applying to doctoral studies , all language test results or other approved documents demonstrating language proficiency must be sent to the University of Lapland, International Office (University of Lapland, Head of International Student Services, International Office, P.O.Box 122, FIN-96101 Rovaniemi Finland). It is the applicant’s responsibility to make testing arrangements for her/himself.
- When filling out the TOEFL Registration Form, please fill in the University of Lapland’s Institution Code 8264.
Please note that it is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure that the required documents are sent to the right recipient!
Disclaimer
Please note that information presented on these web pages is subject to changes. The International Office and the Faculties of the University of Lapland reserve the right to interpret and change the conditions of admission of international students.