English proficiency requirement for master's programmes taught in English
Source: https://www.uio.no/english/studies/admission/master/english-proficiency-master.html Parent: https://www.uio.no/english/studies/admission/exchange/english-requirements.html
English language proficiency for programmes taught in English must be documented with one of the tests below, unless you are exempt according to the list of exemptions.
The University of Oslo has a higher requirement for proficiency in English than stated on the GSU list referred to on the Norwegian directorate for higher education and skills web page.
Minimum scores for European Languages: - English Language and Linguistics - English Literature - American and British Studies
Test results must be valid (not older than two years) on the date of the application deadline.
TOEFL
TOEFL - TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- Minimum total score of 108 with at least 25 in reading, 25 in listening, 23 in speaking and 27 in writing.
Or - Minimum total score of 5.5 with at least 5 in reading, 5 in listening, 5.5 in writing and 4.5 in speaking (From 21 January 2026).
Please note that we do not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores to meet our English language requirements.
IELTS
IELTS Academic - International English Language Testing System or IELTS Online
- Minimum overall band score of 7.5 with at least 7.0 in each component (listening, reading, speaking and writing).
Please note that we do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake scores to meet our English language requirements.
Pearson
PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online: Pearson Test of English Academic
- Minimum overall score of 74 with at least 65 in each component (listening, reading, speaking and writing).
Do you need special arrangements on your test?
Please note that you are not exempted from completing an English language test due to special accessibility requirements. The test providers have the option to make arrangements for test takers with accessibility requirements. Please contact your test provider for more information on how they can make special arrangements for you. Be aware that it may take a long time to arrange for such tests, so we recommend applying for arrangements well in advance.
Minimum scores for all other master's degree programmes
Test results must be valid (not older than two years) on the date of the application deadline.
TOEFL
TOEFL - TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- Minimum total score of 90 with at least 19 in reading, 20 in listening, 20 in speaking and 24 in writing.
Or - Minimum total score of 4.5 with at least 4 in reading, 4.5 in listening, 5 in writing and 4 in speaking (from 21 January 2026)
Please note that we do not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores to meet our English language requirements.
IELTS
IELTS Academic - International English Language Testing System or IELTS Online
- Minimum overall band score of 6.5 with at least 6.5 in each component (listening, reading, speaking and writing).
Please note that we do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake scores to meet our English language requirements.
Pearson
PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online: Pearson Test of English Academic
- Minimum overall score of 62 with at least 58 in each component (listening, reading, speaking and writing).
Do you need special arrangements on your test?
Please note that you are not exempted from completing an English language test due to special accessibility requirements. The test providers have the option to make arrangements for test takers with accessibility requirements. Please contact your test provider for more information on how they can make special arrangements for you. Be aware that it may take a long time to arrange for such tests, so we recommend applying for arrangements well in advance.
How to document test results
TOEFL
Upload a copy of your official Test Taker Score Report in Søknadsweb. The University of Oslo will verify your test result online.
IELTS
Upload a copy of your official test result with a legible TRF number in the bottom right corner. The University of Oslo will verify your test result online. It is currently not possible to submit test results with an IELTS institutional code.
Pearson
Send your score report to the University of Oslo through your Pearson account. In addition, you must upload a PDF of your score report.
Are you exempt from submitting an English language test?
The following applicants are exempt from submitting an English language test:
Cambridge Assessment English exams
Applicants who, in 2005 or later, have passed the University of Cambridge exams
- C2 Proficiency (formerly known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)), with the grades A, B or C or with the result C1 (minimum score 180).
- C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) with the grades A, B or C (minimum score 180)
- B2 First (formerly known as Cambridge English: First (FCE)) with the grade A (minimum score 180)
You must upload your Statement of Results to the application portal.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme with English A with the minimum score of 3 or English B at Higher Level (HL) with the minimum score of 4 or at Standard Level (SL) with the minimum score of 6.
In order to document that you fulfil the requirement, you must upload your official IB Diploma/certificate and official transcript of records. Alternatively, you can grant the University of Oslo access to your results in IBIS.
Country-specific exemptions:
Antigua and Barbuda
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Antigua and Barbuda. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Australia
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Australia, or a minimum of one year's university studies in academic subjects (corresponding to 60 ECTS credits) with English as the language of instruction in Australia.
If you have completed your entire upper secondary education in Australia, you must scan and upload your official upper secondary certificate/diploma and transcripts.
In order to document that you fulfil the requirement with academic subjects from Australia, you must paste a link into a text document that directs to your official documents in My eQuals and upload it to the application portal Søknadsweb. If your university does not offer this service, please upload a scan of the official transcript and a scan of your official final bachelor's degree certificate (testamur).
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
Bahamas
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in the Bahamas. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Barbados
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Barbados. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Belize
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in the Belize. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Botswana
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Botswana:
- English from Botswana General Certificate of secondary Education with grade B or better\ OR
- English from School Certificate and School certificate of Education with grade 4 or better
Cameroon (English speaking area)
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Cameroon (English speaking area):
- English at Ordinary level with grade B or better\ OR
- English at Advanced level with grade E or better
Canada
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Canada, or a minimum of one year's university studies in academic subjects (corresponding to 60 ECTS credits) with English as the language of instruction in Canada.
If you have completed your entire upper secondary education in Canada, you must scan and upload your official upper secondary certificate/diploma and transcripts.
In order to document that you fulfil the requirement with academic studies from Canada, your official transcript of records must be sent directly from your institution. Either as an e-Transcript (secure PDF) or by regular mail.
E- mail address: international[a]admin.uio.no.
Postal address: The University of Oslo, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 1081, Blindern, NO-0317 Oslo, Norway
For courier service: The University of Oslo, Admissions Office, 3rd floor, Lucy Smith Building, Problemveien 7, NO-0371 Oslo, Norway
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
Denmark
Applicants who have:
- passed the following from upper secondary school in Denmark:
- English C with 7 or better at ÷ 3-12 scale or 8 or better at 00-13 scale (average of all grades) or
- English A or B with 02 at ÷ 3-12 scale or 6 at 00-13 scale (average of all grades)
OR
completed one of the following with English as the language of instruction in Denmark:
- a bachelor's degree
- a minimum of one year of master's degree studies (corresponding to 60 ECTS credits). The study level and language of instruction must be documented with a diploma supplement or a statement from your university, confirming that your completed courses were taught in English at master's level.
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
Dominica
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary school in English in Dominica. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Eswatini
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Eswatini:
- English from Eswatini General Certificate of secondary Education (previously known as Swaziland General Certificate of Secondary Education with grade B or better\ OR
- English from International General Certificate of Secondary Education with grade B or better
Fiji
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary school in English in Fiji. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Finland
Applicants who have:
- passed one of the following from upper secondary school in Finland:
- English A at avgångsbetyget från gymnasiet/ Lukion päästotodistus with grade 8 or better
- English lång lärokurs on studentexamensbetyget/ ylioppilastutkintotodistus with Cum laude approbatur
OR
completed one of the following with English as the language of instruction in Finland:
- a bachelor's degree
- a minimum of one year of master's degree studies (corresponding to 60 ECTS credits). The study level and language of instruction must be documented with a diploma supplement or a statement from your university, confirming that your completed courses were taught in English at master's level.
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
Gambia
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Gambia:
- English from West African Senior School Certificate Examination with the grade C4 or better\ OR
- English from the West African Examinations Council, School Certificate or Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination with the grade C4 or better\ OR
- GCE Advanced level in English with the grade E or better
WAEC results must be accompanied by WAEC results checker.
Ghana
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Ghana:
- English from West African Senior School Certificate Examination with the grade C4 or better\ OR
- English from the West African Examinations Council, School Certificate or Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination with the grade C4 or better\ OR
- GCE Advanced level in English with the grade E or better
WAEC results must be accompanied by WAEC results checker.
Guyana
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Guyana. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Grenada
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Grenada. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Hong Kong
Applicants with completed upper secondary school from Hong Kong with an AS-level examination in Use of English with grades A-C or HKDSE English Language Subject Level grade 5. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Iceland
Applicants who have:
- passed the following from upper secondary school in Iceland:
- English at Stúdentspróf with 200-240 fein (framhaldsskolaeiningar) (certificate after the 2008 reform) if you have 10 fein in English at level 2 or 3 (2. or 3. Þrep) with grade 8,0 or better (average of all modules)
- English at Stúdentspróf with 140 einingar (certificate before the 2008 reform) if you have 9 einingar in English with grade 8,0 or better (average of all modules)
OR
completed one of the following with English as the language of instruction in Iceland:
- a bachelor's degree
- a minimum of one year of master's degree studies (corresponding to 60 ECTS credits). The study level and language of instruction must be documented with a diploma supplement or a statement from your university confirming that your completed courses were taught in English at master's level.
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
Ireland
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Ireland, or a minimum of one year's university studies in academic subjects (corresponding to 60 ECTS credits) with English as the language of instruction in Ireland.
If you have completed your entire upper secondary education in Ireland, please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
In order to document that you fulfil the requirement with academic subjects from Ireland, you must upload an official transcript of records and an official bachelor's degree certificate.
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
Jamaica
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Jamaica. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Kenya
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Kenya:
- English from the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education with the grade C or better
Lesotho
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Lesotho:
- English from Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education with grade B or better
OR
- English from Cambridge Overseas School Certificate with grade 4 or better
Macao
Applicants with completed upper secondary school within the British system in Macao. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Malawi
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Malawi:
- English from the Malawi School Certificate Examination with grade 4 or better
Malta
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Malta. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Mauritius
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary school in English in Mauritius. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
The Netherlands
Applicants who have
- completed the subject “Engelse taal en literatuur” from VWO, with the minimum final grade (eindcijfer) of 6, or from HAVO, with the minimum final grade (eindcijfer) of 7. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
OR
completed one of the following with English as the language of instruction in the Netherlands:
- a bachelor's degree
- a minimum of one year of master's degree studies (corresponding to 60 ECTS credits).
The study level and language of instruction must be documented with a diploma supplement or a statement from your university, confirming English as the language of instruction.
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
New Zealand
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in New Zealand, or a minimum of one year's university studies in academic subjects (corresponding to 60 ECTS credits) with English as the language of instruction in New Zealand.
If you have completed your entire upper secondary education in New Zealand, please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
In order to document that you fulfil the requirement with academic subjects from New Zealand, you must paste a link into a text document that directs to your official documents in My eQuals and upload it to the application portal Søknadsweb. If your university does not offer this service, please upload a scan of the official transcript and a scan of your official final bachelor's degree certificate.
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
Nigeria
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Nigeria:
- English from West African Senior School Certificate Examination with the grade C4 or better\ OR
- English from the West African Examinations Council, School Certificate or Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination from the National Examination Council with the grade C4 or better\ OR
- GCE Advanced level in English with the grade E or better
WAEC results must be accompanied by WAEC results checker and NECO results must be accompanied by the NECO results checker.
Norway
Applicants who:
- can document a minimum average grade of 4,0 in English foundation course (140 hours) from Norwegian upper secondary school. If you have more than one grade in English foundation course (140 hours), the average of these grades must be 4,0 or higher. You cover the requirement if you have passed "programfag" in English with a scope of at least 140 hours or equivalent.
OR
have completed one of the following with English as the language of instruction in Norway:
- a bachelor's degree. The language of instruction must be documented with a diploma supplement or a statement from your university.
- a minimum of one year of master's degree studies (corresponding to 60 ECTS credits). The study level and language of instruction must be documented with a diploma supplement or a statement from your university confirming that your completed courses were taught in English at master's level.
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
Samoa
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary school in English in Samoa. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Sierra Leone (Secondary with English curriculum)
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Sierra Leone (with English curriculum):
- English from West African Senior School Certificate Examination with the grade C4 or better\ OR
- English from the West African Examinations Council, School Certificate or Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination with the grade C4 or better\ OR
- GCE Advanced level in English with the grade E or better
WAEC results must be accompanied by WAEC results checker.
Singapore
Applicants who have passed English with the grade E or better in General Certificate of Education Advanced level from Singapore. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
South Africa
Applicants who have completed both upper secondary school taught in English in South Africa, and an honours bachelor’s degree taught in English in South Africa. Please upload the official diploma and transcript for both your upper secondary school and your honours bachelor's degree.
St. Lucia
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in St. Lucia. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Sweden
Applicants who have:
- passed the following from upper secondary school in Sweden:
- English 5 and 6 from GY11 with at least a C in both subjects
OR
completed one of the following with English as the language of instruction in Sweden:
- a bachelor's degree
- a minimum of one year of master's degree studies (corresponding to 60 ECTS credits). The study level and language of instruction must be documented with a diploma supplement or a statement from your university, confirming that your completed courses were taught in English at master's level.
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
Tanzania
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Tanzania:
- English from Certificate of Secondary Education with the grade C or better\ OR
- English from Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education, Principal pass with the grade E or better
Trinidad and Tobago
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Trinidad and Tobago. Please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
Uganda
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Uganda:
- English from Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education, Principal pass with the grade E or better\ OR
- English from Uganda Certificate of Education with the grade 4 or better.
United Kingdom
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in the United Kingdom, or a minimum of one year's university studies in academic subjects (corresponding to 60 ECTS credits) with English as the language of instruction in the United Kingdom.
If you have completed your entire upper secondary education in the UK, please upload your upper secondary diploma and transcript.
In order to document that you fulfil the requirement with academic studies from the UK, you must upload a scanned copy of the original transcript/academic record and diploma/degree certificate. If your institution uses GradIntel or Digitary you must provide a valid weblink for verification. Please indicate UiO as a third party recipient. Document access information should be sent to international[a]admin.uio.no. For Digitary, please upload a document with the weblink to Søknadsweb.
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
USA
Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in the USA, or a minimum of one year's university studies in academic subjects (at least 30 semester credits or 45 quarter credits) with English as the language of instruction in the USA.
If you have completed your entire upper secondary education in the USA, you must scan and upload your official upper secondary certificate/diploma and transcripts.
In order to document that you fulfil the requirement with academic studies from USA, your official transcript of records must be sent directly from your institution. Either as an e-Transcript (secure PDF) or by regular mail.
E- mail address: international[a]admin.uio.no.
Postal address: The University of Oslo, Admissions Office, P.O. Box 1081, Blindern, NO-0317 Oslo, Norway
For courier service: The University of Oslo, Admissions Office, 3rd floor, Lucy Smith Building, Problemveien 7, NO-0371 Oslo, Norway
Please note that international branch campus, validated/franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt. The location of your studies must be documented.
Zambia
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Zambia:
- English from Zambian School Certificate with the grade 4 or better.
Zimbabwe
Applicants who have passed the following from upper secondary school in Zimbabwe:
- English from General Certificate of Education at Ordinary level with the grade C or better\ OR
- English from General Certificate of Education at Advanced level with the grade E or better
Published Jan. 4, 2017 3:20 PM - Last modified Feb. 17, 2026 8:21 AM