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English language requirements for master's programmes taught in English

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.

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Valid tests and minimum scores

Test results must be valid and not older than two years on the date of the application deadline.

For master's programmes that start in August 2025, the following minimum score requirements are valid: 

IELTS academic - International English Langauge 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.

TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language, internet-based test (iBT),  and TOEFL iBT Home Edition

  • Minimum total score: 90

We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.

PTE Academic - Pearson Test of English Academic

  • Minimum overall score: 62

How to document test results

IELTS

Upload the official copy of your test result with a legible TRF number in the bottom right corner. The University of Bergen will verify your test result online. It is currently not possible to submit test results with an IELTS institutional code.

TOEFL

Complete both of the following two steps:

  1. Add the University of Bergen as a recipient of your test result, using the institution code 9367. This will enable us to verify your test result online. 
  2. Upload a copy of your test result in SøknadsWeb.

Pearson

Send your score report to the University of Bergen through your Pearson account. In addition, upload a Pdf of your score report.

Are you exempt from submitting an English language test? 

Please check our country list to see if you need to document your English Language Proficiency. If you are exempt from the English Language Proficiency requirement please upload documentation proving this in your application for admission.

If you can document one of the following, then you 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 grades A, B or C
  • C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)) with grades A, B or C
  • B2 First (formerly known as Cambridge English: First (FCE)) with the grade A 

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme with English at Higher Level (HL) with the minimum grade of 4 or English at Standard Level (SL) with the minimum grade of 6. 

The Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway & Sweden) 

Applicants who have:  

  • passed examination in English foundation course (140 hours/5 periods per week) in Norwegian upper secondary school or an equivalent grade from a Nordic upper secondary school.

OR 

  • completed one of the following with English as the language of instruction in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden:
    • a bachelor's degree
    • a minimum of one year of master's degree studies 
      • The study level and language of instruction must be documented with a diploma supplement or a statement from your university, if it is not clear from your official transcript of records that your completed courses were taught in English at master's level.

 

Country-specific exemptions

Australia

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Australia, or a minimum of one year's university studies in academic subjects with English as the language of instruction in Australia.

Bahamas

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in the Bahamas. 

Barbados

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Barbados.  

Botswana

Applicants who have completed one of the secondary school examinations listed below (with English in the curriculum): 

  • Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (IUA)
  • General Certificate of Education O-level
  • Cambridge Overseas School Certificate
  • General Certificate of Education A-level

Cameroon (English-speaking area)

Applicants who have completed one of the secondary school examinations listed below (with English in the curriculum): 

  • General Certificate of Education O-level
  • General Certificate of Education A-level

Canada

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Canada, or a minimum of one year's university studies in academic subjects with English as the language of instruction in Canada.

Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)

Applicants who have completed one of the secondary school examinations listed below (with English in the curriculum):

  • Cambridge Overseas School Certificate
  • General Certificate of Education O-level

Fiji

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary school in English in Fiji.

Gambia

Applicants who have completed one of the secondary school examinations listed below (with English in the curriculum):

  • West African Examinations Council Senior School Certificate
  • General Certificate of Education O-level
  • General Certificate of Education A-level

Ghana

Applicants who have completed one of the secondary school examinations listed below (with English in the curriculum):

  • Senior Secondary School Certificate
  • West African Senior School Certificate
  • West African Examinations Council General Certificate of Education O-level
  • West African Examinations Council General Certificate of Education A-level

Guyana

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Guyana.

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.

Ireland

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Ireland, or a minimum of one year's university studies in academic subjects with English as the language of instruction in Ireland.

Jamaica

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Jamaica.

Kenya

Applicants who have completed one of the secondary school examinations listed below (with English in the curriculum):

  • Kenya Certificate of Education
  • Kenya Certificate of secondary Education (from 1989)
  • Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (until 1989)

Macao

Applicants with completed upper secondary school within the British system in Macao.

Malawi

Applicants who have completed one of the secondary school examinations listed below (with English in the curriculum):

  • Malawi School Certificate of Education

Malaysia

Applicants with a bachelor's degree with English as the language of instruction.

Malta

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Malta.

Mauritius

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary school in English in Mauritius.

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.

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 
      • The study level and language of instruction must be documented with a diploma supplement or a statement from your university, if it is not clear from your official transcript of records that your completed courses were taught in English at master's level.

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 with English as the language of instruction in New Zealand.

Nigeria

Applicants who have completed one of the secondary school examinations listed below (with English in the curriculum):

  • Senior School Certificate (from 1988)
  • West African Examinations Council General Certificate of Education O-level
  • West African Examinations Council General Certificate of Education A-level
  • West African Senior School Certificate (from 1999)

Uganda

Applicants who have completed one of the secondary school examinations listed below (with English in the curriculum):

  • Ugandan Certificate of Educaion
  • East African Certificate of Education
  • Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education
  • East African Advanced Certificate of Education

Samoa

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary school in English in Samoa.

Sierra Leone

Applicants who have completed one of the secondary school examinations listed below (with English in the curriculum):

  • Senior School Certificate (from 2000)
  • Cambridge Overseas School Certificate O-level
  • West African Examinations Council General Certificate of Education O-level
  • West African Examinations Council General Certificate of Education A-level

Singapore

Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Singapore.

South Africa

Applicants who have completed both upper secondary school and an honours bachelor’s degree taught in English in South Africa.

    Tanzania

    Applicants who have completed one of the secondary school examinations listed below (with English in the curriculum):

    • Certificate of Secondary Education
    • East Africa General Certificate of Education O-level
    • Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education
    • Zanzibar O-level

    Trinidad and Tobago

    Applicants who have completed their entire upper secondary education in Trinidad and Tobago.

    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 with English as the language of instruction in the United Kingdom. Please note that UK branch campus, validated and franchised programme and distance learning students are not exempt.

    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 with English as the language of instruction in the USA.

    Zambia

    Applicants who have completed the secondary school examination listed below (with English in the curriculum):

    • Zambian School Certificate

    Zimbabwe

    Applicants who have completed the secondary school examination listed below (with English in the curriculum):

    • Cambridge School Certificate
    • General Certificate of Education O-level
    • Cambridge Higher School Certificate
    • General Certificate of Education A-level