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English Language Requirements

Applicants to all the bachelor's and master's level programmes of the University of Tartu must provide a proof of English language proficiency at a satisfactory level. On this page you can find the information about the certificates we accept and the equivalent grades that are required.

Before paying the application fee and submitting the application please make sure you are able to submit an acceptable proof of English language proficiency by the application deadline. 

The University of Tartu only accepts TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Cambridge English and PTE Academic test scores which have been taken no more than 2 years before applying (test must be valid at least one month after you have submitted your application). Please note that the following are the only tests and exemptions accepted by the University of Tartu. If you cannot prove your English language proficiency with one of the below mentioned English tests/results and you do not belong to any of the listed exempt categories, your application will not qualify for admission.  

  • the minimum required score is 75

UT accepts TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT Paper Edition test results.  TOEFL institutional code for the University of Tartu is 0133. Test Taker Score Report must be uploaded to the DreamApply application system.

TOEFL iBT test score is valid for 2 years. Please note that your TOEFL test score must be valid at least one month after the application deadline.
 

  • the minimum required score is 6.0 and no part can be below 5.5

UT accepts IELTS Academic test results. We also accept IELTS Online tests. When submitting the online application please upload a scan of the IELTS Academic test result certificate for online verification. NB! The University of Tartu does not accept the General Training IELTS certificates as proof of English language proficiency.

the minimum required result is 169

UT accepts the following Cambridge English tests: B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE) and C2 Proficiency (CPE).

Applicants who have taken one of the Cambridge English tests must order their result to be sent to University of Tartu electronically through Candidate Results Online website.

  • the minimum required score is 59

UT accepts the following Pearson Test of English Academic tests: PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online. The test score must be sent to the university electronically via Pearson portal.

The University of Tartu accepts the following state exams:

  • Estonian state exam in English - minimum required result is B2 level (for exams taken in 1997-2013, 66 points or higher)
  • Finnish ylioppilastutkinto in English, long course  –  graded at least magna cum laude approbatur (M) 5
  • Latvian state exam in English (centralizētais eksāmens) - minimum required result is B2 level 
  • Lithuanian state exam in English (valstybinis egzaminas) - minimum required result is B2 level 

Applicants from Estonia, Finland, Latvia or Lithuania who are graduating from secondary school this year and wish to prove their English language proficiency with their state exam result can submit their application without the final exam certificate on condition that they submit the exam certificate as soon as it arrives in June. Only applicants who obtain an acceptable exam result (see above) will be considered.

 

  • minimum B2 level is required

The test is for applicants who are already in Estonia and it has to be taken before applying. Please be aware that this test can be taken only once per academic year. More information about the test can be found here.

Please note that these are the only exemptions.

If your situation (including the country or region where you previously studied) is not described here, you must take a recognised English language exam. 

The English language requirement may be waived if an applicant meets one of the following criteria:

  • has completed secondary education in English in one of the following countries: in EU/EEA member states; Switzerland, UK, USA; Canada; Australia or New Zealand. In case the applicant studied in an offshore campus, a recognised English proficiency certificate is still required; 
  • has studied in English (with English as medium of instruction) in full-time student status for at least one academic year in a higher education institution in one of the following countries: Switzerland, UK, USA; Canada; Australia; New Zealand or any of the EU/EEA member states. The transcript of records must include information that the applicant was enrolled in the programme taught in English. In case the applicant studied online or in an offshore campus, a recognised English proficiency certificate is still required.

  

University of Tartu Doctoral programmes
Important deadlines for submitting English language test results
Bachelor's programmes
15 April - final test results must reach the university

Master's programmes
15 March - final test results must reach the university

Entrepreneurship in Economic Policymaking, Disinformation and Societal Resilience
15 September - final test results must reach the university
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