Language Requirements

English Language Requirements

At SLU, the majority of our Master’s programmes and PhD programmes are conducted in English.  SLU also offers some Bachelor level courses in English.  To attend SLU as an international student, proof of English proficiency must be provided.

Please read through the general English language requirements on University Admissions:

English language requirements for Bachelor’s studies

English language requirements for Master’s studies

At SLU, programmes and courses with English as the language of instruction require English language skills equivalent to those attained from English Course B in Swedish upper-secondary school.  If applicants have not graduated from Swedish secondary school they must provide proof of their proficiency in English through an internationally recognised test, such as TOEFL or IELTS.

Required test results:

• TOEFL internet-based score of 20 (scale 0-30) in written test and a total score of 90.

• TOEFL paper-based score of 4.5 (scale 1-6) in written test and a total score of 575.

• IELTS overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5

Students can use TOEFL institution code 9520.  More information can be found on www.toefl.org and www.ielts.org.  There are exemptions from providing English test results, please see University Admissions for further information.

Swedish Language Requirements

All Bachelor’s programmes at SLU are conducted in Swedish.  Students who wish to take programmes or courses in Swedish must be competent in the Swedish language.  Specifically, they must have the equivalent qualification of Swedish studies at upper-secondary school in Sweden, known as Swedish Course B. 

There are several ways that students can provide proof of their Swedish language proficiency. 

• Pass a test in Swedish for University and Colleges (TISUS).  For more information, visit TISUS.

• Have completed secondary school in Danish, Norwegian or Icelandic, and provide a verified copy of study grades.

• Have completed secondary school in Finnish, and provide a verified copy of study grades.  However, if students have completed secondary school in Finnish but have not taken the Matriculation Examination in Swedish, they must have taken Swedish as a subject for at least three years (or five courses), to have an equivalent qualification to Swedish Course B.

For more information, visit University Admissions.