Language requirements for English taught bachelor's programmes
Bachelor's programmes taught exclusively in English do not have Norwegian language requirements.
Applicants with Nordic education can meet the English language requirement with English language subjects from their secondary education equivalent to this subject.
Please note that the University of Agder does not offer any of the following tests/subjects.
Applicants can meet the English language requirement by completing one of the following tests/subjects:
- IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) Academic test with a minimum score of 5.0. We require that the test results are verifiable online or that they are sent directly from the test centre.
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 500 points from TOEFL PBT (paper-based test) or 60 points from TOEFL iBT (internet-based test). We require that the test results are verifiable online or that they are sent directly from the test centre. The TOEFL institution code for the University of Agder is 5433.
- Pearson PTE Academic/Academic online with a minimum score of 51. We require that the test results are verifiable online or that they are sent directly from the test centre.
- Cambridge ESOL Examinations: First Certificate in English, Certificate in Advanced English or Certificate of Proficiency in English
- The European language certificate (telc): telc English B2, telc English B2-C1 University or telc all English certificates on C1-level
- Completed International Baccalaureate (IB) programme with a passing grade in English at Higher or Standard level, or with English as the language of instruction in all subjects.
- English (140 hours) from Norwegian upper secondary school: written and oral exam.
You may be exempt from taking an English language test/subject if you:
- are exempted according to the GSU-list and/or your country specific webpage.
- have completed a university degree in English language and literature, where the subject English comprised the main component of the course of study.
- have completed at least one-year studies at high school or in higher education in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand. The place of instruction must have been in one of these countries and the language of instruction must have been English.
- have completed a bachelor's or master's degree with English as the language of instruction in one of the Nordic countries.
Language requirements for English taught master's programmes
Norwegian language proficiency not required.
Please note that the University of Agder does not offer any of the following tests/subjects.
Applicants can meet the English language requirement by completing one of the following tests/subjects:
- IELTS Academic - The British Council's International English Language Testing Service - minimum overall score of 6.0. Test scores more than two years old are invalid.
- TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language - minimum score of 80 (internet-based), 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based). Test scores more than two years old are invalid. We require that the test results are sent directly from the test centre. The TOEFL institution code for the University of Agder is 5433.
- Pearson PTE Academic/Academic online, minimum score of 62. Test scores more than two years old are invalid.
- Cambridge ESOL Examinations: First Certificate with the result "A", Certificate of Proficiency or Certificate in Advanced with the result "pass" or better.
- have completed International Baccalaureate (IB) programme with English at Higher Level with the minimum score of 4.
- 140 hours of English from Norwegain Upper Secondary School (Videregående skole), written and oral exam, with the grade 4 or better.
You may be exempt from taking an English language test if you:
- are exempted according to your country specific webpage/country list.
- have a minimum of one year's university studies in academic subjects with English as the language of instruction in the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia.
- have completed a bachelor's or master's degree with English as the language of instruction in one of the Nordic countries.
- meet the Higher Education Entrance Qualification (generell studiekompetanse) with Nordic secondary education.
Language requirements for Norwegian taught programmes
Bachelor's and master's programmes taught in Norwegian have both Norwegian and English language requirements as listed below.
Applicants with Nordic education can meet the Norwegian language requirement with Swedish and Danish language subjects from their secondary education equivalent to this subject.
Applicants with Nordic education can meet the English language requirement with English language subjects from their secondary education equivalent to this subject.
Please note that the University of Agder does not offer any of the following tests/subjects.
Applicants can meet the Norwegian language requirement by completing one of the following tests/subjects:
- Norskprøven for voksne innvandrere fra Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og kompetanse (former Kompetanse Norge) with the result B2 or better in all four parts.
- Level 3 examination in Norwegian for foreign students at Norwegian universities (not available at UiA).
- Examination from the 1-year course (60 ECTS credits) in Norwegian language and culture for foreign students, taken at a university or a university college (not available at UiA).
- Test in Norwegian - advanced level, oral and written (known as ”Bergenstesten”) with "pass" on both tests. If you have taken the tests before 2009, the minimum score requirement for the written test is 450 and 500 for the oral test.
- Completed International Baccalaureate (IB) programme with a passing grade in Norwegian A at Higher or Standard level, or Norwegian B at Higher level.
- Norwegian (393 hours) from Norwegian upper secondary school: written and oral parts.
Folkeuniversitetet no longer offers the Test in Norwegian - higher level (Bergenstesten), but you meet the Norwegian language requirement if you have passed both the written and oral test.
From admission to the academic year 2023-2024, it is possible to combine the results of partial tests in Test in Norwegian, higher level (Bergenstesten) and Norskprøven. The following combinations are valid:
- Passed written Test in Norwegian, higher level (Bergenstesten) + B2 or better on the final test in oral communication from Norskprøven.
- Passed oral Test in Norwegian, higher level (Bergenstesten) + B2 or better on final tests in reading comprehension, listening comprehension and written presentation from Norskprøven.
Applicants can meet the English language requirement by completing one of the following tests/subjects:
- IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) Academic test with a minimum score of 5.0. We require that the test results are verifiable online or that they are sent directly from the test centre.
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 500 points from TOEFL PBT (paper-based test) or 60 points from TOEFL iBT (internet-based test). We require that the test results are verifiable online or that they are sent directly from the test centre. The TOEFL institution code for the University of Agder is 5433.
- Cambridge ESOL Examinations: First Certificate in English, Certificate in Advanced English or Certificate of Proficiency in English
- Pearson PTE Academic/Academic online with a minimum score of 51. We require that the test results are verifiable online or that they are sent directly from the test centre.
- The European language certificate (telc): telc English B2, telc English B2-C1 University or telc all English certificates at C1-level
- Completed International Baccalaureate (IB) programme with a passing grade in English at Higher or Standard level, or with English as the language of instruction in all subjects.
- English (140 hours) from Norwegian upper secondary school: written and oral exam.
You may be exempt from taking an English language test/subject if you:
- are exempted according to the GSU-list and/or your country specific webpage.
- have completed a university degree in English language and literature, where the subject English has a scope of at least 60 ECTS or equivalent.
- have completed at least one-year studies at high school or in higher education in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand. The place of instruction must have been in one of these countries and the language of instruction must have been English.
- have completed a master's degree where the language of instruction was English.