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Language proficiency requirement in the doctoral programme in fine arts

Learn how to prove your language proficiency when applying to to doctoral programme in fine arts.

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To pursue degree studies in fine arts at the Academy of Fine Arts of Uniarts Helsinki, the student must have sufficient proficiency in either Finnish, Swedish or English. Proficiency in Finnish, Swedish or English must be demonstrated during the application period either with the applicant’s previous studies or with a certificate of successful completion of the language test.

All applicants to the doctoral programme in fine arts must prove their proficiency in the language in which they plan to complete their degree, i.e., either Finnish, Swedish or English. The applicant must prove their language proficiency in accordance with the requirements set by the Academy of Fine Arts during the application period. An applicant cannot be considered as eligible to apply to the doctoral programme if they have not provided acceptable proof of language proficiency during the application period.

An applicant may be considered conditionally eligible only if their prior studies constitute proof of sufficient language proficiency, but the education has not been completed by the end of the application period (e.g., applicants who have not completed their master’s degree at the time they submit their application). In such cases, the applicant must provide the Academy with a study certificate of the education along with the projected graduation date. The education must be completed by the time the admission results are published in order to be accepted as proof of language proficiency. If the applicant has been deemed conditionally eligible regarding language proficiency, they must provide the Academy with the necessary certificate prior to this deadline, or they cannot be accepted as a student.

Most courses at the Academy of Fine Arts are taught either in Finnish or in English. Students are entitled to use Finnish and Swedish during courses both orally and in written assignments, unless explicitly stated otherwise in the curriculum, or if this is not possible because of the way in which the teaching is organised.

Demonstrating proficiency in English

Applicants may demonstrate their proficiency in English in the following ways:

  • General education (basic education, upper secondary degree, or vocational degree) or university degree or a university of applied sciences degree completed in English (with English marked as the language of tuition in the diploma or transcript) in an EU or EEA country or in Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand
  • University degree or a university of applied sciences degree completed in English (with English clearly marked as the language of tuition in the degree certificate) in one of the following countries:
    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • Bahamas
    • Barbados
    • Belize
    • Botswana
    • Cameroon
    • Dominica
    • Eritrea
    • Eswatini
    • Ethiopia
    • Gambia
    • Ghana
    • Grenada
    • Guyana
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Jamaica
    • Kenya
    • Lesotho
    • Liberia
    • Malawi
    • Namibia
    • Nigeria
    • Philippines
    • Rwanda
    • Saint Kitts and Nevis
    • Saint Lucia
    • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
    • Sierra Leone
    • Singapore
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Uganda
    • Zambia
    • Zimbabwe
  • University or a university of applied sciences degree completed in Finnish or Swedish in Finland, which includes foreign language studies in English in accordance with the decree 794/2004 or 1129/2014
    • Foreign language studies in English that are included in an incomplete Finnish university/university of applied sciences degree, as well as studies completed in some other manner, can also be approved, provided that the studies comply with the decree. In this case, the applicant must send a transcript of study records to Uniarts Helsinki along with a copy of the degree requirements of the higher education institution in question or some other document that states which language studies are required for the degree.
  • English test of the Finnish matriculation examination completed in the advanced syllabus level (A-level language) with a minimum grade of magna cum laude approbatur (M)
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
    • diploma completed in English
    • passing grade in the English test (literature / language and literature / literature and performance) on level A
    • minimum grade of 5 (good) in the English language test on level B
  • European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma
    • passing grade in English as the L1 language
    • minimum grade of 7 in English as the L2 or L3 language
  • A Reifeprüfung diploma (from Deutsche Schule Helsinki) can be used as proof of sufficient language skills if the applicant has received a passing grade in the written level A English test (or an equivalent result in Deutsches Internationales Abitur) or a minimum grade of 8 in the oral level A English test
  • Certificate of a completed language test approved by Uniarts Helsinki
    • TOEFL (IBT)
      • Total score: 92
      • Uniarts Helsinki also accepts MyBest Scores for the Toefl test, as long as the results of all sections of the test are valid in the same year as when the applicant applies to studies.
    • IELTS (Academic)
      • Overall Band Score: 6.5
    • PTE Pearson Test of English (Academic)
      • Total score: 59
    • Cambridge English C2 Proficiency (CPE): The accepted grades are A, B, C and Level C1
    • Cambridge English C1 Advanced (CAE): The accepted grades are A, B, C and Level B2
    • Cambridge English B2 First (FCE): The accepted grades are A, B and C.
    • The International Certificate (PTE General): the accepted tests are Level 5 (C2), Level 4 (C1) and Level 3 (B2).
    • National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) in English awarded by the Finnish National Agency for Education
      • all subtests of the test completed on level 4 (reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, speaking)
      • alternatively, a passing grade (different test occasions may be combined) in a minimum of three subtests of the test on the highest level (levels 5 and 6)

Online tests of the aforementioned language test organisers are also suitable demonstrations of language proficiency (TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition, IELTS Indicator).

IELTS, TOEFL and PTE test results are valid for two years from the test date. The test result must be valid in the year in which the applicant is applying to the university so that it can be considered proof of the applicant’s proficiency in English. Cambridge and National Certificate of Language Proficiency results are valid indefinitely.

An applicant who has been an exchange student at Uniarts Helsinki can also demonstrate their sufficient English skills with the following language studies that they have completed during their exchange period at Uniarts Helsinki:

  • Preparatory course in English leading to skill level B2 (English 1 and/or English 2; minimum scope of 2 credits, the courses include both written and oral exercises).
  • Exchange students also have the possibility to demonstrate their proficiency by participating in an English language proficiency test during their exchange period at Uniarts Helsinki, and more detailed instructions are available from language teachers.

Demonstrating proficiency in Finnish

Applicants may demonstrate their proficiency in Finnish in the following ways:

  • Basic education, an upper secondary qualification, or other qualification that gives eligibility for higher education completed in Finnish
  • Passing grade in Finnish as a mother tongue in the school-leaving certificate for studies completed in accordance with the Basic Education Act (628/1998) or the Act on General Upper Secondary Education (629/1998) or corresponding studies.
  • A university degree or a university of applied sciences degree with Finnish as the language of instruction
  • A university degree or a university of applied sciences degree with Finnish as the major subject 
  • National Certificate of Language Proficiency in Finnish (YKI) awarded by the Finnish National Agency for Education
    • all subtests of the test completed on level 4 (reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, speaking).
    • alternatively, a passing grade (different test occasions may be combined) in a minimum of three subtests of the test on the highest level (levels 5 and 6)
  • Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate demonstrating oral and written skills in Finnish
    • completed on level ‘good’
  • A combination of a National Certificate of Language Proficiency and a Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate:
    • Reading comprehension and writing subtests of the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test completed on skill level 4 and the grade “good” achieved in the oral component of the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test OR listening comprehension and speaking subtests of the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test completed on skill level 4 and the grade “good” achieved in the written component of the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test.

Proficiency in Finnish can also be demonstrated with the following study attainments:

  • A passing grade in Finnish completed at Kulkuri School of Distance Education, corresponding to the basic education syllabus
  • Finnish as a mother tongue or Finnish as a second language (S2) test of the Finnish matriculation examination completed with a minimum grade of approbatur (A)
  • Finnish as the second national language test of the Finnish matriculation examination completed on the advanced syllabus level (A-level language) with a minimum grade of eximia cum laude approbatur (E)
  • Finnish as the second national language test of the Finnish matriculation examination completed on the intermediate syllabus level (B-level language) with a grade of laudatur (L)
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma (one of the following):
    • minimum grade of 2 in a Finnish language test on level A, A1 or A2
    • minimum grade of 5 in a Finnish language test on level B
  • European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma
    • Passing grade in Finnish as the L1 or L2 language (minimum grade of 4.00 completed in or before 2020, or minimum grade of 5.00 completed in or after 2021)
    • Minimum grade of 8.00 in Finnish as the ONL language
  • Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA) diploma completed at Deutsche Schule Helsinki
    • passing grade (minimum grade of 4) in the written test in Finnish as the mother tongue
    • minimum grade of 8 in Finnish as a second language (S2).
  • University degree studies or university of applied sciences degree studies:
    • which includes a written thesis completed in Finnish for at least a bachelor’s degree
    • which includes a maturity test completed in Finnish at a higher education institution
    • which includes core and intermediate studies (60 ECTS cr/ 35 cr according to the old Finnish credit system) in the Finnish language completed at a higher education institution
    • which includes a language test or language studies in Finnish completed as part of the degree at a higher education institution, demonstrating oral and written skills in Finnish (as the second national language), with a minimum grade of ‘good’.

Demonstrating proficiency in Swedish

Applicants may demonstrate their proficiency in Swedish in the following ways:

  • Basic education, an upper secondary qualification, or other qualification that gives eligibility for higher education completed in Swedish
  • Passing grade in Swedish as a mother tongue in the school-leaving certificate for studies completed in accordance with the Basic Education Act (628/1998) or the Act on General Upper Secondary Education (629/1998) or corresponding studies.
  • A university degree or a university of applied sciences degree with Swedish as the language of instruction
  • A university degree or a university of applied sciences degree with Swedish / Scandinavian languages as the major subject
  • National Certificate of Language Proficiency in Swedish awarded by the Finnish National Agency for Education
    • all subtests of the test completed on level 4 (reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, speaking).
    • alternatively, a passing grade (different test occasions may be combined) in a minimum of three subtests of the test on the highest level (levels 5 and 6)
  • Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate demonstrating oral and written skills in Swedish completed on level ‘good’.
  • A combination of a National Certificate of Language Proficiency and a Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate:
    • Reading comprehension and writing subtests of the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test completed on skill level 4 and the grade “good” achieved in the oral component of the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test OR listening comprehension and speaking subtests of the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test completed on skill level 4 and the grade “good” achieved in the written component of the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test.

Proficiency in Swedish can also be demonstrated with the following study attainments:

  • A passing grade in Swedish studies completed at Kulkuri School of Distance Education, corresponding to the basic education syllabus
  • Swedish as a mother tongue or Swedish as a second language (S2) test of the Finnish matriculation examination completed with a minimum grade of approbatur (A)
  • Swedish as the second national language test of the Finnish matriculation examination completed on the advanced syllabus level (A-level language) with a minimum grade of eximia cum laude approbatur (E)
  • Swedish as the second national language test of the Finnish matriculation examination completed on the intermediate syllabus level (B-level language) with a grade of laudatur (L)
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
    • minimum grade of 2 in a Swedish language test on level A, A1 or A2
    • minimum grade of 3 in a Swedish language test on level B.
  • European Baccalaureate (EB) Diploma
    • passing grade in Swedish as the L1 or L2 language (minimum grade of 4.00 completed in or before 2020, or minimum grade of 5.00 completed in or after 2021)
    • Minimum grade of 8.00 in Swedish as the ONL language
  • Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA) Diploma
    • Passing grade (minimum grade of 4) in the written test in Swedish
  •  ‘Test i svenska för universitetsstudier’ completed in full in Sweden, with a passing grade in all sections of the test
  • University degree studies or university of applied sciences degree studies:
    • which includes a written thesis completed in Swedish for at least a bachelor’s degree
    • which includes a a maturity test completed in Swedish at a higher education institution
    • which includes core and intermediate studies (60 ECTS cr/ 35 cr according to the old Finnish credit system) in the Swedish language / Scandinavian languages completed at a higher education institution 
    • which includes a language test or language studies in Swedish completed as part of the degree at a higher education institution, demonstrating oral and written skills in Swedish (as the second national language), with a minimum grade of ‘good’.