Erasmus+ and European exchange students

Students exchanging to NTNU through the Erasmus+ programme do not need to document English proficiency. Students who are citizens of EU/EEA/EFTA countries also do not need to document English proficiency.

Note, however, that NTNU expects students to have an English proficiency level of at least B2, preferable C1, using the CEFR scale for languages.
 

Non-Erasmus and Non-European excange students

Exchange students from outside Europe (EU/EEA/EFTA) must fulfill at least one of the English language requirements listed below. Exceptions apply for some students - see if you are exempt by using our guide for language documentation.

See "How to prove English proficiency" on this page for instructions on how to document English proficiency.

Only the tests and certificates listed here are accepted at NTNU. You may not request approval of other proof of language proficiency.

To be eligible for the 2024 admission to apply you will need to provide at least one of the requisites in the list below:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
  • Minimum score of 90 points on the internet based test
  • Minimum score of 600 points on the paper based test
  • Test results must be sent directly from ETS to NTNU, in addition to being uploaded in Søknadsweb as part of your application.
    • NTNU's department code for English Proficiency tests is 9652
  • TOEFL Home Edition and TOEFL Essentials are not accepted
     
• IELTS (International English Language Testing Service)
  • Master's degree applicants: Academic test with a minimum band score of 6.5 on each part of the test
  • Exchange studies applicant: Academic test with a minimum overall band score of 6.5
  • IELTS Online is not accepted
• University of Cambridge tests, at least one of the following:
  • First Certificate in English
  • Certificate in Advanced English
  • Certificate of Proficiency in English
     
• Pearsons Academic English test (PTE) or PTE Academic Online:
  • The academic version, with a minimum score of 62

English tests may not be older than two years at the time of the application deadline. The only exception is the University of Cambridge test, which has not expiration.

The deadline for uploading documentation of language requirements is the same as the application deadline. If your application deadline is 1 December, you must have uploaded documentation of English proficiency within this date.

If you meet one of the points below, you do not need an English proficiency test. Please note that you must upload documentation showing how you meet the English requirement in the "English language" category on Søknadsweb. 

• A passing English grade from Norwegian videregående skole or Upper Secondary Education in the Nordic Countries.
   
• International Baccalaureate with English at Higher Level (HL) with a minimum score of 4.
   
• Applicants from EU/EEA-countries: A certificate documenting that you meet the B2 English language level, using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages scale. Please note that an IELTS of 6.0 is not sufficient.
   
• One year of study at a university physically located in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Great Britain or USA. The language of instruction must have been English.
   
• A university degree with a major in the English language as an academic field. For example a BA/MA in English Language, English Literature or English Linguistics, etc.  
   
• Applicants who have completed a minimum of one year of university level studies with English as the language of instruction in one of the Nordic countries. This includes both degree and exchange studies.
   
• A bachelor degree where the language of teaching/instruction is English from the following countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Jamaica, Gambia, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
   
• A-level exam in English from the following countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Tonga, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
  Exemption from the English test for applicants from these countries is under review and may be changed for admission for the 2026-2027 academic year.
   
• Applicants with English at a minimum of upper secondary school/high school level from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Great Britain or USA.
   
• English as a Second Language at IGCSE from Cambridge International Examinations with a minimum of B1 in all four components: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The result must be documented with The Certifying Statement for CEFR from Cambridge International Education.
   
• If you attended an international American school, the same rules apply as for those who completed High School in the USA.
   
• If you attended an international British school, the same rules apply as for those who completed upper secondary school in England.

Applicants to international master's degrees at NTNU need to document English proficiency. Information on how to do so can be found under "Accepted English proficiency tests" and "Other proofs of English and exemptions" under the heading for degree students on this page.

The English language requirements for the Erasmus Mundus and the Joint Nordic (N5T) master's programmes vary.
Visit the respective programme websites to see their requirements:

• Erasmus Mundus programmes
• Joint Nordic master's (N5T)

Only the tests and certificates listed here are accepted at NTNU, and other proof of language proficiency cannot be approved.

To cover the English language requirement in the admission process for the 2025-2026 academic year you will need to document at least one of the below:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
  • Minimum score of 90 points on the internet based test
  • TOEFL Home Edition is accepted
  • TOEFL MyBest Scores and TOEFL Essentials are not accepted

TOEFL test results must be sent directly from ETS to NTNU, in addition to being uploaded in Søknadsweb as part of your application. NTNU's department code for English Proficiency tests is 9652.

• IELTS (International English Language Testing Service)
  • Academic test with a minimum band score of 6.5 on each part of the test
  • IELTS Online and IELTS One Skill Retake are accepted
     
• University of Cambridge tests, at least one of the following:
  • First Certificate in English
  • Certificate in Advanced English
  • Certificate of Proficiency in English

The University of Cambridge tests are under review and requirements may be changed for admission for the 2026-2027 academic year.

• Pearsons Academic English test (PTE) or PTE Academic Online:
  • The academic version, with a minimum score of 62

How long is a test valid? 

English tests may not be older than two years at the time of the application deadline. The only exception is the University of Cambridge test, which has not expiration.

Deadline for upload

The deadline for uploading documentation of language requirements is the same as the application deadline. If your application deadline is 1 December, you must upload documentation of English proficiency within this date.

If you meet one of the points below, you do not need an English proficiency test. Please note that you must upload documentation showing how you meet the English requirement in the "English language" category on Søknadsweb. 

• A passing English grade from Norwegian videregående skole or Upper Secondary Education in the Nordic Countries.
   
• International Baccalaureate with English at Higher Level (HL) with a minimum score of 4.
   
• Applicants from EU/EEA-countries: A certificate documenting that you meet the B2 English language level, using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages scale. Please note that an IELTS of 6.0 is not sufficient.
   
• One year of study at a university physically located in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Great Britain or USA. The language of instruction must have been English.
   
• A university degree with a major in the English language as an academic field. For example a BA/MA in English Language, English Literature or English Linguistics, etc.  
   
• Applicants who have completed a minimum of one year of university level studies with English as the language of instruction in one of the Nordic countries. This includes both degree and exchange studies.
   
• A bachelor degree where the language of teaching/instruction is English from the following countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Jamaica, Gambia, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
   
• A-level exam in English from the following countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Tonga, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
  Exemption from the English test for applicants from these countries is under review and may be changed for admission for the 2026-2027 academic year.
   
• Applicants with English at a minimum of upper secondary school/high school level from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Great Britain or USA.
   
• English as a Second Language at IGCSE from Cambridge International Examinations with a minimum of B1 in all four components: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The result must be documented with The Certifying Statement for CEFR from Cambridge International Education.
   
• If you attended an international American school, the same rules apply as for those who completed High School in the USA.
   
• If you attended an international British school, the same rules apply as for those who completed upper secondary school in England.