English proficiency requirements

A sufficient level of English is required to attend VIA's English taught study programmes. All applicants must meet the English proficiency requirement. 

The English proficiency requirement can be met by uploading one of the following documentations for English proficiency:

  • English proficiency obtained from your Upper Secondary School. (min. 210 hours, where 1 hour = 60 minutes during the final three years in Upper Secondary School).
  • An internationally recognised language test certificate.

Please note that an AP degree taught in English from a Danish institution does not exempt you from meeting the English proficiency requirement due to guidelines from The Ministry of Higher education and Science.

Documentation of English proficiency obtained from the Upper Secondary School

In order to meet the English proficiency requirement through your Upper Secondary School you must be able to document that your English proficiency can be equated to a Danish B-level with a minimum weighted grade point average score of 2.0 on the Danish grading scale. A Danish B-level in English is a min. of 210 study hours of 60 minutes each during the final three years in Upper Secondary School. Use the verification form to document this.

The grades from your Upper Secondary School Certificate will be converted into Danish grades. Note, that the rules for conversions differ from each country, hence it is not possible to standardize the methods for this conversion.

Documentation of English proficiency level through a test

If your English proficiency from your Upper Secondary School does not meet the required level and scores, you must instead deliver an English language test. 

As documentation, we accept the following internationally recognised language tests: IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge ESOL tests. See below.

Accepted language test certificates and scores:

  • IELTS (Academic) with a minimum average score of 6.5
  • IELTS (Academic) online test with a minimum average score of 6.5
  • TOEFL (iBT), Internet-based with a score of at least 83
  • TOEFL, Home edition with a score of at least 83
  • TOEFL, paper-based with the following scores: Reading - 19-23, Listening - 20-23, Writing - 24-26, Speaking - 20-22
  • One of the following Cambridge English tests with an average score of at least 180 (C1-level):
    • C1 Advanced (former Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE))
    • C2 Proficiency (former Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE))

Note that the IELTS and TOEFL test results must be no more than two years old at the time of possible study start.

Deadline

The final deadline for submitting valid proof of English proficiency through www.optagelse.dk is on 5 July at 12 noon.

Please note, that if you have applied for a top-up programme through nemStudie there is a different deadline for submitting valid proof of English proficiency.