English Language Requirements for International Applicants

As a general requirement, applicants to International Master's Programmes must document proficiency in English at an advanced level through an international test/exam, recognized by the University of Stavanger.

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Accepted English Proficiency Tests

English test results must be no more than two years old at the time of application. The Cambridge English Qualifications is the only exception, for which there is no expiry date.

  • A minimum score of 90 with a writing section minimum score of 22. Institution code: 8467
  • UiS does NOT accept MyBest Scores.
  • UiS does NOT accept the TOEFL Essentials nor TOEFL ITP tests
  • UiS does NOT accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
  • A minimum overall band score of 6.5 with a writing section minimum score of 6.0
  • UiS does not accept IELTS General, IELTS Indicator nor IELTS online.
  • UiS does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake
  • A minimum overall score of 62 with a writing section minimum score of 53
  • UiS accepts the PTE Academic Online
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) or C2 Proficiency (CPE).

Exemptions from English Proficiency Requirements

  • Applicants who have completed at least one year of high school or university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, UK, USA or New Zealand. The place of instruction must have been in one of these countries and the language of instruction must have been English.
  • Applicants who have completed a Bachelor's degree or one year of a Master's degree (60 ECTS) with English as the language of instruction in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden.
  • Applicants who have completed and passed English courses (140 hours per year / 5 hours per week) at the Norwegian upper secondary school, with a minimum grade of 4.
  • Applicants who have English as "language 1" or "language 2" on European Baccalaureate Diploma (EB).
  • Applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma/Certificate (IB)

Official documentation to prove that you meet one of the above mentioned criteria must be provided in the application.

Please refer to the country list for detailed information on whether you qualify for an exemption. Official documentation must be provided in the application

  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cameroon (English-speaking region)
  • Canada
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Ethiopia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Kenya
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Macao
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Africa
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Tanzania
  • The Netherlands
  • The United Kingdom
  • The United States of America
  • Uganda
  • Zimbabwe

If you have studied for at least one year (corresponding to 60 ECTS) with English as the language of instruction in one of the following countries, you will be exempt. Official documentation must be provided in the application.

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Ireland
  • New Zealand
  • The United Kingdom
  • The United States of America
  • The Philippines* - NB! you must have a completed bachelor's degree taught in English in Philippines. This must be stated on the educational documents or you must have a confirmation from your university.

Submitting English Language Tests for International Applicants

Upload your English proficiency score report as a PDF file to your online application on Søknadsweb within the application deadline.

  • Non-EU/EEA applicants: 1 December 2025
  • EU applicants: 1 March 2026

If you are a local applicant, please contact the Admission Office (masteropptak@uis.no) for more information about late delivery of documents.

The Faculty of Performing Arts has different deadlines. If you are applying for studies at the Faculty of Performing Arts, please contact the Local Admission Office at the Faculty of Performing Arts (music-dance@uis.no).

Late submission of the English Proficiency Test Results for International Applicants

If you cannot deliver your English test results by the application deadline, you can get an extension to submit your English test results by following the instructions below:

  • Upload a copy of your test registration receipt as a PDF to your online application, within the application deadline.
  • As soon as you receive your English test result, submit it by email to admissions@uis.no together with your application number.

The deadline to submit your late English test results by email is 1 February 2026 for non-EU/EEA applicants.
The deadline to submit your late English test results by email is 1 May 2026 for EU applicants.

If you are a local applicant, please contact the Admission Office (masteropptak@uis.no) for more information about late delivery of documents.

The Faculty of Performing Arts has different deadlines. If you are applying for studies at the Faculty of Performing Arts, please contact the Local Admission Office at the Faculty of Performing Arts (music-dance@uis.no).