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Language requirements in Sibelius Academy

On this page you can view the language requirements for the 2024 admissions to the Sibelius Academy's bachelor's and master's programmes.

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Studies at the Sibelius Academy require sufficient proficiency in Finnish, Swedish and/or English. The applicant must prove their proficiency in the target programme’s language of instruction with a successfully completed language proficiency test, previous qualifications or other prior studies. If the degree programme is organised in multiple languages, the applicant is only required to demonstrate their language proficiency in the language with which they applied to study.

Sibelius Academy strongly recommends all applicants to provide proof of sufficient language skills by the end of the application period.

If the applicant does not have an opportunity to demonstrate their language skills before the application deadline, their eligibility will be conditional with respect to language skills. In that case, the applicant must submit an acceptable certificate of their language skills to the Sibelius Academy as soon as possible, but no later than the target programme’s admission decision. The deadline is stated in the admissions guide for each programme. Applicants demonstrating their language proficiency based on earlier studies have the opportunity to submit the required certificate demonstrating their proficiency by 3pm EEST on 11 July 2024.

If the applicant does not prove their language proficiency by the deadline, they will not be granted the right to study at the Sibelius Academy.

If applicants wish to use prior studies as proof of their sufficient language skills, the language of the qualification must be stated in the certificate or its appendix, in the transcript of study records or some other official document issued by the institution in question.

Demonstrating your language proficiency in English

You may demonstrate your proficiency in English in the following ways:

Demonstrating language proficiency with a language test

1) Certificate of a completed international language test approved by Uniarts Helsinki:

If not otherwise separately mentioned in connection with the test, an online version of the test is not valid.

  • TOEFL (IBT) – Total score: 71
    • Uniarts Helsinki also accepts MyBest Scores for the TOEFL test, as long as the results of all sections of the test are valid when applying (the result must not be expired by the start of the application period).
    • Uniarts Helsinki also accepts the TOEFL iBT Home Edition with the same scores.
  • IELTS (Academic) – Overall Band Score: 5.5
    • Uniarts Helsinki also accepts the IELTS Indicator with the same scores.
  • Cambridge English C2 Proficiency (CPE) – accepted grades are A, B, C and Level C1
  • Cambridge English C1 Advanced (CAE) – accepted grades are A, B, C and Level B2
  • Cambridge English B2 First (FCE) – Accepted grades are A, B, C, and Level B1
  • Cambridge English B1 Preliminary (PET): The accepted grades are A, B, and C.
  • Pearson Test of English (Academic) – Total score: 43
  • The International Certificate (PTE General): The accepted tests are Level 5 (C2), Level 4 (C1), Level 3 (B2) and Level 2 (B1)
  • National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) in English awarded by the Finnish National Agency for Education:
    • all subtests of the test completed on level 3 (reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, speaking); or
    • 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)

IELTS, TOEFL and PTE test results are valid for two years from the test date. The test result of a previously completed language test must be valid on the day the application period starts 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.

Demonstrating language proficiency with prior studies

2) General education or a university degree/university of applied sciences degree completed in English in an EU or EEA country or in Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, or New Zealand

3) University degree or a university of applied sciences degree completed in English 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

4) 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 the Sibelius Academy 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.

5) 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)

6) IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma awarded by an IB World School:

  • diploma completed in English; or
  • passing grade in the English test (literature / language and literature / literature and performance) on level A; or
  • minimum grade of 5 (good) in the English language test on level B

7) EB (European Baccalaureate) diploma awarded by a designated European School:

  • passing grade in English as the L1 language; or
  • minimum grade of 7 in English as the L2 or L3 language

8) A diploma completed at Deutsche Schule Helsinki:

  • passing grade for written English or a minimum grade of 8 for oral English according to the advanced syllabus on a Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA)

9) Language studies completed during a student exchange period at Uniarts Helsinki:

  • B1 level: Preparatory course in English leading to skill level B1 (scope of 3 credits, the course includes both written and oral exercises) 
  • Courses 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 language proficiency in Global Music programme

In 2024, the English language skills of all applicants for the bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in Global Music can be assessed as an integrated part of the application process if an applicant cannot submit a document demonstrating their language skills that is mentioned in the Sibelius Academy’s language skills requirements. Applicants can register for the language skills testing that is integrated to the entrance examinations only during the application period.

The language proficiency demonstrated during the entrance examinations is valid only for the admissions round and degree programme in question. In the entrance examination, the applicants’ language skills will be assessed in reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension and speaking in the following sub-tests:

  1. Letter of Motivation
  2. Interview (Second stage)
  3. Written essay (Third stage)
  4. 5.5-year education: Part 3 (Interactive tasks, group workshop, and discussion) / 2.5-year education: Part 4: Interactive workshop (Third stage)

Assessment Criteria:

  • Ability to clearly articulate reasons for wanting to enter the studies in written form in the letter of motivation
  • Ability to articulate thoughts and ideas verbally in the interview and group discussions
  • Ability to comprehend written text and clearly articulate thoughts in the written essay

The required language skills level is B1. An applicant who has chosen to demonstrate their language skills in the entrance examination, but does not demonstrate sufficient language skills cannot be admitted as a new student.

Demonstrating your language proficiency in Finnish

You may demonstrate your proficiency in Finnish in the following ways:

Demonstrating language proficiency with prior studies

1) Primary and lower secondary education (=basic education), upper secondary education or some other qualification that gives eligibility for higher education completed in Finnish

2) Passing grade for the Finnish language and literature syllabus or for the Finnish as a second language and literature syllabus as part of mother tongue and literature studies on a school-leaving certificate completed in accordance with the Basic Education Act (628/1998) or the Act on General Upper Secondary Education (629/1998) or in accordance with corresponding studies.

3) A minimum grade of approbatur (A) in the mother tongue and literature test in Finnish or in the Finnish as a second language and literature test completed as part of the Finnish matriculation examination

4) A minimum grade of eximia cum laude approbatur (E) in the Finnish as a second language test of the advanced syllabus level completed as part of the Finnish matriculation examination.

5) A grade of laudatur (L) in the Finnish as a second language test of the intermediate syllabus level completed as part of the Finnish matriculation examination.

6) A university degree or a university of applied sciences degree with Finnish as the language of instruction

Applicants can demonstrate their language proficiency in the following ways also without completing the whole degree at a higher education institution:

  • A written final project completed in Finnish at higher education institution for a degree, with the first-cycle degree (=bachelor’s degree) being the minimum degree level.
  • A study module comprising a minimum of 60 ETCS cr / 35 cr according to the old Finnish credit system in the subject of Finnish language (or a corresponding subject) completed at a higher education institution.
  • An approved maturity test completed in Finnish at a Finnish higher education institution
  • A language proficiency test in Finnish completed as part of a degree at a Finnish higher education institution or language studies that demonstrate oral and written skills in Finnish (as a second national language), with a minimum grade of ‘good’.

7) International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma:

  • minimum grade of 2 in a Finnish language test on level A, A1 or A2; or
  • minimum grade of 3 in a Finnish language test on level B; or

8) 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

9) 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; or
  • minimum grade of 5 in Finnish as the second language

10) A passing grade in Finnish studies completed at Kulkuri School of Distance Education, corresponding to the primary and lower secondary education (=basic education) syllabus

Demonstrating language proficiency with a language test

11) National Certificate of Language Proficiency in Finnish (YKI) awarded by the Finnish National Agency for Education

  • all sub-tests of the test completed on level 3 (reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, speaking); or
  • passing grade in a minimum of three sub-tests of the test on the highest level (levels 5 and 6). Results from different test occasions may be used.

12) Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate demonstrating oral and written skills in Finnish completed at least on level ‘satisfactory’

13) A combination of a National Certificate of Language Proficiency and a Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate

  • Reading comprehension and writing sub-tests of the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test completed on skill level 3 and the grade “satisfactory” achieved in the oral component of the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test; or
  • Listening comprehension and speaking sub-tests of the National Certificate of Language Proficiency test completed on skill level 3 and the grade “satisfactory” achieved in the written component of the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test

Demonstrating your language proficiency in Swedish

You may demonstrate your proficiency in Swedish in the following ways:

Demonstrating language proficiency with prior studies

1) Primary and lower secondary education (=basic education), upper secondary education or some other qualification that gives eligibility for higher education completed in Swedish. Proficiency in Swedish can also be demonstrated by basic education completed in one of the other Nordic languages (Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic or Faroese).

2) Passing grade for the Swedish language and literature syllabus or for the Swedish as a second language and literature syllabus as part of mother tongue and literature studies on a school-leaving certificate completed in accordance with the Basic Education Act (628/1998) or the Act on General Upper Secondary Education (629/1998) or in accordance with corresponding studies.

3) A minimum grade of approbatur (A) in the mother tongue and literature test in Swedish or in the Swedish as a second language and literature test completed as part of the Finnish matriculation examination

4) A minimum grade of eximia cum laude approbatur (E) in the Swedish as a second language test of the advanced syllabus level completed as part of the Finnish matriculation examination

5) A grade of laudatur (L) in the Swedish as a second language test of the intermediate syllabus level completed as part of the Finnish matriculation examination

6) A university degree or a university of applied sciences degree with Swedish as the language of instruction

Applicants can demonstrate their language proficiency in the following ways also without completing the whole degree at a higher education institution:

  • A written final project completed in Swedish at a higher education institution for a degree, with the first-cycle degree (=bachelor’s degree) being the minimum degree level.
  • A study module comprising a minimum of 60 ETCS cr / 35 cr according to the old Finnish credit system in the subject of Swedish language (or a corresponding subject) completed at higher education institution.
  • An approved maturity test completed in Swedish at a higher education institution.
  • A language proficiency test in Swedish completed as part of a degree at a Finnish higher education institution or language studies that demonstrate oral and written skills in Swedish (as a second national language), with a minimum grade of ‘good’.

7) International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma:

  • minimum grade of 2 in a Swedish language test on level A, A1 or A2; or
  • minimum grade of 3 in a Swedish language test on level B

8) 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); or
  • Minimum grade of 8.00 in Swedish as the ONL language

9) Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsches Internationales Abitur (DIA) diploma completed at Deutsche Schule Helsinki:

  • passing grade (minimum grade of 4) in the written test in Swedish

10) A passing grade in Swedish studies, corresponding to the primary and lower secondary education (=basic education syllabus), completed at Nomadskolan

Demonstrating language proficiency with a language test

11) National Certificate of Language Proficiency in Swedish (YKI) awarded by the Finnish National Agency for Education

  • all subtests of the test completed at least on level 3 (reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, speaking); or
  • passing grade in a minimum of three subtests of the test on the highest level (levels 5 and 6). Results from different test occasions may be used.

12) Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate demonstrating oral and written skills in Swedish completed at least on level ‘satisfactory’

13) 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 3 and the grade “satisfactory” 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 3 and the grade “satisfactory” achieved in the written component of the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate test

14) TISUS test (“Test i svenska för universitetsstudier”) with a passing grade in all sections of the test.