English language requirements

This page contains a complete list of how you can meet Hanken's language requirements to apply for either Bachelor's, Master's or PhD studies in English.

Click on your intended programme to see how you can fulfill the requirement. 

How do I demonstrate my language skills in English?

For this programme the English language skills are incorporated in the admission based on SAT or ACT tests – in other words you do not need to take a separate English language test if you have completed the ACT or SAT test and met the minimum acceptable scores, as you are considered to have sufficient English language skills for pursuing Bachelor’s degree studies in English.

If you are applying though certificate-based admission you can demonstrate your English language proficiency in one of the following ways:

Finnish Matriculation Examination

You can show your language skills in English even without a completed degree (except if you show your English skills though a completed IB Diploma):

  • English (Lång lärokurs/pitkä kieli) in the Finnish Matriculation Examination with the grade magna cum laude approbatur (M) or higher.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

  • IB Diploma completed in English.  
  • English A-level, A1-level or A2-level (literature / language and literature / literature and performance) with grade 2 or higher.  
  • English B-level with grade 5 or higher.

European Baccalaureate (EB) 

  • An approved grade in English completed as L1-language.
  • Grade 7 or higher in English as L2 or L3 language.

RP-certificate

Helsingin saksalainen koulu/Tyska skolan i Helsingfors:

  • The student has completed English as A-language (or corresponding in the DIA-certificate).  
  • Approved written result.
  • Oral grade of at least 8.

How do I demonstrate my language skills in English?

You can demonstrate your proficiency in English in one of the following ways:

Language test

No other than the tests below are accepted, as Hanken must be able to verify the results with the test organizer.

Educational background

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree or secondary education conducted in English language in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States (no other countries are accepted). *

*At least 50 % of the degree must have been completed in English. In case the degree has been completed in several countries or at several campuses, at least 50 % of the degree must have been obtained while the student physically has been studying in one of the listed countries to fulfil the language requirement.  
 
Additionally, the language of instruction and to which extent the degree has been completed in English must be clearly stated in the official educational documents (degree certificate, transcript of records, diploma supplement or other official certificate issued by the institution).

Language requirement for the double degree programme

If you wish to apply to the Double Degree programme within the programme in International Strategy and Sustainability (only possible within the Main Admission round), note that the language requirements are more limited and higher than within the regular language requirements above. One of the following results is required:

Eligibility for doctoral studies requires sufficient language skills in either Swedish or English. In English you can demonstrate your language proficiency in the ways below, either through educational background or a language test.

Educational background

  • Upper secondary school, Bachelor's or Master’s degree in English obtained from a recognized university or polytechnic in an EU/EEA country
  • In case the degree is a double degree/triple degree/transnational degree/joint degree, at least 50 % of the degree needs to have been obtained while the student physically has been studying in an EU/EEA country to fulfil the language requirement.
  • Upper secondary school, Bachelor's or Master’s degree in English obtained from a recognized university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom or United States.  
  • In case the degree is a double degree/triple degree/transnational degree/joint degree, at least 50 % of the degree needs to have been obtained while the student physically has been studying in the country in question to fulfil the language requirement.
  • Applicants with a Finnish Bachelors or Master’s degree who with their previous education can show that they have obtained the skills required to follow the developments in the own area of study and to be active in an international environment according to the Government Degree regarding university degrees (Valtioneuvoston asetusyliopistojen tutkinnoista 794/2004, 6§ mom. 2).

Language test

No other than the tests below are accepted, as Hanken must be able to verify the results with the test organizer.

Language attachments at all levels of education

Everyone who applies for a Bachelor's or Master's degree programme in English must choose how they prove their language skills in connection with the application.  

When you fill in your application form in the Studyinfo.fi portal, the form will automatically ask for the attachments you need to upload.  

Not all applicants need to upload attachments but remember to check carefully what applies to your way of proving language skills.

Please upload the attachment certifying your linguistic eligibility in Studieinfo.fi by the deadline for attachments so that we can verify your language eligibility.  

Language tests must be completed before the end of the application period, and it must be possible to verify the test results directly from the testing organization. However, this does not apply to language tests arranged by a higher education institution in Finland, in which case the result must be received by Hanken according to the specified schedule.