Documentation of knowledge of English

English language test

Most non-native English speakers, and some native English speakers, have to document their proficiency in English by taking one of these internationally recognised tests:

TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign language, internet-based test (iBT) or iBT Home Edition, with a minimum total score of 80 with at least 20 in reading, 20 in listening, 20 in speaking and 20 in writing. Please note that we do not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores to meet our English language requirements. Please upload a copy of your result in the application portal (Søknadsweb), and make sure that your test score is sent electronically from ETS to The Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO). The TOEFL code number is 5000. 

IELTS Academic - International English Language Testing System Academic or IELTS Academic Online, with a minimum overall band score of 6,5 with at least 6 in each component (listening, reading, speaking and writing). Please upload the official copy of your test results in the application portal (Søknadsweb). We will verify your test results online.

PTE Academic - Pearson Test of English Academic or PTE Academic Online with a minimum overall score of 62 with at least 62 in each component (listening, reading, speaking and writing). Please send your score report to The Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO) through your Pearson account and upload a PDF version of the PTE Academic score report in the application portal (Søknadsweb).

CAE - Cambridge Assessment English exams. Applicants who, in 2005 or later, have passed one of these University of Cambridge exams: 

• Proficiency (CPE) with the grades A, B or C
• Advanced (CAE) with grades A, B or C
• First with the grade A

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

International Baccalaureate (IB) programme with English at Higher Level (HL) with the minimum score of 4.

English foundation course (140 hours/5 periods per week) in Norwegian upper secondary school with a minimum grade of 4 (or an equivalent grade from a Nordic upper secondary school) or alternatively have passed an examination in English from second and/or third school year.
 

Exemptions

You do not need to take an English proficiency test if you:

• have completed upper secondary education in one of these countries: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Fiji, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Papa New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, UK or USA
• have completed at least one year of your university studies in academic subjects with English as the language of instruction in the UK, the USA, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia
• have completed at least one year of master's degree studies with English as the language of instruction in one of the Nordic countries or the Netherlands
• have completed a bachelor's degree with English as the language of instruction in one of the Nordic countries or the Netherlands

 

Conditional exemptions by country

You do not need to take an English proficiency test if one of these apply to you:

• Cameroon: Applicants with a bachelor's degree taught in English, or applicants with English (subject) at GCE ordinary level or GCE advanced level
• Ethiopia: Applicants with a bachelor's degree taught in English
• Hong Kong: Applicants with an AS-level examination in Use of English with grades A-C
• Liberia: Applicants with a bachelor's degree taught in English
• Macao: Applicants with A-level examination in English
• Malaysia: Applicants with an A-level exam in English (subject)
• Namibia: Applicants with an  A-level exam in English (subject) or with a bachelor's degree taught in English
• Philippines: Applicants with a bachelor's degree taught in English

For applicants who are exempted from the test:  In order to get a "complete" application, you need to submit proof of English, even if you don't need a test. For example by submitting your secondary education from one of the mentioned countries.
 

 

Exemptions for Incoming Exchange students

Students exchanging to AHO through the Erasmus+ programme or from bilateral partner institutions do not need to document English proficiency. 

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

At AHO, we closely monitor the English proficiency of incoming exchange students. If a student doesn’t meet our language requirements, we will contact the partner university. For repeated issues, students from this university must submit an official language test (TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge Certificate) to be considered for an exchange program.

Please note that students who have previously been on exchange or studied at AHO must fulfill the language requirements with the necessary documentation if they apply for the full program.