Notification of Changes to Language Requirements
There will be implemented changes to the documentation deadline and the language requirements for students applying for the University of Copenhagen's master's programmes with study start 1 September 2026 and 1 September 2027 respectively.
Applicants to an English-taught master's degree programmes at the Faculty of Humanities are required to document their English language proficiency in accordance with the language requirements for admission.
How to document your English proficiency
The Faculty of Humanities requires what is called 'English level B' language proficiency (on the Danish scale).
This is most often demonstrated by way of an approved English language test.
The English language test has a minimum total score requirement, which is found by clicking on the applicable language test from the menu below.
The Faculty of Humanities accepts the following English proficiency tests:
TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 83.
The Faculty of Humanities accepts TOEFL iBT, TOEFL iBT Home Edition and TOEFL iBT paper edition.
The Faculty of Humanities does not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores.
TOEFL test takers are required to choose UCPH Faculty of Humanities as recipient of the test results.
- Institution code: 3312
- Department code: Other humanities
TOEFL iBT certificates must be valid (no more than two years old) at the start of the master's degree programme, i.e. by 1 September in the applicable admission year.
IELTS Academic test with a minimum total score of 6.5.
IELTS certificates must be valid (no more than two years old) at the start of the master's degree programme, i.e. by 1 September in the applicable admission year.
- C2 Proficiency (formerly known as Cambridge English: Proficiency, CPE), passed
- C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge English: Advanced, CAE), passed
Cambridge English certificates must be valid at the start of the master's degree programme, i.e. by 1 September in the applicable admission year.
Deadline for submission of a language test
If you have not included an English proficiency test report in your application, you are required to submit documentation of your language proficiency as soon as possible in accordance with the following deadlines:
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: 1 April
- EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: 1 August
Failure to document your English language proficiency by the deadline may result in the admission offer being withdrawn.
Test report forms are submitted by e-mail to fulldegree@hum.ku.dk.
Do I need to take an English language test?
Applicants who have previously studied in an English-speaking country, or have acquired fluent English proficiency by other means, may be exempt from submitting formal English test results to demonstrate their English proficiency.
These exemptions are outlined below.
Please note that exemptions must be met exactly as stated. Applicants who have a bachelor's degree in English language and/or literature from a non-English speaking country are not exempt from submitting an English language test.
If your Danish upper secondary degree from Denmark included the course 'English level B' (Engelsk B) or ‘English level A’ (Engelsk A), you fulfil the English language requirement. You must upload either
- a copy or scan of your official (signed by the issuing educational institution) diploma
- a copy or scan of your official (signed by the issuing educational institution) transcript
A print from 'Eksamensdatabasen' is not accepted as valid documentation.
You have the option of taking Danish upper secondary school 'English level B' (Engelsk B) or Danish upper secondary school ‘English level A’ (Engelsk A) as supplementary courses (Gymnasial supplering and HF-enkeltfag) (in Danish), if your Danish upper secondary degree from Denmark did not include either course.
You must upload either
- a copy or scan of your official (signed by the issuing educational institution) single subject diploma
- a copy or scan of your official (signed by the issuing educational institution) transcript
If you have studied your upper secondary degree at an upper secondary school in one of the Nordic countries and your Nordic entrance examination includes a course which is considered on par with Danish upper secondary school ‘English level B' or 'English level A' by the Danish Agency of International Education, you fulfil the English language requirement.
The Nordic Region consist of Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Åland.
Below you find link to a conversion table that lists the courses that considered on par with Danish upper secondary school ‘English level B' or 'English level A' by the Danish Agency of International Education (in Danish)
If your Nordic entrance examination includes a course which is considered on par with Danish upper secondary school ‘English level B' or 'English level A', you must upload documentation of this when you apply. You must upload:
- a copy or scan of your official (signed by the issuing educational institution) transcript.
You are welcome to contact us at optagelse@ku.dk, if you have questions in relation to conversion of IB, EB or Nordic subject levels and grades.
If you hold an International Baccalaureate (IB) or a European Baccalaureate (EB) and your IB or EB includes a course which is considered on par with Danish upper secondary school ‘English level B' or 'English level A' by the Danish Agency of International Education, you fulfil the English language requirement.
Below you find a list of the courses that considered on par with Danish upper secondary school ‘English level B' or 'English level A' by the Danish Agency of International Education:
International Baccalaureate (IB):
- English A1, higher level
- English A2, higher level
- English B, higher level
- English A1, standard level
- English A2, standard level
- English B, standard level
- English A Language and Literature, higher level
- English A Language and Literature, standard level
- English A Literature, higher level
- English A Literature, standard level
European Baccalaureate:
- L I
- L II
- L III – 6 years (documentation for 6 years must be included)
- L III – 4 years
- L IV – 4 years (4 hours)
If your IB or EB includes a course which is considered on par with Danish upper secondary school ‘English level B' or 'English level A', you must upload documentation of this when you apply. You must upload:
- a copy or scan of your official (signed by the issuing educational institution) transcript
You are welcome to contact us at optagelse@ku.dk, if you have questions in relation to conversion of IB, EB or Nordic subject levels and grades.