Applying for exchange is a two-stage process:

1. LUT internal application round
2. The students selected in stage 1 apply to the receiving university.

The language proficiency requirements are set by each receiving university, not LUT. For the LUT application form, no certificate is uploaded yet. After you have been selected by LUT, the receiving university will send clear instructions about their possible language proficiency requirements and whether they require any related certificates.

In any case, to avoid complications, for the LUT application form, you need to research and enter the information about whether the university you're applying to will require language certificate later. The up-to-date requirements can be found on each university's website.

• European universities: most common cases are
  • LUT Language Certificate or
  • no certificate required.
• Rest of the world have differing policies:
  • no certificate
  • LUT Language Certificate or
  • a fee-paying certificate (IELTS or TOEFL).

The most common requirement is the B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), or in rarer cases the C1 level.

Depending on the university, a certificate might be needed for another language besides English, if the intent is to take courses in that language. For example, if you intend to take courses taught in French, a French proficiency certificate might be required from you.

LUT Language Certificate

The LUT Language Certificate (which is free of charge) is based on a short interview. You will be assessed based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The certificates are coordinated by Anneli Rinnevalli from the LUT Language Centre.

TOEFL and IELTS 

Some non-European universities require a TOEFL or IELTS certificate. These are organized outside LUT and require a test fee. The fee is paid by the applicant.