Skip to main content
DA / EN
DA / EN

Search

Menu

Documentation for Language Proficiency

Here you'll find information regarding documentation for language proficiency, whether you are applying for an English- or Danish-taught programme.

Unless your bachelor's is from SDU, you must submit proof of your language proficiency. All English taught programmes will require English proficiency whereas Danish programmes may require both Danish and English, or Danish only. The required language(s) are specified in the requirements for each master's or master's for working professionals. Documentation must be present at the time of application.

Find your master's programme
Find your master's programme for working professionals

When applying for a programme with an English language requirement, you must prove your English language proficiency in one of the ways listed below. 

Please note, that there are new English Language test requirements for september 2026 intake. Read more below.

European Baccalaureate: L III or L IV with a minimum of 5.00–6.60 on the EB grading scale (6.00–6.49 before 2021).
International Baccalaureate: English B, standard level (SL) with a minimum score of 3 on the IB grading scale.

We accepts the following language tests as proof of your proficiency. Please be aware that we must be able to verify your test results with the relevant test organisation no later than the application deadline.

The English test requirements for the September intake 2026 are: 

TOEFL iBT or iBT Home Edition

  • Minimum total score: 83
  • No section scores below 20
  • Test must be taken within the last 2 years
  • Accepted: TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition
  • Not accepted: MyBest scores or TOEFL Essentials

IELTS Academic

  • Minimum overall band score: 6.5
  • No section band score below 6.5
  • Test must be taken within the last 2 years
  • Accepted: IELTS Academic Online
  • Not accepted: IELTS One-Skill Retake

Cambridge English Qualifications

  • C1 Advanced (CAE): Minimum score 180
  • C2 Proficiency (CPE): Accepted

Your diploma from an EU/EEA high school may be sufficient to prove your language proficiency:

  • You must document the number of 60 minutes English lessons per school year, and the number of years you have attended high school.
  • To do this, you must use SDU's Statement of Hours which must be signed and stamped by your high school and submitted along with your full high school diploma and transcript of records showing the grades you received during the last three years of high school.
  • English as a subject must be passed with a grade equivalent to a minimum of 2.0 on the Danish 7-point grading scale.

Please be aware that a few programmes have special language/entry requirements as listed below.

Pre-assessment

We strongly encourage you to forward your documentation in advance via SDU's student service system SPOC. Then we can make a pre-assessment of your qualifications.
You fulfil the requirements if you have passed English B from a Danish High School with a minimum grade of 2.0 on the Danish 7-point grading scale.  

Please be aware that a few programmes have special language/entry requirements as listed below.

Admission to the programme English Studies requires that your English language proficiency is English A or equivalent. 
Important Update: New English Language Test Requirements for September 2026 Intake

You can prove your proficiency by: 

  • English A from a Danish High School with a minimum grade of 2.0 (Danish 7-point grading scale), or a corresponding level from a European high school.

TOEFL iBT or iBT Home Edition

  • Minimum total score: 100
  • No section scores below 20
  • Test must be taken within the last 2 years
  • Accepted: TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition
  • Not accepted: MyBest scores or TOEFL Essentials

IELTS Academic

  • Minimum overall band score: 7.0
  • No section band score below 6.5
  • Test must be taken within the last 2 years
  • Accepted: IELTS Academic Online
  • Not accepted: IELTS One-Skill Retake

Cambridge English Qualifications

  • C1 Advanced (CAE): Minimum score 185
  • C2 Proficiency (CPE): Accepted

You can also prove English A from: 

  • EB: L I, L II or L III with a minimum of 5.00–6.60 on the EB grading scale (6.00–6.49 before 2021).
  • IB: English A1, A2 or B, higher level (HL); English A1 or A2, standard level (SL); English A Literature or English A Language and Literature, higher level (HL) (from 2013); English A Literature or English A Language and Literature, standard level (SL) (from 2013) — with a minimum score of 3 on the IB grading scale.

 

If you apply for a programme taught in Danish, you must prove your Danish language proficiency in one of the following ways:

  • Passed Danish A at upper secondary level
  • Bachelor's degree with Danish tuition language (must be documented)
  • Passed Study Exam/Proficiency Test/Higher Education Examination (“Studieprøven”) in Danish as a foreign language. If you apply to the Master's degree programme in Pharmacy, you must have passed the study test with a minimum grade average of 7.0 on the Danish grading scale.
  • Individual competency assessment from VUC - see www.vuc.dk.
  • Passed Norwegian, Swedish, or Icelandic on a level equivalent to the Danish A-level. To see if you qualify, check the guides for conversion of Norwegian, Swedish and Icelandic course levels.
  • International Baccalaureate: Danish A1, higher level (HL) eller Danish A Literature, higher Level (HL) (fra 2013) med min. 3 på IB-karakterskalaen
  • European Baccalaureate: L I, L II eller L III i Dansk med min. 5,00-6,60 på EB-karakterskalaen (6,00-6,49 før 2021).

Need help?

The admission team at SDU is ready to help you with questions about:

  • entry requirements for international applicants.
  • how to apply through the admission system.

You can contact SDU Admissions by email or phone.

See contact details