Language Tests and Certificates

All outgoing Erasmus Students are required to take a compulsory Online Language Test before and after their exchange period. The test is done in the language used in studying at the host country. Students will receive a link to the OLS test after they have confirmed their exchange in SoleMOVE. All students are allocated a test in English regardless of the destination country. However, if you know that you will not be studying in English, it is possible to take the test also in German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Dutch, Polish, Czech, Danish, Swedish, Bulgarian, Croatian, Hungarian, Romanian, Slovak, Estonian, Irish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese and Slovenian. If you need to take the OLS test in any of these languages, please send an email to international.office(at)oulu.fi

OLS Test gives you a result according to the CEFR scaling System: A1 (lowest), A2, B1, B2, C1 or C2 (highest). Is your result is A1, A2 or B1, the system will automatically send you a link to an online language course that helps you improve your language skills. The course is not compulsory. If the student receives a result B2, C1 or C2, a link to a language course will not be automatically sent. However, if you wish to take a course in the lanaguage of the host country, you can do one in German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Dutch, Polish, Czech, Danish or Swedish, Bulgarian, Croatian, Hungarian, Romanian, Slovak, Estonian, Irish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese and Slovenian. In order to do that, please send an email to international.office(at)oulu.fi

If you are going on Erasmus Exchange but have not reiceved alink to OLS Test, please check your Junk Email. You can get a new link to OLS test by sending an email to international.office(at)oulu.fi

When applying to destinations inside or outside Europe, students are often required to get a CEFR Language Certificate from the Language Services if their destination does not specifically require TOEFL or IELTS test. Language Services offers two different types of certificate: 1) one that is written based on the courses the student has studied at the Language Services and 2) one that is written after a short exam. Check which certificate is accepted for the specific destination coordinated by the Academic Affairs.

Important! CERF language tests are organised only 2-3 times per semester. Check the test dates on the Langue Services website and sign up by e-mail at study.languages@oulu.fi, you need to contact them at least two weeks prior to the test date.

TOEFL and IELTS are probably the most well known and recognized language tests. TOEFL and IELTS can be taken in Helsinki several times per year.

More information about the TOEFL test and the available test dates can be found from www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/register/.

IELTS test in Finland is organised by the British Council in Helsinki. Test costs EUR 250 and the results are available 13 days after taking the test. Sign up for the test can be done through IELTS Online registration system at ielts.britishcouncil.org/Default.aspx. Information and practice material for the test is available at https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/.