To be eligible to apply in doctoral admissions, you must have a relevant Master’s degree or equivalent.

1. The degree must have been awarded by a higher education institution (university or university of applied sciences in the Finnish education system).
2. The degree must give eligibility to apply for doctoral degree studies at university in the awarding country.
3. The awarding higher education institution has to be a recognised part of the official national education system of the country. It has to be accredited as a degree-granting higher education institution by the country where it is located or by a relevant international organisation (such as UNESCO).

Generally an acceptable master’s degree has been carried out in accordance with the principles of the Bologna Process (3+2 years). As a rule, a higher education degree (or degree combination) earned abroad in a country that does not follow the Bologna Process should include a minimum of 4 years of studies and a master’s thesis.

The degree as a basis for doctoral studies needs to provide the student with an adequate knowledge and skills needed for doctoral studies in the programme chosen. The university may require a student admitted to complete the necessary supplementary studies in order to meet this requirement. 

Read more about eligibility in the application instructions of the doctoral programme you are interested in.

The academic evaluation of the applicant is based on school-specific scientific considerations, the schools’ strategic focus areas, and the applicant’s individual educational potential. Examples of evaluation criteria include: earlier academic performance, capacity to conduct research, the applicant’s possibility to complete studies within the target time, the relevancy of the research, the applicant’s possibility to receive supervision, and the applicant’s study motivation.

Minimum score requirements

• IELTS Academic: overall score 6.5, and writing score 6.0.

Aalto University also accepts IELTS Online (Academic), IELTS Indicator (Academic) and IELTS UKVI Academic test.
Only IELTS Academic tests are accepted. General-level tests are not accepted.

If you have taken several tests, the best official score that is still valid and received by Aalto University by the deadline will be considered. You cannot combine scores from different test dates.

Period of validity of test results

IELTS test results are valid for two years from the date of the test.

Submitting the IELTS scores

1. Upload a PDF copy of your IELTS test report to your application form (to "Language proficiency" section), if you have already received the report. Name the file according to the format: IELTS-lastname-firstname.
2. On your application form, enter your Test Report Form (TRF) number. If you have taken the IELTS Indicator test, enter your IELTS Indicator Score ID. Enter these numbers very carefully. The numbers are required for verifying the scores.*
3. Share your electronic test report to Aalto University via the test administrator's IELTS Results Service e-delivery.
   - When booking the test, choose Aalto University as the Recognising Organisation to make your score available to Aalto University.
   - If you have already taken the test, contact your test centre and request the test administrator to send your electronic test report to Aalto University (to the Doctoral education services of the Doctoral programme you are applying to). See the instructions for sharing your IELTS test report form electronically on the test administrator website.

Your scores will be verified electronically.

* If you receive your TRF number after submitting your application, contact the Doctoral education services of the Doctoral programme you are applying to by email and request that the TRF number be added to your application form.

More information about language test

• test administrator: IELTS (ielts.org)

Minimum score requirements

• TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test): 92, and 22 for Writing

Aalto University also accepts TOEFL iBT® Home Edition test.
Only TOEFL iBT tests are accepted. For example TOEFL Essentials or TOEFL ITP tests are not accepted.

If you have taken several tests, the best official score that is still valid and received by Aalto University by the deadline will be considered. You cannot combine scores from different test dates, e.g. TOEFL MyBest scores is not accepted.

Period of validity of test results

TOEFL test results are valid for two years from the date of the test.

Note that the test administrator ETS does not send expired TOEFL results.

Submitting the TOEFL scores

Only official test scores sent by the test administrator are accepted.

1. Request your official score report to be sent from the test administrator to Aalto University reporting code 7364 (Score Report Recipient) well in advance of the deadline.
   A department code is not required (or you can choose any department). Aalto University will receive all results sent with the reporting code 7364. 
2. Enter your TOEFL iBT Appointment number on your application form (to "Language proficiency" section of the form). The number has 16 digits (e.g. 0000 0000 xxxx xxxx).*
3. Upload a PDF copy of your TOEFL test report to your application form, if you have already received the report. Name the file according to the format: TOEFL-lastname-firstname.

The scores must be received electronically directly from the test administrator by the given deadline. Score reports sent by applicants will not be accepted. It takes about 1 to 2 weeks from sending the score report request for the scores to be received by the University. Aalto University receives the scores via ETS® Data Manager service. Contact the test administrator if you have questions about score delivery times.

* If you receive your TOEFL iBT Appointment number after submitting your application, contact the Doctoral education services of the Doctoral programme you are applying to by email and request that the TRF number be added to your application form.

More information about language test

• test administrator: TOEFL (ets.org)

Minimum score requirements

• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE A): 62, and 54 for Writing

Aalto University also accepts Pearson Test of English Academic Online (PTE Academic Online) and Pearson Test of English Academic UKVI tests.

Period of validity of test results

PTE test results are valid for two years from the date of the test.

If you have taken several tests, the best official score that is still valid and received by Aalto University by the given deadline will be considered. You cannot combine scores from different test dates.

Submitting the PTE scores

Only official test scores sent through the test administrator's electronic service are accepted.

1. Log in to your PTE account and send your results to Aalto University in the test administrator’s electronic service.
2. Enter your Score Report Code on your application form (to "Language proficiency" section).* 
   The Score Report Code can be found at the top of the report under your name. It contains 10 characters that are letters and numbers.
3. Upload a PDF copy of your PTE A test report to your application form, if you have already received the report. Name the file according to the format: PTE A-lastname-firstname.

* If you receive your Score Report Code after submitting your application, contact the Doctoral education services of the Doctoral programme you are applying to by email and request that the TRF number be added to your application form.

More information about language test

• test administrator: PTE Academic (pearsonpte.com)

Minimum score requirements

• C1 Advanced: A,B or C
• C2 Proficiency: A,B,C or Level C1

No Cambridge language tests other than C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, CAE) and C2 Proficiency (formerly known as Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, CPE) are accepted.

Period of validity of test results

For C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency, electronically verifiable tests taken after 2005 are accepted.

Submitting the C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency scores

1. Upload a PDF copy of your C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency results report to your application form (to "Language proficiency" section).
   Name the file according to the format: Nameofthetest-lastname-firstname.
2. Enter your test taker's ID number (e.g. ABC1234567), and Reference Number (e.g. 173YU0034522) or Statement of Results Number or Verification Number to your application form. The name of the number varies depending on the year the test was taken.* 
3. Log into the language test administrator's service and share your test results to Aalto University.

Your scores will be verified electronically.

* You If you receive your test ID and verification numbers after submitting your application, contact the Doctoral education services of the Doctoral programme you are applying to by email and request that the TRF number be added to your application form.

More information about language test

• C1 Advanced (cambridgeesol.org)
• C2 Proficiency (cambridgeesol.org)

Minimum score requirements

The National Certificate of Language Proficiency YKI (English) issued by the Finnish National Agency for Education at the minimum proficiency level of 5 in all subtests: reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking. Subtests from different test sittings may be combined.

Submitting the YKI-test results

Upload a PDF copy of your official YKI test report to your application form  (to "Language proficiency" section). Name the file according to the format: YKI-english-lastname-firstname.

More information about language test

• test administrator: Finnish National Agency for Education (oph.fi)

An English language test is not required if you have earned a higher education degree taught in Finnish, Swedish or English at a university or university of applied sciences in Finland. The higher education institution must be recognised by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and it must have the right to award degrees in Finland.

A minimum of one half of the degree must have been completed in Finland. Take good note of this requirement if your degree includes many transfer credits or if it is an international double or joint degree.

Documents

If the proof of proficiency in English is the same higher education degree granting you eligibility to doctoral studies, do not upload any documents to the "Language proficiency" section of the application form. The degree documents are uploaded to the section "Degree granting eligibility to apply". The same study documents do not need to be uploaded twice. 

Required documents

Please note that these documents are only required if the degree demonstrating your English proficiency is different from your degree granting eligibility to apply.

Upload to the application form:

1. A scanned colour copy of the original degree certificate in PDF format. 
   Name the file according to the format: Degree-certificate-lastname-firstname.
2. A scanned colour copy of the original official transcript of study records in PDF format.
   Name the file according to the format: Transcript-lastname-firstname.

English proficiency can be demonstrated with an English-medium bachelor’s, master’s, licentiate or doctoral degree in one of the following countries through studies that require residence in the country in question: 

a European Union (EU) / European Economic Area (EEA) country, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, the Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Zambia, or Zimbabwe.

A minimum of one half of the degree must be completed in English in a country listed above and in a higher education institution that meets the requirements for exemption from taking an English language test. Take good note of this requirement if your degree includes many transfer credits or you have an international double or joint degree.

The degree demonstrating language skills must be at least a three-year bachelor’s degree, at least a one-year master’s degree, or a licentiate or doctoral degree.

The awarding higher education institution must be a recognised part of the official national education system of the country listed above. That is, it must be accredited as a degree-granting higher education institution by the country where it is located or by a relevant international organisation (such as UNESCO).

Note the requirement of residing in the country while studying. A degree completed at an offshore campus outside the countries listed above is not sufficient to demonstrate your language skills even if the degree is awarded by a university which has their main location in one of the listed countries.

The language of the degree must be stated unambiguously on the degree certificate or its appendix, or on the transcript of records or other official document issued by the awarding institution (excluding Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States).

If the studies include several instruction languages, the document must clearly indicate the amount of studies taken in English. For example, it is not sufficient if the document only states that the language of instruction is English and French.

Documents

If the proof of proficiency in English is the same higher education degree granting you eligibility to doctoral studies, do not upload any documents to the "Language proficiency" section of the application form. The degree documents are uploaded to the section "Degree granting eligibility to apply". The same study documents do not need to be uploaded twice.

Required documents

Please note that these documents are only required if the degree demonstrating your English proficiency is different from your degree granting eligibility to apply.

Upload to the application form:

1. A scanned colour copy of the original degree certificate in PDF format.
   Name the file according to the format: Degree-certificate-lastname-firstname.
2. A scanned colour copy of the original official transcript of study records in PDF format.
   Name the file according to the format: Transcript-lastname-firstname.
3. If the language of the degree is not stated unambiguously on the degree certificate or transcript of records, an official document of the language of instruction issued by the awarding institution (excluding Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States). 

English proficiency can be demonstrated with secondary education degree completed in English in: an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the United States while residing in that country.

A minimum of one half of the degree must have been completed in English in a country listed above to be exempted from taking an English language test.

Required documents

1. Upload to the application form (to "Language proficiency" section) a scanned colour copy of your secondary-school final certificate in PDF format. Name the file according to the format: Secondary education-lastname-firstname.
2. If the degree is completed in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or South Africa, English as the language of instruction must be stated unambiguously on the certificate. For those countries, if the language of instruction is not indicated on the certificate, upload an official document issued by the institution clearly stating the language of instruction.

English proficiency can be demonstrated with an MBA, EMBA or DBA awarded by Aalto Executive Education.

Required documents if your Aalto Executive Education MBA, EMBA or DBA is complete

Upload to the application form (to "Language proficiency" section):

1. A scanned colour copy of the original diploma in PDF format.
   Name the file according to the format: Diploma-lastname-firstname.
2. A scanned colour copy of the original official transcript of study records in PDF format.
   Name the file according to the format: Transcript-lastname-firstname.

English proficiency can be demonstrated with a CEMS Master in International Management qualification.

Required documents if your CEMS MIM is complete

Upload to the application form (to "Language proficiency" section):

1. A scanned colour copy of the CEMS Master in International Management diploma in PDF format.
   Name the file according to the format: CEMS-diploma-lastname-firstname.
2. A scanned colour copy of the CEMS Master in International Management official transcript of study records in PDF format.
   Name the file according to the format: CEMS-transcript-lastname-firstname.

You can demonstrate proficiency in Finnish or Swedish with a higher education degree or studies, if you have completed one of the following:

• an academic thesis (or written final project) written in Finnish/Swedish at a higher education institution in Finland or abroad;
• a study module of at least 60 ECTS credits (or 35 older credits, i.e. ‘study weeks’) in the Finnish/Swedish language as an academic subject at a higher education institution in Finland or abroad;
• an approved maturity essay in Finnish for a degree at a higher education institution in Finland or an approved maturity essay in Swedish at a higher education institution; or
• as part of a degree at a higher education institution in Finland, a language test in Finnish/Swedish or language studies that serve to demonstrate proficiency in oral and written Finnish/Swedish as the second national language with a grade of at least Good.

Required documents

If the proof of proficiency in Finnish/Swedish is the same higher education degree granting you eligibility to apply to doctoral studies, do not upload any documents to the "Language proficiency" section of the application form. The degree documents are uploaded to the section "Degree granting eligibility to apply". The same study documents do not need to be uploaded twice.

If your proof of proficiency in Finnish/Swedish is some other higher education degree, upload to the application form (to "Language proficiency" section):

1. A scanned colour copy of the original degree certificate in PDF format.
   Name the file according to the format: Degree-certificate-lastname-firstname.
2. A scanned colour copy of transcript of records in PDF format.
   Name the file according to the format: Transcript-lastname-firstname.

You can demonstrate Finnish/Swedish proficiency, if you have basic education, an upper secondary school final examination or other examination conferring eligibility for higher education completed in Finnish/Swedish or the certificate awarded for the studies referred to in the Basic Education Act (628/1998) or the Act on General Upper Secondary Education (629/1998; 714/2018), or studies corresponding to them, with a passing grade in Finnish/Swedish in the subject of "mother tongue and literature" or the "Finnish/Swedish as a second language and literature" syllabus:

• a Finnish matriculation examination in which the studies were completed in Finnish/Swedish;
• a basic education certificate or upper secondary school-leaving certificate completed in Finnish/Swedish, or the studies corresponding to them in the school-leaving certificate where the subject of mother tongue and literature in the ‘Mother tongue and literature – Finnish/Swedish’ or the ‘Finnish/Swedish as a second language and literature’ syllabus was completed with a passing grade;
• a vocational upper secondary qualification in Finnish/Swedish;
• a further vocational qualification or specialist vocational qualification in Finnish/Swedish;
• other examination conferring eligibility for higher education in Finnish/Swedish;
• a higher education degree taught in Finnish/Swedish; or
• passing an amount of studies that are equivalent to Finland’s basic education syllabus in the subject of Finnish or Swedish through the Kulkuri School of Distance Education / Nomadskolan.

Without having completed the whole matriculation examination, you can demonstrate language proficiency with any of the following studies:

• the test of mother tongue and literature in Finnish/Swedish or the ‘Finnish/Swedish as a second language and literature’ test, as part of Finland's matriculation examination, with a grade of at least approbatur (A);
• the test for Finnish/Swedish as the second national language of Finland at the advanced syllabus level, as part of Finland’s matriculation examination, with a grade of at least eximia cum laude approbatur (E); or
• the test for Finnish/Swedish as the second national language of Finland at the intermediate syllabus level, as part of Finland’s matriculation examination, with a grade of at least laudatur (L).

Required document

Upload to the application form (to "Language proficiency" section):

1. A scanned colour copy in PDF format of your school leaving certificate, certificate of graduation, or certificate of Finnish matriculation examination that includes the language grade.
   Name the file according to the format: Certificate-lastname-firstname.

You can demonstrate your Finnish/Swedish skills without having completed the whole matriculation examination, if you have one of the following:

International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma with one of the following:

• Language A, A1 or A2 syllabus in Finnish/Swedish with a grade of at least 2; or
• Language B syllabus in Finnish/Swedish with a grade of at least 5.

European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma with one of the following:

• Language 1 (L1) or Language 2 (L2) syllabus in Finnish/Swedish with an approved grade
  (a grade of at least 4.00, if the exam is completed before 2021, a grade of at least 5.00, if the exam is completed in 2021 or after); or
• Language 3 (ONL) (L3, Other National Language) syllabus in Finnish/Swedish with a grade of at least 8.00.

Reifeprüfung (RP) or Deutsche Internationale Abitur (DIA) examination taken at Deutsche Schule Helsinki with one of the following:

• the written test in "Finnish as a mother tongue" with a minimum grade of 4;
• the "Finnish as a second language" test at the CEFR level B2 with a minimum grade of 8;
• the written test in Swedish with a minimum grade of 4.

Required document

Upload to the application form (to "Language proficiency" section):

1. A scanned colour copy in PDF format of your certificate or diploma that includes the language grade.
   Name the file according to the format: Certificate-lastname-firstname.

You can demonstrate Finnish/Swedish proficiency with one of the following language tests:

• National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) (Finnish/Swedish) intermediate-level test at a proficiency level of at least 4 in all subtests: reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking.
  Alternatively, completing at least three of the subtests of an advanced-level test (proficiency levels 5 and 6).
  Subtests from different test sittings may be combined;
• Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate (Finnish/Swedish) with a grade of at least Good on the written and oral component;
• A combination of National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) and Civil service language proficiency certificate (VKT), if you have:
  completed the National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) with proficiency level of at least 4 in the reading comprehension and writing subtests, plus the oral component of the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate with a grade of Good; OR
  completed the National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) at a proficiency level of at least 4 in the listening comprehension and speaking subtests, plus the written component of the Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate (VKT) with a grade of Good;
• TISUS test (Test i svenska för universitetsstudier), if you have passed all parts of the test.

Required document

Upload to the application form (to "Language proficiency" section):

1. a scanned colour copy of your test report in PDF format.
   Name the file according to the format: Nameofthetest-lastname-firstname.