Language Requirements for Studying in Europe

There is no single European language rule

Europe is not one admissions system, so there is no single language requirement that applies everywhere. Each country, and very often each university, sets its own rules, and the language you need depends entirely on the language the programme is taught in rather than on which country you study in.

The first question to settle is therefore not "what test do I need?" but "is the degree taught in English or in the local language?" Once you know that, the accepted tests and minimum levels follow.

English-taught vs local-language programmes

Many universities across Germany, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, France, Italy and Spain offer a growing number of full degrees taught entirely in English, especially at master's level. For these you typically prove English proficiency rather than the local language.

Undergraduate degrees are more often taught in the national language, particularly at public universities, so a Bachelor's in France, Germany, Italy or Spain may require proof of French, German, Italian or Spanish. Always read the specific programme page — two degrees at the same university can have different requirements.

• English-taught degree → prove English (commonly IELTS, TOEFL; sometimes PTE or Duolingo, where accepted)
• Local-language degree → prove the national language (e.g. DELF/DALF/TCF for French, TestDaF/DSH for German)
• Some programmes ask for both a working level of English and basic local language

Minimum scores vary — confirm on the programme page

The exact minimum score a university expects varies widely by institution, level of study and even by faculty. A master's in one country may set a different IELTS or TOEFL minimum than a comparable course elsewhere, and some selective programmes set higher bars.

For this reason, do not rely on a single "Europe-wide" number. Find the official language requirement on the specific programme's admissions page and verify it there before you book a test.

Visa and residence-permit language rules can differ

Separately from a university's admission rules, some national student-visa or residence-permit processes may have their own language expectations or may accept a different set of tests than the university. The two are not always identical.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Check both the university's admission requirements and the relevant national government immigration source, and verify on the official government source before you apply.

How to find the right requirement for you

Work in this order so you only sit the test you actually need. Confirm the language of instruction, read the programme's official language requirement, check whether your preferred test is accepted, then look up any separate visa-stage language rule.

• Confirm whether the degree is taught in English or the local language
• Open the official programme page and note the exact test(s) and minimum it lists
• Check whether your chosen test (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo) is accepted there
• Check the national immigration source for any separate visa-stage language rule