Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
VIA accepted English tests
From VIA's English proficiency requirements page. No IELTS band minimums are given.
| Test | Bachelor's and AP degrees |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (including online) | Average 6.5 |
| TOEFL iBT or Home Edition | 94 before 21 Jan 2026; 4.5 after |
| TOEFL paper-based | Reading 19 to 23, Listening 20 to 23, Writing 24 to 26, Speaking 20 to 22 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | Average 180 |
Meeting the requirement through school English
VIA's first route is upper secondary English equal to a Danish B-level: at least 210 hours over the final three years of school, with a weighted average of at least 2.0 on the Danish scale. You document it with VIA's verification form. If your school English does not reach that level, you take a test. PTE and Duolingo are not on VIA's list.
An AP degree taught in English at a Danish institution does not exempt you, and a test cannot replace English as a specific subject requirement on programmes that have one.
Free test: are you at VIA University College's score yet?
Take a free AI-scored IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill, so you know how far you are from the requirement before you book the real test. Free account, no card.
Take a free mock →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
Validity and deadlines
IELTS and TOEFL results must be no more than two years old at the possible study start. The final deadline to submit English documentation through optagelse.dk is 5 July at 12 noon; for top-up programmes applied for through nemStudie, it is 15 May at 23:59.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your VIA programme page and in your offer, so check it there before you book a test.
Minimum vs competitive score
Where VIA University College publishes an IELTS score, it is the minimum: the floor an application has to meet to be considered, not a score that guarantees an offer.
Competitive programmes, and courses with far more applicants than places, may expect more than the minimum, and some departments set their own overall or per-skill scores, often for writing or speaking. The course page has the final word, so check it before you book a test.
If you are close to the line, aim for a margin above it: one weak skill can miss the requirement even when the overall band clears it. Not sure where you stand? Take a free IELTS mock test and get a band for each skill.
Frequently asked questions
What IELTS does VIA University College need?+
IELTS Academic with a minimum average of 6.5, if your upper secondary English does not equal a Danish B-level.
Does VIA accept IELTS Online?+
Yes. VIA lists the IELTS Academic online test with the same 6.5 average.
Does VIA accept PTE or Duolingo?+
Neither appears on VIA's list, which names IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge C1 or C2.
Can my school English replace IELTS at VIA?+
Yes, if you can document English equal to a Danish B-level: 210 hours over the last three years of upper secondary with a weighted average of at least 2.0.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for Denmark
- Aarhus University IELTS requirement
- Aalborg University IELTS requirement
- How long is IELTS valid?
- All 3112 guides
Guide updated on 30 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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