Most programmes are taught in German. Universities usually require level B2, some C1. You can prove your German with a school certificate showing at least four years of German or with a language certificate – for example the Austrian ÖSD, which you can take at more than 200 exam centres worldwide.
If a university admits you on condition that you improve your German, you can attend a preparatory course in Austria (Vorstudienlehrgang) – you need at least level A2 to start.
The number of programmes taught in English is growing, especially at master's level. For these you will usually need IELTS or TOEFL. The full list is in the studienwahl.at search engine – more than 2,500 programmes at more than 77 institutions.
The language of your studies depends on the community: in Flanders you study in Dutch, in Wallonia and at the French-speaking institutions in Brussels in French. There are bachelor's programmes taught in English, but many more at master's and doctoral level.
Flanders: Dutch-taught programmes usually require level B2, some C1. English-taught programmes usually ask for B2 – e.g. IELTS 6.0 or higher, or TOEFL iBT 72–94, depending on the institution.
French Community: formal proof of French at level B2 (e.g. DELF B2, DALF, TCF or TEF) is required mainly for teacher training programmes. For other programmes you still need to follow lectures in French with ease.
Most programmes are taught in Bulgarian – which is written in Cyrillic. If you want to study in Bulgarian, you can start with a preparatory course: at the Medical University of Varna it takes 9 months and costs €5,000 (2026/27). The university also runs a 9-month preparatory English course at the same price.
Programmes in English are mainly in medical fields. You can prove your language skills with a certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL – the institution will tell you the required level. In Sofia, applicants for medicine in English take an English exam anyway.
Most programmes are taught in Croatian. At some faculties foreign applicants – including those from some EU countries – have to pass a Croatian language exam at level B2 at the National Centre for External Evaluation of Education (NCVVO). This is the case, for example, for architecture and design in Zagreb.
There are around 100 programmes taught in English – you will find the list on studyincroatia.hr. For these, institutions usually ask for a language certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL.
Croatian courses for foreigners are described on the Learning Croatian page.
At public universities, teaching is mainly in Greek. At the University of Cyprus the exceptions are English studies, French studies and European studies, and Turkish studies – these are taught in English, French and Turkish respectively. UCY's School of Modern Greek runs intensive and regular courses for foreigners.
Study in Europe says that many institutions offer programmes taught entirely in English – bachelor's, master's and doctoral. This applies especially to private universities. For these, the university will usually ask for IELTS or TOEFL.
At public universities, programmes are taught mainly in Czech. Many require at least level B2. If you speak another Slavic language, Czech will come more easily – but it is still a foreign language, so plan on taking a course. Universities offer fee-paying preparatory courses that combine intensive Czech with preparation for the entrance exams in your subjects.
There are more than 1,000 programmes taught in English. For these you will usually need IELTS or TOEFL – the university sets the required score. Remember that programmes taught in English usually charge tuition (see: Tuition fees).
All programmes require good English. The standard is the Danish “English B” level:
Some programmes require the higher “English A” level: IELTS at least 7.0, TOEFL iBT 94–101 points or Cambridge CPE.
For programmes taught in Danish you usually have to pass the Danish as a second language exam (Studieprøven i dansk som andetsprog). International students can learn Danish for free, so you could start with a bachelor's in English and switch to a Danish-taught master's later.
For programmes taught in Estonian you need Estonian at the level your university sets. It is worth considering, because full-time programmes taught in Estonian are free at public universities (see: Tuition fees).
Most international students, however, choose one of more than 150 programmes taught in English. Estonian universities accept the popular certificates, including IELTS and TOEFL. Watch out for the details: the University of Tartu, for example, does not accept TOEFL ITP. You will find the minimum score in the programme description. You can browse all programmes in the Study in Estonia search engine.
Finnish institutions offer a wide choice of programmes in English – more than 600. For these you have to prove your English, usually with IELTS or TOEFL. Each institution lists the required score and the documents it accepts in the programme description.
For programmes taught in Finnish or Swedish (both are official languages in Finland) you need proof that you know one of these languages – again according to the institution's rules.
Even if you study in English, basic Finnish is really useful – in everyday life and when you look for a job.
The main language of instruction is French. Campus France recommends level B1 or B2 for a licence and a master's, and Parcoursup says B2 is usually needed – the exact requirement depends on the programme. When you apply through Parcoursup, you only attach a certificate if the programme asks for one.
You will usually prove your French with a DELF or DALF diploma or the TCF test.
The number of programmes taught in English is growing – Campus France counts around 1,600. You'll find them in the Taught in English catalogue. For these programmes, institutions usually ask for IELTS or TOEFL.
Most programmes are taught in German. Universities usually require a level equivalent to the DSH-2 exam. The University of Bonn, for example, accepts these as equivalent:
You take the DSH at a university in Germany, while TestDaF is offered at more than 500 test centres in 100 countries, also in a digital version. If your programme is taught entirely in English, you usually don't need to prove your German.
In the 2025/26 winter semester there were 2,383 programmes taught in English (10.6% of all programmes), but most of them at master's level: 1,944 compared with 439 at bachelor's level. For these you will usually need IELTS or TOEFL. You can search for them in the DAAD International Programmes database.
Bachelor's programmes at public universities are taught in Greek. For a Greek-taught programme you need a certificate at level B2 or higher, issued by:
Exams take place twice a year. The universities themselves also run Greek courses.
According to Study in Europe, Greek universities offer more than 200 programmes in English – bachelor's, master's and joint programmes with foreign universities. These charge fees. For them, the university will usually ask for IELTS or TOEFL.
The main language of study is Hungarian – and it is the biggest obstacle. To apply through felvi.hu, including for state-funded places, you need advanced Hungarian, and state-funded places are only available on programmes taught in Hungarian.
That is why most international students choose programmes in a foreign language – there are more than 700, mostly in English. For these you will usually need IELTS or TOEFL, or the university tests your English in its own exam, as Semmelweis does for medicine.
You can search for programmes by language in the Study Finder.
Teaching is mainly in Icelandic, but the number of programmes taught in English is growing – especially at master's level.
If English is not your first language, the university may ask for a TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score. The required level is given in the programme description.
If you want to study in Icelandic or stay in Iceland for longer, start by learning the language. The University of Iceland offers a bachelor's degree and a practical diploma in Icelandic as a Second Language, and every year the Icelandic government funds scholarships for foreigners to learn Icelandic (see: Scholarships).
Ireland's official languages are Irish and English, but almost all programmes are taught in English. Every applicant has to prove their English.
EU applicants usually do this with their English result in the school leaving exam – the minimum level is given in the CAO guidelines for EU certificates. If your exam is more than two years old or the institution asks for more, you can prove your English with a certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL.
For master's programmes and for applicants from outside the EU, institutions set their own requirements – you will find them on the programme page.
Most programmes are taught in Italian. Universities usually ask for proof of your Italian, and the required level is given in the call for applications (bando). You can prove your Italian with a certificate such as CILS, CELI or PLIDA – courses and exams are offered, among others, by Italian Cultural Institutes (Istituti Italiani di Cultura) around the world.
A growing number of programmes are taught entirely in English, especially at master's level. For these, the university will usually ask for IELTS or TOEFL. You can search for English-taught programmes in the Universitaly database. If you need a visa, keep in mind that for 2026/27 consulates ask for at least B2 level in the language of instruction.
Most programmes are taught in Latvian. You can choose from more than 200 programmes in English – browse them in the Study in Latvia search engine.
For English-taught programmes you have to prove your English – the University of Latvia, for example, requires at least level B2. A certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL is enough, unless you studied in an English-speaking country. The programme description gives the minimum score.
The official language is German, and most bachelor's teaching is in German. If German is not your first language, you need level C1 for a bachelor's programme. The university accepts, among others, certificates from the Goethe-Institut, TestDaF, DSH, telc and ÖSD.
For business administration (BSc Business Administration) you also need English at the level of a secondary school leaving certificate – three specialisations in this programme are taught almost entirely in English. The master's in Information Systems, for example, is also taught in English; you can check the language of the other master's programmes on their websites. If the university asks for an English certificate, see IELTS or TOEFL.
For programmes taught in Lithuanian you must prove Lithuanian at level B2 or C1 – with a certificate or by passing the state test. Vilnius University offers Lithuanian courses for a semester or a full year.
There are more than 500 programmes in English – you will find them in the Study in Lithuania search engine. You upload your test result, e.g. IELTS or TOEFL, to LAMA BPO or to the university's system. The programme description gives the required level.
Luxembourg has three languages: Luxembourgish (the national language) plus French and German (also used in public administration). At Uni.lu, programmes are bilingual, trilingual or taught entirely in English, and you must prove your level in every language of instruction according to the CEFR scale.
An example: the Bachelor en Cultures Européennes – English Studies required English at level C1, a second language (French or German) at B2 and a third at A2. English dominates at master's level – a certificate helps, e.g. IELTS or TOEFL, and for French DELF or DALF.
You don't need Luxembourgish for your studies, but it makes everyday life and job hunting easier.
Malta has two official languages – Maltese and English. Most programmes are taught entirely in English, so you don't need Maltese for your studies.
The University of Malta usually requires:
TOEFL iBT is also accepted – since January 2026 on the new score scale (e.g. 4 overall and 4.5 in writing for bachelor's programmes). Some applicants may be exempt from the certificate – check on the UM website.
The Netherlands has a very large number of programmes taught entirely in English, especially at master's level. You will usually need IELTS 6.0 or higher, or TOEFL – the institution sets the exact score.
For programmes taught in Dutch you have to pass the state exam in Dutch as a second language – Staatsexamen NT2. University language centres run preparatory courses at levels from beginner to advanced; a full cycle of intensive classes costs €250–2,500.
Even if you study in English, basic Dutch will make everyday life and finding a side job easier.
The official languages are Macedonian (written in Cyrillic) and Albanian. At UKIM teaching is mainly in Macedonian.
If you don't speak Macedonian, UKIM runs a one-year programme "Macedonian Language for Foreigners" (60 ECTS) at the Blaže Koneski Faculty of Philology. Classes are intensive, and at the end you receive a certificate of the exam you passed. There is also a similar one-year English programme.
UKIM teaches in English in programmes including:
For doctoral studies UKIM requires an English certificate at level B2.
For programmes taught in Norwegian you need to know Norwegian. You can prove it, for example, with:
If the GSU list requires applicants from your country to prove their English separately, for general admission it is enough to have, for example, TOEFL iBT with at least 60 points or IELTS with an overall score of at least 5.0.
For programmes taught in English, institutions set their own, usually higher requirements – check them in the programme description.
Most programmes are taught in Polish. If you want to study in Polish, the university will ask you to prove your language skills – for example with a state certificate in Polish as a foreign language (certyfikatpolski.pl) or by completing a preparatory course. The required level is in the admission rules.
The number of programmes taught in English is growing – you can find them in NAWA's Study Finder. For these, universities usually ask for proof of English, e.g. IELTS or TOEFL; the required level is in the admission rules.
Remember that programmes taught in a foreign language usually charge tuition, also at public universities and also for EU citizens (see: Tuition fees).
Most programmes, especially bachelor's degrees at public institutions, are taught in Portuguese. You can prove your Portuguese with a certificate in Portuguese as a foreign language (e.g. CAPLE) – ask the university which level it requires.
There are programmes taught in English too, mainly at master's and doctoral level. For these, the university will usually ask for IELTS or TOEFL. You'll find them on the universities' websites.
Even if you study in English, start learning Portuguese early – it will help you at public offices, when renting and in casual jobs.
Programmes are taught mainly in Romanian, but institutions also offer programmes in English, French, German and Hungarian. If you want to study in Romanian, you can start with a one-year preparatory Romanian course (an pregătitor, 60 ECTS) – offered, for example, by the Faculty of Letters of the University of Bucharest.
For programmes in a foreign language you need a certificate, usually at level B2 – UMF Cluj-Napoca, for example, requires it for medicine in English and in French, unless you completed secondary school in that language. You can use, for example, IELTS or TOEFL.
The main language of instruction is Serbian. If you want to study in Serbian, you must prove your language skills – the faculty will tell you what level and which document it accepts. Serbian is written in two alphabets – Cyrillic and Latin.
You can learn Serbian at, among others:
Most of them also offer online courses.
There are more than 170 programmes taught in English, at all levels. Institutions may ask for a certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL. You will find the programmes in the Study in Serbia database.
Programmes are usually taught in Slovak. Universities also offer programmes in other languages – most often in English, sometimes in Hungarian, French, German or Russian. SAIA publishes a list of programmes taught in foreign languages in its brochure “Study in Slovakia: Study Programmes Offered in Foreign Languages”.
If you speak another Slavic language, Slovak will come more easily, but the faculty may ask you to prove your Slovak – check before you apply. For programmes in English you will usually need IELTS or TOEFL; the university sets the required score.
Most programmes are taught in Slovenian. You can start learning it before you arrive: free online courses are available on the slonline.si portal and at the University of Maribor (for its students), and the University of Primorska runs free courses from A1 to B1.
The Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language at the University of Ljubljana runs courses and issues state certificates of Slovenian. International students can also join the Leto plus (Year Plus) programme, in which a Slovenian course is compulsory.
There is a good choice of programmes in English, especially at master's and doctoral level – see the list on studyinslovenia.si. The university tells you which certificate it requires, e.g. IELTS or TOEFL.
The main language of instruction is Spanish. In Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia and the Basque Country, some classes may also be taught in the regional language – check the programme description. You can prove your Spanish with a certificate such as DELE, which you can take at Instituto Cervantes centres and other exam centres around the world.
According to SEPIE, universities offer more than 800 programmes taught fully or partly in English – most of them at master's level. For these, the university will usually ask for IELTS or TOEFL. Even if you study in English, Spanish will be very useful in everyday life.
Programmes taught in English require the level of the Swedish course English 6. You can prove it, for example, with:
Some master's programmes require English 5, others the higher English 7.
For programmes taught in Swedish, Swedish language skills are part of the general entry requirements – you can check exactly what is accepted on antagning.se. Swedish will also help you in everyday life and when looking for a job, even if you study in English.
The language of instruction depends on the region: German (e.g. Zurich, Bern, Basel), French (Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel) or Italian (Università della Svizzera italiana in Ticino). Good knowledge of the language of instruction is a basic condition for admission. Some examples:
Programmes taught in English are mainly at master's level. They usually require IELTS or TOEFL. You can check the language of each programme on studyprogrammes.ch.
At most universities the language of instruction is Turkish, but many programmes are also taught in English. Even if you study in English, basic Turkish will help you in everyday life.
Turkish: many universities offer a preparatory course after admission – 4–6 hours of language a day. Türkiye Bursları scholarship holders get a year of free language tuition and should reach a C1 certificate. Courses are also run by Ankara University's TÖMER centres in Alanya, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Istanbul and İzmir. You can also prove your Turkish with the central TYS exam, held three times a year.
English: universities usually require a certificate, e.g. TOEFL or IELTS, or their own test. If you do not reach the required score, you go into a preparatory year of English. At METU it costs the same as your chosen programme.
Programmes are taught in English. For a Student visa at degree level or above you need English at least at level B2. You prove it with a test from the government's list of Secure English Language Tests (SELT), or the university can assess it itself – with its own test, still at B2. Nationals of majority English-speaking countries, such as Ireland, Malta, the USA, Canada or Australia, don't have to prove their English for the visa.
For admission, universities often set higher requirements than the immigration authorities and give a minimum score for each course – e.g. in IELTS. Before you book a test, check that this version of the exam can also be used for your visa application.
Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.
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