Fact check: What English language proficiency tests are accepted by Linköping University for international students?

1. What applicants assert and what the university pages say that matters

Aggregated analyses of Linköping University’s admission pages consistently emphasize that proof of English proficiency is mandatory for instruction-taught programs in English, and that recognized tests such as IELTS and TOEFL are accepted evidence of that competence ^{[1] [5]}. The university-level summaries for both bachelor’s and master’s admissions repeat the same core requirement language, indicating institutional alignment across entry levels ^{[1] [3]}. These sources all point applicants to national admission guidance for the full list of recognized tests and equivalences, implying Linköping defers to the University Admissions Sweden framework for alternative test acceptance ^{[1] [5]}.

2. The commonly reported score thresholds that applicants will see online

Multiple summaries report IELTS overall 6.5 with no band under 5.5, and TOEFL iBT total around 90 as the target-level evidence of English 6 (the Swedish upper-secondary equivalence) for application purposes ^{[1] [6]}. One source adds detail that TOEFL section minima may be expressed as 20 in the written/reading test in some documentation, and another reference includes lower recommended thresholds such as IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 60 in different application contexts ^{[4] [1]}. These differences show that threshold reporting varies by web page type and program context ^[2].

3. The broader list of accepted tests and who compiles it

Analyses identify PTE alongside IELTS and TOEFL among accepted tests in some summaries, and they indicate that Linköping points applicants to the centralized University Admissions Sweden pages for a full roster of internationally recognized English tests and country equivalencies ^{[2] [1]}. This suggests that Linköping relies on national-level criteria rather than maintaining an exhaustive, program-specific list on every page, meaning applicants should consult both the program page and the national portal for confirmation ^{[5] [2]}.

4. Where the summaries diverge and why that matters for applicants

The available analyses show variation: some pages or secondary admission guides list higher minima (IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90), while other application advice mentions lower or recommended levels (IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 60 or TOEFL ITP 540). This divergence stems from different page purposes—official entry requirement pages, central application help pages, and third-party admission guides—each of which may present baseline, recommended, or program-specific numbers ^{[4] [1] [2]}. Applicants relying on a single page risk misunderstanding which threshold applies to their specific program.

5. Exemptions, documentary routes, and program exceptions that change the picture

Summaries indicate Linköping recognizes alternative documentary evidence for English competence and that some applicants may be exempt from formal test submission if they can demonstrate sufficient English through previous education or other certified evidence ^{[3] [4]}. The university and centralized admission service typically outline these exemptions (for example, completed education in English-language instruction), but the summaries do not itemize all acceptable documents or country-specific exemptions, so program-level rules may add further criteria ^{[3] [5]}.

6. Assessing reliability: missing dates, potential agendas, and cross-checking needs

All summaries provided lack explicit publication dates and are drawn from a mix of university pages and third-party admission guides ^{[1] [6] [2]}. The absence of timestamps weakens ability to assert the most recent thresholds; educational admissions pages are updated seasonally. Third-party guides that list PTE or variant thresholds may be aggregators aiming to capture applicants and could overgeneralize program-specific minima, so applicants must cross-check the program’s official Linköping page and University Admissions Sweden for authoritative, current requirements ^{[2] [1]}.

7. Clear steps for applicants to confirm and act on these findings

Applicants should treat the consensus—IELTS and TOEFL accepted, common minima IELTS 6.5/TOEFL ~90, PTE sometimes accepted—as a practical baseline but verify program-specific rules and exemptions via the official Linköping program page and the University Admissions Sweden portal. Because the available summaries explicitly reference those official channels and note possible exemptions, prospective students must obtain and document whichever evidence the program and central admissions system require to avoid processing delays ^{[1] [3] [2]}.