Teaching methods employed and the importance of good English language skills
The teaching methods employed at the Faculty of Economics and Business (small-group teaching, tutorials, group assignments, presentations) are such that exchange students need to be able to demonstrate a sufficient level of proficiency in the English language before starting their courses.
The Faculty of Economics and Business does not offer courses exclusively for exchange students. This means that exchange students participate in courses with regular Degree (BSc and MSc) students. All degree students are required to meet minimum requirements concerning their English proficiency - consequently, we also require this from our exchange students.
In our experience, students whose command of English is below standard find it difficult to actively participate in small-group activities, which are a core feature of our degree courses and programmes.
In some cases, our exchange students have been unable to perform in accord with their academic capabilities. This has led some of our lecturers and students to begin to consider our exchange students as being less attractive participants in their courses and project groups, which is unfair, given the many excellent exchange students whom we receive annually.
One way of solving this and assuring that our incoming students have a pleasant and successful stay studying at the Faculty of Economics is to require a satisfactory level of English as a pre-requisite for participation in our courses. Native English speakers (e.g. from the USA, Australia, Canada etc) need not send us any proof of English proficiency.
>> For BSc exchange students we accept the documents listed below:
- TOEFL score (no institutional tests): internet-based (IBT) 80, computer-based (CBT) 213, paper-based (PBT)550
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IELTS score of 6.0
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Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): grade C
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Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) English: B2.2
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From partners whose exchange students achieved 15 ECTS or more in courses at FEB during one semester (or 30 ECTS in 2 semesters) we would accept a statement (written in English!) from the coordinator and/or university language test. We look at statistics over the last three years. Students will need to check with their coordinator if this applies to their university. P
lease note the coordinator statement needs to mention that your English proficiency skills are equivalent to the scores mentioned above.
Our institutional code to be filled in in case the applicant takes the TOEFL test is: 9077.
Tests taken more than two years ago are no longer valid. We accept test scores sent by email. Please make sure to send us your English test score before 1 June (1 semester) or 1 November (2nd semester).
>> MSc/graduate exchange students will need to meet higher scores - equivalent to the scores we require from Degree students:
- an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 92/ computer-based (CBT) TOEFL score of 237/
paper-based (PBT) TOEFL score of 580
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IELTS score of 6.5
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Cambridge
Proficiency A, B, C or Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
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grade C1/C2 on the written and oral parts of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) English test
Please note that a statement by the university/coordinator is not acceptable for MSc/graduate exchange.
