Graduation Requirement - External Language Test Information - FAQ

1. Do I need to take an external language test to graduate? 
2. Which tests are accepted? 
3. What score do I need? 
4. How are external language certificates verified?
5. What is the deadline to obtain my score? 
6. How can I check whether my certificate has been accepted for graduation purposes? 
7. I already took a test during my BiM programme — do I need another one? 
8. I’m a native speaker — do I still need to take a test? 
9. What if my test is more than two years old when I graduate?

Do I need to take an external language test to be able to graduate? 

To graduate from your programme (BiM, PGE, Master), you must obtain the required minimum score in an approved external English language test.

Which tests are accepted?

Only the following tests are accepted for graduation purposes:

• TOEIC Listening & Reading - 2-hour test, with Official Score Report (only)
  A Certificate of Achievement will not be accepted for graduation purposes.
• TOEFL iBT only
• IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training

What score do I need?

The minimum required score depends on your programme.

For Bachelor in Management students (including BIA):

For PGE or Master students:

How are external language certificates verified?

External language certificates will only be accepted if their authenticity can be verified.

Your certificate must include a valid QR code, security or verification code, or another means of verification that allows RSB to check the result directly with the test provider (TOEIC/ETS, TOEFL/ETS or IELTS).

If your certificate does not contain sufficient information to allow verification, you will need to contact the test centre or issuing organisation and ask them to provide RSB with official confirmation that you took the test at that location.

RSB will not contact the test centre or issuing organisation on your behalf.

What is the deadline to obtain my score?

For the 2026–27 academic year:

• Final-year BiM students: you must obtain the minimum required score before 30 September 2027.
• Final-year PGE students: you must obtain the minimum required score before 31 December 2027.
• Final-year Master programme students: you must obtain the minimum required score before 30 September 2027.

If you do not obtain the required score by the relevant deadline, you will not graduate immediately.

Your graduation will be postponed, and your case will be presented to the Final Examination Board at a later date, once you have achieved the required score.

How can I check whether my language test has been accepted for graduation purposes?

In Rise:

My Language Certificates → My Registered Language Certificates

Select “View” for the test you wish to check.

You will find details of the test, your score and its status.

If you took the test at RSB: The Language Department will register the test for you.  You should not upload the certificate yourself.

If you took the test at an external test centre: You should upload the certificate yourself to your Rise profile.

I already took an external language test during my BiM programme. Do I need to take another test?

No, provided that the score you have already registered is equivalent to, or higher than, the minimum required score for your new programme.

You do not need to take another test.

After a small administrative delay, once you have been registered on your new programme, you will see that your certificate has been accepted on your Rise profile.

I am a native English speaker. Do I still need to take the test?

In most cases, yes.

An exception may apply if you have completed a minimum of two years of higher education in a native English-speaking country, according to RSB's specific and exhaustive list of eligible countries.

If you think you may qualify for this exception, please contact the Language Department via the Aloha contact page.

What if my test is more than two years old when I graduate?

You can take your test at any time before the final deadline.

The two-year period generally used for the official validity of these test results does not prevent you from using a result obtained earlier, provided that the result can still be officially verified when you submit it to RSB.

In other words, your test does not need to be less than two years old on the date of graduation.