Universities Without IELTS: Country-by-Country Guide 2026

Yes, many universities admit international students without IELTS. In Germany, the UK and Canada each university sets its own English rules, and many accept an English-medium degree (shown with an MOI letter), TOEFL, Duolingo, PTE or their own test. The catches are the UK visa rules and, in Norway, tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students since 2023.

What can you use instead of IELTS?

Most universities list several ways to prove your English. The common ones:

• MOI letter: a letter from your previous university confirming your degree was taught and assessed in English. Some universities accept it from anywhere, others only from listed countries or institutions.
• TOEFL iBT: widely accepted for English-taught programmes.
• PTE Academic: accepted by many universities, with their own minimum scores.
• Duolingo English Test: taken online and accepted by some universities, but far from all.
• The university's own test or interview.

A useful MOI letter is on your university's letterhead, signed and stamped by the registrar, and names your degree and years of study. Some universities want it sent to them directly, so check the format before you request one.

Whatever you use, read the programme page rather than the university's general page. The same university can accept an MOI letter for one course and ask for a test on another. Minimum scores differ too: where a programme lists TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo, it sets its own minimum for each, so compare the numbers before you book anything.

Germany: universities decide, and the visa doesn't ask for IELTS

German universities set their own English requirements for English-taught programmes, and many accept an MOI letter or another test. The German student visa doesn't mandate IELTS: it checks your admission, your funds (a blocked account of €11,904 a year) and your health insurance. Applicants from Pakistan and India also need an APS certificate before they apply.

Our full guide to studying in Germany without IELTS covers the waivers in more detail.

UK: waivers exist, but the visa has rules too

UK universities set their own English entry rules. Many accept an MOI letter or other tests, some accept school-level English results, and a pre-sessional English course can cover a small gap. For degree-level study, gov.uk says your university can assess your English itself, which is how students get a CAS without IELTS.

If your university doesn't assess you and you hold no qualification the Home Office accepts, you'll need a secure English language test (SELT) from an approved provider, and IELTS for UKVI is one of them. Standard Academic IELTS is not a SELT. An English-taught degree from outside the UK can count for the visa, but gov.uk says it needs an Ecctis assessment. The UK guide and gov.uk's English rules have the detail.

Canada: universities set the rules, and SDS is gone

Canadian universities and colleges set their own English requirements. Depending on the institution, you may be able to use an MOI letter, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo or the institution's own assessment, or accept a conditional offer that starts with an English pathway programme.

On the permit side, the Student Direct Stream, which required a language test, ended in November 2024. The study permit now turns on your acceptance, your funds (CAD 23,448 for living costs outside Quebec on applications from 1 September 2026, plus first-year tuition and travel) and whether your plan is credible. One thing to plan for: the post-graduation work permit has its own language test requirement, so skipping IELTS now may only delay a test. The Canada guide covers the rest.

Norway: English-taught, but no longer free

Most of Norway's English-taught degrees are master's programmes. Study in Norway, the official information site, says you must document your English for any degree taught in English, following each institution's rules, and that accepted tests and scores vary between institutions and even programmes. Don't assume an MOI letter will be accepted; check the programme page.

The bigger change is money. Non-EU/EEA students have paid tuition at Norwegian public universities since autumn 2023, typically about €9,000 to €25,000 or more a year. A 2025 proposal would let institutions set their own fees, possibly zero, from August 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. Check each university's current fee on the programme page.

Australia and the rest of Europe

Australian universities set their own English entry requirements, and the student visa can have its own English rules on top, so confirm both before you count on a waiver: the university's entry page and the Department of Home Affairs student visa page.

Across the rest of Europe, policies vary by country and by university. Some accept an MOI letter or a previous English-medium degree; others insist on a named test. Treat any online list of universities without IELTS as a starting point and confirm on each programme page.

Next steps

Use Smart Match to find universities that fit your grades, then check each programme's English options. If Germany is on your list, start with the Germany guide and our deeper look at studying in Germany without IELTS.

FAQ

Is an MOI letter enough to get a student visa?

It depends on the country. Germany's student visa doesn't ask for IELTS. The UK relies on your university's own assessment, an Ecctis-assessed English-taught degree or an approved SELT, and Canada's study permit doesn't require a language test as standard.

Is Duolingo accepted instead of IELTS?

By some universities, for admission. Duolingo isn't on the Home Office's list of approved SELT providers, so it can't replace IELTS for UKVI where a UK visa needs a secure test.

Which countries accept students without IELTS?

Germany, the UK, Canada, Norway, Australia and much of Europe all have universities that accept other proof of English. The decision sits with each university, so the better question is which programmes on your shortlist accept the proof you already have.

Is IELTS for UKVI different from normal IELTS?

For visa purposes, yes. IELTS for UKVI is an approved SELT sat at an approved test centre; a standard Academic IELTS result can satisfy a university but doesn't count where the Home Office needs a SELT.