UK Universities without IELTS: How to get UK Study Visa without IELTS?

Before understanding how to study in UK universities without IELTS, let us first understand what exactly an IELTS exam is. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a standardised language assessment examination used by various universities around the world to evaluate the language skills of international students.

Students are tested in 4 sections on this test—reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The test is 3 hours long, and students will receive an overall score for all of their basic English language skills. Exams like these are required in English-speaking countries to test your language skills so that you can understand the courses taught in English in such countries. However, it is not always mandatory.

You can also study in UK without giving the IELTS exam. Let’s understand how?

Suggested: Complete Requirements for Studying in the UK for International Students

Since many international students already display excellent English language skills or are unable to take the IELTS exam due to time constraints, many universities in the UK have decided not to put international students through the IELTS exam. Therefore, international students, by selecting the universities without IELTS, can study in UK without giving the aforementioned exam. However, there are a few more requirements that the students need to abide by.

Let’s check the requirements for admission in UK without IELTS.

Requirements to Study in UK Universities without IELTS

IELTS is not the only way through which the British universities can evaluate your English language proficiency. The universities ask for other requirements to check your proficiency in such cases:

1. Pre-sessional English Course: Many universities in UK offer pre-sessional courses for students who wish to study in UK without the IELTS. These pre-sessional courses are a great way to improve your English language skills and needed classroom skills. If you couldn’t score well in the IELTS exam or if for some reason you missed the IELTS exam, you can always opt for such pre-sessional courses. These courses are 4 to 10 weeks in duration, depending on your choice and requirement.
   
   
2. Certificate of English as an Official Language: Some without IELTS universities in UK also accept an English proficiency certificate from your previous employer as proof of English language proficiency. The certificate should prove the following:

• English is the official language at your workplace
• You have fluency in English
• You are competent in writing and communicating in English
  
  

1. English Marks Obtained in High School: If you have scored 70% or more in your 10th and 12th class English, then some universities in the UK can consider those marks instead of IELTS.
   
   
2. Interview: Many universities in the UK have interviews as a part of their application process. These interviews are held to see how serious you are about studying in the UK and also to gauge your English language proficiency. If you do well in the interview, you may not have to give the IELTS exam.
   
   
3. English Medium School: If you were in a school where the main medium of language was English, you could provide proof that you attended an English medium school, and you can use this fact as English language proficiency, and then you might not have to give the IELTS exam.
   
   
4. English Major: If you studied English as a major or specialisation for your bachelor's, you do not need to give IELTS.

Suggested: Is IELTS Compulsory in all Cases?

You must make sure that you check with the university regarding which of the above they consider as an alternative to IELTS. Let’s check a few!

Alternatives to Giving IELTS in UK

There are various alternatives to giving IELTS. These include giving other standardised tests. Different universities have different requirements when it comes to language proficiency.

Some universities may ask you to give tests other than the IELTS, and some may not. Check with your university first before starting your application process. Some of the popular standardised tests for testing the English language are mentioned below:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a foreign language)
• PTE
• Duolingo English Test
• Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE)
• Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE)

Suggested: Duolingo Accepting Universities in UK!

There are various without IELTS universities in UK which accept admissions on other requirements than IELTS scores. Here is a look at the list of UK universities without IELTS requirements:

Apart from the universities without IELTS in UK mentioned above, there are many more UK universities without IELTS requirements. These are listed below:

• University of Basel
• Birmingham City University
• Riga Technical University
• Northumbria University
• University of Bolton
• University of Northampton
• University of Plymouth
• Portsmouth University
• Swansea University
• University of Greenwich
• University of Central Lancashire
• Aston University

It is recommended that you check the language requirements for particular courses you are interested in before starting the application process.

Suggested: PTE Accepting Universities in UK!

Wondering if it’s possible to get UK study visa without IELTS? Well, it absolutely is! You can get a UK study visa without IELTS only if you provide the immigration authorities with an official document from the university you have been admitted to saying that you are eligible for a study visa without IELTS. Here are the key UK visa without IELTS requirements for Indian students:

• A document attested by your university with the statement that you can apply for UK study visa without IELTS scores.
• Acceptance letter from a university in the UK.

Students can also take the Secure English Language Test (SELT) mandated by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as valid proof of English proficiency without IELTS. These requirements will surely help you have a UK student visa without IELTS.

Suggested: How to apply for a UK Student Visa?

Getting admission in UK without IELTS makes the process much easier for international students. However, every university has its own criteria when it comes to language proficiency. Hence it is very important to check the language criteria before applying to universities in the UK. However, if you need end-to-end customised guidance at any step, choose Yocket premium. Our counsellors will surely update you about each step in the UK educational journey!