Study in the UK without IELTS for Indian Students

Hosting a massive number of students from all over the world, the United Kingdom is a widely popular international education hub. Residence of some of the most prestigious internationally esteemed education institutions and universities, opportunities offered by the UK education system are immense. Highly acclaimed universities, top-quality education, cultural diversity, quality research infrastructure, and vibrant cities are the reasons why a great number of international students flock to the country every year for pursuing higher education.

The first thing that comes to mind while thinking about studying in the UK is the English language proficiency test, IELTS. Candidates need to score 6.0 or higher to enrol in universities and apply for the visa. But did you know that you can study in the UK without giving IELTS? There are universities in the UK which allow international students to study in the UK without IELTS for Indian students. However, it does not mean that applicants must sit for another test; a few universities accept without any test solely because maximum students scored high in their school or studied English as a major in intermediate, making them eligible. Also, some universities in the UK offer pre-sessional English courses for aspirants seeking education in the country without IELTS.  The only score these institutions require is your matriculation or intermediate exam marks, so you need to check whether you qualify or not.

Due to the pandemic, the UK’s immigrant student count lowered, making the government announce the two-year post-study work visa for immigrant students. You can always opt to take IELTS or TOEFL, TCF, or TEF to increase your chances, but you also have an option to study in the UK without giving IELTS if you’re not interested in giving any exam. It is always a wise decision to ask your preferred university about how they’re evaluating your language proficiency to avoid any mishaps.

Circumstances under which you can study in the UK without IELTS

• If you’ve completed your higher secondary education from an English-medium school- if you’ve studied from an English-medium school, you can produce the document to prove your English proficiency. Many universities allow for exempting IELTS on this basis and permit to pursue higher education
• Your class X and XII English scores- Since every student studies English in their school, it’s common to assume the English proficiency level. To access this, the university asks for the grade card of classes X and XII. If you have 70% or above, you’ll be eligible to take admission in the UK. 
• Online Interviews- Few of the UK universities ask students to appear for online interviews to access their skills in verbal and listening format. If they feel satisfied, you’ll be allowed to skip IELTS and study directly in the United Kingdom.
• Taking different language proficiency tests- apart from IELTS, other language proficiency tests are gaining advantage and weightage in the UK. If you are keen to exempt IELTS, you can go for a Test for English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE), PTE Academic, Duolingo test, or ISE (Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English). If you qualify for any of these tests, you can plan in the UK without IELTS. However, please consult with your university about which test scores they accept.

How to get a UK study visa without IELTS?

The English language proficiency test IELTS is a requirement to be eligible for a visa, but if you come to study in the United Kingdom, you can get an exception. Instead of submitting the IELTS score in the UK, you’ll be asked to submit the document given by the university stating that you are eligible for a UK visa. 

Universities to take admission in without IELTS.

Here’s the list of universities where you can easily take admission without giving IELTS-

• Swansea University
• London Southbank University
• University of Greenwich
• Robert Gordon University
• Birmingham City University
• Northumbria University
• University of Bolton
• University of Northampton
• Sheffield Hallam University
• University of Warwick
• London Southbank University
• University of Central Lancashire
• Riga Technical University
• University of Plymouth
• University of Portsmouth
• Aston University