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How to Study in the UK Without IELTS?

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  • read time3 min Read
  • By:CANAM Group
  • Updated On:Jun 04,2024 04:23 PM IST

  • UK universities without IELTS are best for those students who don’t want to take the IELTS exam.
  • English language proficiency is a must to study in the UK so university officials provide other ways to prove English proficiency.
  • Learning about these ways will help international students to study in the UK without IELTS. 

How to Study in the UK Without IELTS.webp


Earlier, taking an IELTS exam to study in the UK was a compulsion, but now time has changed. Today, international students can study in the UK without IELTS. There are various options they can take to bifurcate this requirement.

This has made it easier for international students to study in the UK. Some common ways to study in the UK without IELTS are by showing 10th and 12th grade marks in English or scores of other standardised tests for English, etc. Read more to know what it all takes to study in the UK without IELTS. 

What is IELTS?

IELTS, or International English Language Testing System, is a globally recognised exam that assesses students’ English language skills. More than 12000 organisations accept it in over 140 countries. The exam consists of four sections: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It lasts 2 hours and 44 minutes. 

Since an IELTS exam certifies that a person is proficient in English, many foreign universities worldwide accept it as one of the admission requirements. However, many universities have waived this requirement and admit students who have not taken the IELTS exam. To get into these universities, students must meet other conditions, which will be covered in the next section.

Conditions before studying in UK without IELTS

If not IELTS, students must take other exams or alternatives to prove their English proficiency. Following are the various conditions which you must fulfil to study in the UK without IELTS:

  • If English was the primary medium of instruction in the school

Students not taking the IELTS exam must show proof of English proficiency. This is possible if they have attended an English medium school. There are many universities which consider English medium school scores other than the IELTS exam. 

  • If the university considers XII English marks to assess English language skills

Many UK universities consider Class 12th English subject marks to assess students' language proficiency. For this, students must have scored at least 70% in final exams in class 12th.  

  • If the university conducts its interviews to assess language skills

Many UK universities conduct online interviews as part of their admission process. One can study in these UK universities without an IELTS exam as these online sessions will be used to analyse English language skills. 

  • If a student takes another English language assessment

Even though IELTS is a widely accepted English language exam in the UK, there are a lot of other English exams that UK universities accept. Other than IELTS, students can take exams such as TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo English test, Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE), Cambridge English Proficiency (CPE), etc. 

  • If desired university will allow students to take pre-sessional English

If the university allows students can take pre-sessional courses. These courses help international students to adapt to a new education system. In these courses, students get the required language skills with classroom skills. 

Eligibility Criteria to Study in the UK without IELTS

After knowing about the IELTS exam and why students want to study in the UK without IELTS, let's see what eligibility criteria students need to fulfil to study in the UK without IELTS:

Eligibility CriteriaDetails
Educational QualificationStudents must have completed grade 12 in English with at least 70% marks.
Bachelor’s DegreeStudents must have completed an undergraduate degree in English.
English Language ProofStudents must prove that English was their school’s instruction medium.
Online InterviewSome universities may conduct interviews to evaluate students.
English CourseBefore starting the course, students would be required to pursue an English course offered by the university.

Documents Required to Study in the UK without IELTS

Besides fulfilling eligibility criteria, students will also be required to submit some documents to study in the UK. Here is a list of documents students must keep handy to study in the UK without the IELTS: 

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UK Universities Without IELTS for Indian Students

After learning the eligibility criteria and documents required, let’s look at the best universities in the UK without IELTS. Following is the list of top universities & colleges in UK where students can study in the UK without IELTS in 2024:

Bedfordshire UniversityBedfordshire University is the first university to accept students without IELTS. It has four campuses and provides a complete education and entertainment experience. 
Birkbeck UniversityThe second university without IELTS is Birkbeck University, which allows students to do internships during their studies and offers on-campus accommodation. 
Canterbury Christ Church UniversityThe third UK university without IELTS is Canterbury Christ Church University, which provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in creative design, humanities, media, medicine, sciences, social sciences, etc. 
Coventry UniversityThe next University is Coventry University, which is one of the leading institutions in the UK and is known for its high-quality education. 
Portsmouth University The next university where students can study without IELTS is Portsmouth University, which ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK. 
Swansea UniversityThe sixth UK university without IELTS is Swansea University, which ranked 23rd in the UK and 26th in the world according to QS World Sustainability Rankings 2024. 
University of GreenwichAnother university in the UK which accepts students without IELTS is the University of Greenwich. It provides more than 200 undergraduate courses in Law, Maths, Nursing, Chemistry, Pharmacy, English, Science etc.
University of HertfordshireThe second last UK university without IELTS is the University of Hertfordshire, which provides undergraduate courses in architecture, business, computer science, media and journalism, sport, etc. 
University of LawThe last university in the UK without IELTS is the University of Law, which ranked among the top 20 English universities in the 2023 National Student Survey. 

How to Apply to Universities in UK without IELTS?

This is one of the most important pieces of information for international students who want to study in the UK without IELTS. Here is the step-by-step application process for Indian students to apply to UK universities without IELTS with the help of Canam. 

1. First, contact Canam's study abroad consultants or log on to the website. 

2. The second step is to create a profile and sign up on the platform, filling in necessary details such as academic background, test scores (if any), program preference, etc. 

3. Thirdly, search and shortlist desired UK universities without IELTS based on intakes, fee waivers, tuition fees, etc.

4. After selecting a university, start the application process by uploading the necessary documents, including academic transcripts, CV, SOP, LOR, and any standardised test scores (if required).

5. After that, keep track of the application.

6. In this step, the admission authority of the applied institute thoroughly checks the candidate's profile and sends the offer letter.

7. Once the offer letter is received, students must pay the tuition fees and apply for a student visa with the guidance of a counsellor.

8. Finally, they are all set to begin their journey to study abroad.


Conclusion


Now, students can fulfil their dream of studying in the UK without taking IELTS. Students can take various other routes to study in the UK without IELTS. Such routes include taking English subjects in class 12th, taking other English exams, and attending online interviews. As mentioned above, students must meet the eligibility criteria and keep the documents handy. When students are ready to apply, they can go through an easy step-by-step application process with Canam. For any query regarding studying in the UK, students can connect with expert study abroad consultants at Canam.

FAQ

Yes, students can study in the UK without IELTS provided they have submitted other important documents such as 70% Marks in Class 12th, a Valid Passport, CAS Letter, Experience Letter (if any), ATAS Certificate (if required), Birth Certificate, etc. 
To study in the UK without IELTS, students must have scored 70% in 12th grade in English subject. 
You can take other English language proficiency exams such as TOEFL, PTE, CAE, Duolingo, etc. 
The eligibility criteria to study in the UK without IELTS include either a bachelor’s degree, English language proof, an online interview, or an English course etc. 
The alternatives to the IELTS exam for studying in the UK are TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo English test, Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE), Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE), etc. 
Coventry University, Portsmouth University, Swansea University and University of Greenwich are some universities that accept international students without IELTS.
No, IELTS is not compulsory for a UK visa, and you can show other documents such as 10th and 12th grade marks in English, scores of other standardised tests for English, etc. University of Law

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