Universities Accepting MOI Instead of IELTS: Verified Guide

Yes, an MOI document can replace an IELTS result for certain admission requirements. It is not a universal exemption. The examples below cover undergraduate, Master’s and a confirmed PhD option across the UK, Italy, Germany, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Each exemption applies to the named degree or department, so confirm its conditions before applying.

Official policies checked: October 25, 2026. Applicants planning a 2027 intake should recheck their course’s requirements when applying.

What Is an MOI Certificate?

MOI means Medium of Instruction. Your previous institution issues this certificate or letter to confirm the language used during your studies. For an English-language exemption, the receiving university may need confirmation that both teaching and assessment took place in English.

The letter serves a different purpose from a test score. IELTS assesses language performance through an examination. It records the language of your education. The admissions team decides whether that evidence meets its policy.

Who should check this option?

• Graduates whose full degree was taught and assessed in English.
• Applicants whose previous institution can issue official language-of-instruction evidence.
• Students applying to a course that expressly recognizes English-medium qualifications.
• Applicants who meet any additional grade, qualification-level or recency conditions.

Taking one English course during a degree does not establish that the whole degree was taught in English. Similarly, studying at a university with an English name is not evidence of its teaching language.

Which Universities Accept MOI Instead of IELTS?

These seven examples come from official admissions pages. Some explicitly accept an MOI letter; others recognize an English-medium degree. Start with the relevant option below, then examine your exact course requirements.

1. University of Dundee, UK

Dundee may consider MOI evidence from applicants who meet its minimum high school English grade and then pursue a degree in their home country that is fully taught and assessed in English. The university asks for an institutional letter bearing a signature and stamp.

Acceptance is conditional. Course requirements and the offer letter still matter, particularly for regulated subjects. Read Dundee’s official English-language requirements before deciding whether this option fits your education.

2. Abertay University, UK

Abertay’s policy considers applicants with the required high school English grade followed by a qualification equivalent to UK RQF level 5 or above, such as an HND. That qualification must have been delivered and assessed wholly in English in the applicant’s home country.

The award has a maximum validity period of five years. Abertay also asks for headed institutional paper, a stamp and a signature. Check the official exemption conditions alongside your course requirements.

3. Politecnico di Milano, Italy

For MSc admission with a foreign qualification, Politecnico di Milano allows applicants whose Bachelor’s degree was taught in English to upload university-certified evidence of the teaching language instead of an English-language certificate.

This does not remove academic entry requirements or any Italian-language requirement for relevant courses. Consult the official MSc requirements, including the section for your qualification’s country. The university also flags possible separate consular language-document requirements for applicants in Egypt.

4. University of Bologna, Italy

Bologna’s Master’s in Digital Humanities and Digital Knowledge requires English at B2 level. Its program page lists an English-medium Bachelor’s or Master’s degree among the ways to meet that requirement.

The exemption applies to this named program; other Bologna courses may follow different policies. Its English-language admission page explains the accepted evidence; consult this page and current application instructions for the evidence you must upload.

5. HPI / University of Potsdam, Germany

The Hasso Plattner Institute’s Computer Science MSc application page accepts a degree from an accredited university where English was the sole language of instruction as English-language proof. The program’s stated proficiency requirement is C1.

A degree partly delivered in English should not automatically be treated as eligible. Refer to the official application checklist for the language evidence and academic documents required.

6. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia

UTP’s international undergraduate entry requirements list an official English MOI letter from the previous institution as an alternative to the English tests shown. The page covers entry categories including engineering, sciences, technology, computer science and business management.

Check your qualification and subject requirements on the official undergraduate admissions page. Do not use this undergraduate rule as confirmation of a postgraduate exemption or student-pass approval.

7. HKU Business School, Hong Kong

For taught Master’s admission, the school requires TOEFL or IELTS from applicants who are not from an English-medium university. This provides an English-medium education option, although applicants should confirm what evidence the school needs to verify their background.

Use the Business School’s official admissions guidance. The rule should not be assumed to cover every HKU faculty or research degree.

Considering funding at the same institution? Our University of Hong Kong Scholarships guide explains separate funding options. Check language requirements for the specific award and degree.

PhD Admission at HKU Business School

For PhD admission, HKU Business School exempts applicants with an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification from a university where teaching and examinations were in English. Supporting evidence, such as a certifying letter, may be requested. Academic entry requirements and GMAT/GRE requirements still apply. This research-degree policy is separate from the taught Master’s requirements.

The official HKU Business School PhD admission requirements explain the exemption and supporting evidence.

When Can an MOI Letter Be Rejected?

A letter can be genuine and still fall outside the receiving university’s policy. Common points to check include:

• Course restrictions: professional or regulated programs may use different language rules.
• Qualification level: a policy accepting a completed degree may not accept school-level evidence.
• Recency: your graduation date may fall outside the permitted period.
• Country or institution restrictions: eligibility may depend on where you studied.
• Incomplete wording: confirmation of teaching alone may be insufficient when assessment must also have been in English.

For example, the University of Suffolk states that applicants from Pakistan or educated in Pakistan must provide an approved English test and cannot use its MOI or test-waiver options. Nationality and education-country restrictions therefore deserve careful attention. See Suffolk’s official language policy.

Does MOI acceptance include scholarships and visas?

Admission, scholarship selection and immigration are separate checks. A university’s language exemption does not award funding or guarantee a visa. Review the scholarship rules and immigration requirements independently.

For UK degree-level study or above, government guidance allows a Higher Education Provider to assess English itself, while still meeting the required B2-equivalent level. Confirm with your university how it will assess your evidence for sponsorship. The UK government’s Student visa English guidance explains the available options.

How to Get an MOI Certificate from Your University

Contact your registrar, examinations office or the department authorized to issue academic letters. Explain which university and program you are applying to, and share its wording requirements. This helps avoid requesting a replacement later.

The following preparation checklist covers common details; institutions may request a different format:

• Your full name and student or registration number.
• The complete qualification and institution name.
• Your study dates and completion status.
• Confirmation of the teaching language for the relevant qualification.
• Confirmation of the assessment language, where required.
• Official letterhead, issue date and authorized signature.
• An institutional stamp where requested and contact details for verification.

Ask the issuing office to describe your studies accurately. If some modules were taught in another language, do not request a statement claiming that the entire degree was in English. Some institutions accept a transcript or diploma supplement instead of a separate letter, so confirm the permitted documents.

Prepare the rest of your file at the same time. Use our scholarship application document checklist to organize transcripts, references and other supporting records.

How to Apply Using MOI Instead of IELTS

1. Choose the program first. Review academic requirements and language policy before building your application around an exemption.
2. Compare the policy with your education. Review qualification level, teaching and assessment language, graduation date and country restrictions.
3. Request the correct evidence. Obtain the official letter or other document the university accepts.
4. Ask about unclear cases. Send admissions your course name, intended intake, previous institution and qualification details.
5. Upload through the official portal. Follow the document checklist and keep a copy of everything submitted.
6. Read the decision carefully. A conditional offer may still require language evidence. Check funding and visa requirements before making major commitments.

There is no single MOI application deadline. Each program has its own admission calendar and document deadlines. Leave enough time for verification and, if necessary, an accepted language test.

What should you ask admissions?

Give a specific description of your background: your degree, university, country, graduation year and whether teaching and examinations were entirely in English. Ask whether an official MOI letter meets the English requirement for your named program and intake, and whether any additional assessment is required. A written answer about your own case is more useful than a general statement that the institution accepts MOI.

Planning to study in Germany? Our Study in Germany Without IELTS guide covers additional study and funding considerations. Confirm the language conditions for each university before applying.