MOI Accepted Countries 2025–2026: Full List of Universities That Don’t Require IELTS

Gradstar
December 11, 2025

MOI Accepted Countries 2025–2026: Full List of Universities That Don’t Require IELTS

For many students and parents, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a major hurdle in studying abroad without the IELTS application process. The truth is, while widely accepted, IELTS is not the only way to prove your English proficiency. If your previous education was conducted entirely in English, the Medium of Instruction (MOI) Certificate can be your passport to top international universities in the 2025-2026 intake, saving you time, money, and stress.

So, read along to learn about the MOI route and provide the full MOI universities list. We offer the most updated information on moi accepted countries 2026 and the universities without IELTS requirements for the upcoming academic year, helping you gain clarity and confidence in your application.

What is a Medium of Instruction (MOI) Certificate?

The Medium of Instruction (MOI) Certificate is an official document issued by your previous high school, college, or university.

Its sole purpose is to formally confirm that the language used for teaching, examinations, and overall academic communication throughout your course of study was English. This document is central to applying to universities without IELTS.

In simpler terms, it's a piece of paper that says: "This student has successfully completed a degree/program taught entirely in English, proving their English competency."

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE MOI APPLICATION CHECKLIST PDF: Get the detailed, printable checklist to ensure every step of your MOI waiver application is perfect

MOI vs. IELTS: The Key Difference

The MOI Certificate is not a substitute for the IELTS score itself. It's a qualifying document that allows the university to waive the IELTS requirement for you, significantly opening your options for study abroad without IELTS.

Feature	Medium of Instruction (MOI)	IELTS/TOEFL/PTE
Purpose	Certifies past academic exposure to English, qualifying you for the MOI accepted countries 2026 waiver.	Measures current English language proficiency skills.
Issuing Body	Your previous educational institution (e.g., school, college, university).	Designated testing centres.
Validity for Admission	Accepted as a waiver for the English test by specific universities without IELTS.	Required by universities that do not offer a waiver.
Cost & Time	Free or minimal fee; depends on school processing time (usually 2–4 weeks).	High testing fee; requires preparation and a fixed test date.

Who is Eligible for the MOI Waiver?

The MOI waiver is typically granted to international students who meet the following criteria:

Country of Origin/Education: You have completed your high school, bachelor’s, or master’s degree from an institution in a country where English is the official or primary language of instruction for education (e.g., India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Singapore, or Commonwealth countries).
Duration of Study: Your entire previous course of study (usually the last 2 to 3 years of study, depending on the university's policy) must have been conducted fully in English.
Recent Completion: Some universities without IELTS prefer the previous qualification to have been completed within the last 2-5 years.

If you meet these requirements, the MOI route is a highly efficient option for securing your place in the MOI-accepted countries 2026 intake.

Top MOI Accepted Countries 2025–2026

While IELTS waivers based on an MOI certificate are always subject to the individual university's policy, certain countries are generally more flexible and widely known to accept this document. This section highlights the top moi accepted countries 2026 where you'll find the largest moi universities list.

The United Kingdom (UK)

The UK remains one of the most MOI-friendly destinations. The majority of UK universities, particularly for postgraduate admissions, are willing to waive the IELTS requirement if you have a degree from a recognised English-medium institution.

Many Russell Group and modern universities in the UK accept MOI from students who have achieved high grades in their English-medium secondary or post-secondary education. The UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) generally accepts the university's assessment of English proficiency (based on the MOI and a successful Credibility Interview) for CAS issuance.

Canada

Several Canadian universities and colleges accept the MOI certificate, but they often have a strict minimum time requirement.

Applicants typically need to demonstrate three to four years of continuous, full-time study in an English-speaking country or within a recognised English curriculum. This waiver is more common for students applying from institutions listed on the university's "Approved MOI" list.

Australia

Australia is highly accepting of MOI at the university admission level. Many universities—including institutions like the University of Queensland and Macquarie University—will waive the IELTS requirement if you have completed your previous studies entirely in English.

While the MOI grants university admission, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) may still require you to provide a test score (like PTE or IELTS) to satisfy the student visa (Subclass 500) English language requirement, especially if you are from a non-English speaking background. Always check the Australia visa requirements alongside the university's MOI policy.

United States (USA)

The USA offers significant flexibility, but acceptance is highly individualized. Many U.S. universities without IELTS will grant a waiver if you have completed at least two years of secondary or post-secondary education where the medium of instruction was English. This is especially true for undergraduate admissions and for a large number of state universities and private institutions.

If the university accepts your MOI and issues your I-20 form, this usually satisfies the English requirement for your F-1 student visa. However, top-tier schools like Harvard or Stanford may require the MOI in addition to a highly competitive academic profile.

The Netherlands & Northern Europe

Dutch universities, along with those in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, are increasingly accommodating international students via the MOI route for their English-taught programs.

If your high school (e.g., specific Indian boards) or Bachelor’s degree was fully taught and assessed in English, it is often accepted. However, always verify that your specific program is fully delivered in English.

Germany, Ireland, and Italy

These countries offer numerous English-taught courses, primarily at the Master's level.

In Germany and Italy, acceptance relies heavily on the MOI certificate being used for an English-taught program. Irish universities, similar to the UK, are often flexible, especially if the applicant can show a strong academic record and a high score in English from their previous public examinations.

Full List of Universities That Don’t Require IELTS (Accept MOI) 2025–2026

This is an up-to-date, expanded MOI universities list based on recent 2025-2026 admissions policies. Policies can change. Always confirm the MOI waiver for your specific program with Gradstar Global.

UK Universities Without IELTS (Accepting MOI)

University Name	Group/Type	MOI Condition for 2025–2026
University of Bristol	Russell Group	Accepts English-taught degree (Profile B/E) with MOI letter.
University of Southampton	Russell Group	Accepts MOI for many PG programs from specified institutions.
University of Warwick	Russell Group	Considers MOI for waivers, often requiring a strong academic profile.
University of Manchester	Russell Group	Conditional acceptance requires a degree from select universities (e.g., BUET, NSU) with MOI.
University of Greenwich	Modern	Accepts MOI or Class 12 English $\geq$ 70%.
University of Hertfordshire	Modern	Broad acceptance for UG and PG programs with a valid MOI.
University of Portsmouth	Modern	Accepts MOI from recognised English-medium institutions.
De Montfort University (DMU)	Modern	Often highlighted for MOI-based admission into MBA and other PG programs.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE MOI APPLICATION CHECKLIST PDF: Get the detailed, printable checklist to ensure every step of your MOI waiver application is perfect.

Canadian Universities Without IELTS (Accepting MOI)

University Name	Location	MOI Condition for 2025–2026
McGill University	Quebec	Minimum 3 years of full-time English-medium education in Canada or a recognised country.
University of Saskatchewan	Saskatchewan	Considers MOI for waiver if 3+ years of education were fully in English.
Concordia University	Quebec	Requires 3+ years of full-time study in an approved English-medium curriculum.
Brock University	Ontario	Waiver for applicants with 3+ years of study in the English medium.
Carleton University	Ontario	Accepts MOI from applicants who have completed 4 years of secondary or post-secondary education in English.

Australian Universities Without IELTS (Accepting MOI)

University Name	Group/Type	MOI Condition for 2025–2026
University of Queensland (UQ)	Group of Eight	Accepts MOI if full degree was in English from a recognised institution.
University of New South Wales (UNSW)	Group of Eight	May accept MOI for certain programs based on country/institution assessment.
Macquarie University	Comprehensive	Accepts MOI from applicants with prior studies in English medium.
Swinburne University of Technology	Technology Focus	Accepts MOI from students with English-medium tertiary studies.

USA Universities Without IELTS (Accepting MOI)

University Name	Group/Type	MOI Condition for 2025–2026
University of Colorado Boulder	Public Research	Waives IELTS/TOEFL if 2+ academic years were completed in an English-speaking country.
Drexel University	Private Research	Accepts MOI or Duolingo/PTE instead of IELTS/TOEFL.
California State University, LA	Public	Waives if secondary and graduate school instruction was in English.
Rice University (Selective)	High-Ranking Private	Exemptions are possible for selected programs if the degree was taught in English.

European Universities Without IELTS (Accepting MOI)

These are some of the most prominent universities without IELTS in moi accepted countries 2026 across Europe.

Country	University Name (Examples)	MOI Condition for 2025–2026
The Netherlands	University of Amsterdam (selective), University of Groningen	Bachelor’s degree taught entirely in English in a recognised country (often checked on a case-by-case basis).
Sweden	Lund University, Uppsala University, Stockholm University	Successful completion of upper secondary school or a Bachelor's degree where English was the principal language of instruction.
Germany	Technical University of Munich (selected programs), SRH Hochschule Berlin	Full degree taught in English. The MOI certificate is the key document.
Italy	University of Genoa, University of Milan	Explicitly lists an English certificate (or MOI) as acceptable for many Master's programs.
Ireland	Maynooth University, University of Limerick	Often waive IELTS if the applicant's final exams include a high pass in English (e.g., high score in Class 12 English).

Your MOI Application Checklist (How to Get the Certificate)

The process of obtaining your MOI Certificate is straightforward but requires adherence to official procedures.

Step 1: Formal Request to Your Previous Institution

Determine the Office: Contact the Registrar’s Office, Controller of Examinations, or the Academic Records Department.
Submit a Request Letter: Write a formal application clearly stating the purpose: "To obtain a Medium of Instruction (MOI) Certificate for international university admissions (2025-2026 intake)."
Provide Documents: Typically, you will need to submit your Degree Certificate, Academic Transcripts/Mark Sheets, and Photo ID.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE MOI APPLICATION CHECKLIST PDF: Get the detailed, printable checklist to ensure every step of your MOI waiver application is perfect.

Step 2: Ensure the MOI Certificate Includes Key Elements

The admitting university abroad will be looking for specific details to validate the document. A valid MOI Certificate MUST include:

Official Letterhead: Must be printed on the official letterhead of the issuing institution.
Student's Full Name: Must match the name on your passport.
Course/Degree Name & Duration: Clearly stating the program (e.g., Bachelor of Commerce, 2021–2024).
Explicit Statement of Instruction: A clear, unambiguous line like: "The medium of instruction and examination for the entire [Degree Name] program was English."
Official Seal & Signature: The stamp and signature of the authorised signatory (Registrar or Principal).
Date of Issue: Preferably recent (issued within the last 6 months to 1 year of your application).

Rounding Up

The Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate is a powerful, yet often overlooked, alternative to the IELTS/TOEFL for proving your English proficiency. It’s an official recognition of your existing English-medium education, allowing you to bypass a costly and time-consuming test, and dramatically simplifying your path to study abroad without IELTS.

For your 2025-2026 applications, your strategy should be:

Identify your target universities from the comprehensive MOI universities list.
Verify their current MOI policy on the official university admissions page.
Secure your fully compliant MOI certificate from your previous institution as early as possible.

Connect instantly with Gradstar Global Student Success Consultants for personalised MOI guidance via WhatsApp