Are the IELTS Mandatory to Study in the UK?

The United Kingdom is one of the world’s premier destinations to pursue higher studies. The United Kingdom is home to some of the world’s best and oldest universities that offer degrees in various fields. Each year around 550,000+ international students apply to colleges and universities in the United Kingdom each year. The universities in the United Kingdom allow admission of students based on certain criteria that need to be fulfilled – one of them being the English proficiency scores in the IELTS exam.

In the UK, the IELTS is the exam of choice to apply for any kind of visa to be eligible to work and study. The International English Language Testing System is a standardized test used to assess the parameters of the applicant’s language skills in English. However, it is not mandatory to study for IELTS if you want to study in the United Kingdom.

Eligibility for MBA in UK for Indian Students

Each university in the UK has different entry requirements for international students. Furthermore, some of these requirements differ between courses themselves. So, it is imperative to decide what course you want to pursue and research upon it before deciding on whether you need to give the IELTS exam or not. In addition, some universities require an IELTS score for a particular course whereas some other universities are offering the same course without the need for your IELTS scores. Therefore, if you want to study in UK without IELTS, then you will have to meet the eligibility criteria of the universities.

Universities allowing students to study in the UK without IELTS

Many universities across the UK do not require international applicants to appear for the IELTS or any other language proficiency tests. Universities such as the University of Essex, University of Central Lancashire, University of Greenwich, Swansea University, and more do not require IELTS exam scores. Such universities may judge you through other mediums such as online interviews, and with the offer letter that they provide, you could apply for a visa to study in the UK.

Other exams to appear for studying in the UK.

Besides the IELTS, there are other exams available to judge your proficiency in the English language. Language proficiency tests other than the IELTS, such as the TOEFL, Cambridge English Proficiency Test, or the Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English Test, can also be taken instead of the IELTS exam. This means that IELTS is not mandatory, and you could get by on scores achieved in these other language proficiency tests.

Certain universities in the United Kingdom allow you to apply without IELTS test scores, provided you can convince the university that you are fluent in English and have studied in an English medium school. In these cases, some universities might use interviews to gauge your abilities in spoken and written English.

Why is the UK the best destination to study?

The United Kingdom is one of the best destinations to study Literature or the English Language. In such cases, you could either give the IELTS test to prove your fluency in the language. Or, if you have proof that you completed a degree in English from a recognized college under a recognized university, then the IELTS scores are not a mandatory requirement. This option is available to individuals applying for postgraduate degrees in English and related subjects.

Conclusion

The United Kingdom is the premier destination to study and pursue your path towards a better life, and exams such as IELTS should not come in between your goals. Of course, being fluent in English will help you survive in the UK, but you don't need to give the IELTS exam. For more details, you should check the websites of different universities for the courses you want to undertake and check for the IELTS requirements. Basically, you should be doing your research before being let down at the thought of needing IELTS scores to apply to your dream university.

Richa Agarwal is a Digital Marketing Strategist. Proficient Sem and Smo Strategist with 8+ years of Digital Marketing and Search Engine Optimization (Seo), Search Engine Marketing (Sem).