Quick facts
- Short answer: Sometimes. It depends on the university, the program, and your country.
- Best chance: Degrees taught in English from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda. These countries appear on several European universities’ exemption lists.
- Hardest case: South Asian and Gulf applicants. They rarely appear on country lists, so an English-taught degree has to be accepted on its own merits.
- Pages checked: October 2026, on official university and admissions pages only. Rules change, so confirm on the program page before you apply.
If you studied in English back home, you’ve probably heard you can skip IELTS. Sometimes that’s true. Sometimes the university never reads the letter you spent weeks collecting. We went through the English-language pages of universities in Austria, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, and the UK to see what each one actually accepts.
The short version: an IELTS waiver for European universities exists, but it’s narrower than most agent blogs suggest. It depends on which document you hold, which country issued it, and what the specific program says.
Three things people mix up
- A medium of instruction (MOI) letter. Your university states that your degree was taught in English. Several universities below say this isn’t enough on its own.
- A degree taught in English. Some universities accept the degree itself, but want it confirmed in an official document such as a diploma supplement.
- A country exemption list. The university waives the test for people from certain countries, usually only if you can also show your studies were fully in English.
A university can accept one of these and reject the others. Always check which one it means.
Which route is yours?
- Graduate from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, or Uganda: You’re most likely to find a country-list exemption. Start with Sweden, the Netherlands, and Hungary below.
- Graduate from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, or Sri Lanka: Look for universities that accept an English-taught degree itself, such as TU Graz and the University of Graz, and expect extra conditions. Plan on a test for others.
- Graduate from a Gulf country: It depends heavily on whether your degree was taught in Arabic or English. We cover this in a separate Arabic guide for Gulf students.
- Studied in Arabic, French, or another language: Plan on a test. None of the pages below offer a waiver for that.
What the official pages say
Austria
| University | What counts instead of a test | What to watch | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| TU Graz, English-taught master’s | A completed university degree taught in English, or eight school years at an English-speaking school. Test options include IELTS 7 and TOEFL iBT 95. | Test certificates can’t be older than two years. Applicants with a bachelor’s from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka face extra country requirements. Applicants from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan must also complete a competence check at VFS Global before applying. | Proof of English |
| University of Graz | A completed degree taught in English, if English as the language of instruction is officially confirmed in the Diploma Supplement. | C1 is the baseline level. Ask your university whether it issues a Diploma Supplement. | Language certificates |
Germany
| University | What counts instead of a test | What to watch | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Göttingen | A test is required. The exemption covers a first language of English, or a bachelor’s from listed countries such as the UK, US, Australia, and Ireland. | Nigeria and Ghana aren’t on that list, and confirmation letters from a registrar aren’t accepted. An MOI letter won’t work here. | English requirements |
Hungary
| University | What counts instead of a test | What to watch | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Szeged, Faculty of Science and Informatics | No certificate for natives of listed countries who can officially show their studies were in English. The list includes Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka aren’t on it. Page versions differ, and one adds that B2 proof is still required by the end of studies. | Exemption page |
The Netherlands
| University | What counts instead of a test | What to watch | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Twente | An exemption based on a country list, and not every master’s allows it. | A statement or proficiency letter from your university isn’t sufficient. The degree must be fully in English, and mixed-language programs don’t count. Twente says it doesn’t grant waivers outside its stated exceptions. | English exemption |
| University of Groningen, Faculty of Economics and Business | A degree taught exclusively in English in a recognized majority English-speaking country. The list includes Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, and Nigeria. | This policy document is faculty-specific, and the list continues beyond what I could read. Check the full list. | Exemption policy (PDF) |
| Wageningen University | A bachelor’s or master’s taught entirely in English in one of its exemption countries. | Online and double-degree programs are excluded. I couldn’t see the country list, so check it. | English proficiency |
Sweden
| Authority | What counts instead of a test | What to watch | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Admissions in Sweden (national system) | A bachelor’s degree from Nigeria meets the English requirement. 60 ECTS credits taught in English in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland, or certain other English-speaking countries also count. | A certificate or letter from your school or university isn’t sufficient, except for those 60 credits. The African country list I could read named Nigeria only, so check the page for others. | English requirements |
Finland
| University | What counts instead of a test | What to watch | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampere University, doctoral programs | A degree taught in English in Finland, another EU/EEA country, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, or the US. | English-taught degrees from other countries aren’t accepted. Satellite campuses outside the listed countries and fully online degrees don’t qualify either. | Language requirements |
| University of Helsinki, international master’s | A degree completed in English in one of a specified list of countries. The program must be taught and assessed entirely in English. | I couldn’t see the country list, so check it. Among Cambridge tests, only C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency are accepted. | Proving your language skills |
United Kingdom
| University | What counts instead of a test | What to watch | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Stirling, postgraduate | A Nigerian WAEC English grade of C6 or above, and certain qualifications from Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. | Pakistan’s route needs 60% in English plus an MOI letter from a university on Stirling’s list. | Waiver page |
| Swansea University | Nigerian degrees or diplomas taught in English, within a 10-year window. | Nepal and Sri Lanka need an MOI letter from a listed institution. | Country qualifications |
The pattern across these pages
A few things stand out once you read them side by side.
- Nigeria shows up most. It’s on the lists at Szeged, Groningen, Stirling, and Swansea, and on Sweden’s national page.
- Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda appear less often. Ghana is on the Szeged, Groningen, and Stirling lists. Kenya is on Szeged and Groningen. Uganda is on Szeged and Stirling.
- South Asian countries aren’t on any of these exemption lists. Where South Asian applicants get in without a test, it’s because the university accepts the English-taught degree itself, as at TU Graz and the University of Graz.
- MOI letters are often not enough. Twente, Göttingen, and Sweden’s national page all say so.
- Finland is stricter than people expect. At Tampere, an English-taught degree from outside the listed countries doesn’t count.
Three examples (illustrative)
A Nigerian graduate applying to Sweden. Sweden’s national page lists a Nigerian bachelor’s as meeting the English requirement. That’s a strong case, but the specific program can still set its own rules, so check the program page.
A Pakistani engineering graduate whose degree was taught in English. TU Graz accepts an English-taught degree, but also applies country-specific requirements and a VFS Global competence check. At Tampere, the same degree wouldn’t count as an exemption, so plan a test for Finland.
A Kenyan graduate. Kenya appears on the Szeged and Groningen lists, but not at Göttingen. Plan a test for Germany and ask the others.
What to collect before you email anyone
- Your degree certificate and full transcript.
- An MOI letter on official letterhead with a contact who can verify it.
- A Diploma Supplement, if your university issues one.
- Your national exam result in English, such as WAEC or NECO, for universities that ask for it.
- The program page’s English requirement, saved as a PDF or screenshot with the date.
How to email admissions
Keep it short and specific. A message like this works:
“I completed my bachelor’s at [university] in [country], taught entirely in English. Would a medium of instruction letter and my transcript satisfy the English requirement for [program]? If not, which documents would you accept?”
If the reply is vague, follow up:
“Thank you. Could you confirm in writing that [document] meets the English requirement for [program], so I can keep it with my application?”
Common mistakes
- Assuming “no IELTS” means no English proof at all. It usually means a different proof.
- Using an MOI letter where the university wants an official document or says letters aren’t sufficient.
- Submitting an old test certificate. TU Graz limits it to two years.
- Assuming your country’s English-taught degrees count everywhere. Tampere doesn’t accept them from outside its listed countries.
- Relying on an agent blog’s list instead of the program page.
What if the university says you need a test?
Then read the page for the full list of accepted tests. Most universities accept several, not just IELTS. TU Graz, for example, lists TOEFL iBT, Cambridge certificates, and PTE Academic alongside IELTS. Check the minimum score and how recent the certificate has to be before you book.
FAQ
Is an MOI letter always accepted?
No. Twente, Göttingen, and Sweden’s national admissions page all say a university letter isn’t enough. Sweden makes an exception for 60 ECTS credits taught in English in certain countries.
Can I skip IELTS with a degree from Nigeria or Ghana?
Often, but not everywhere. Szeged, Groningen, and Stirling list those countries, while Göttingen doesn’t.
Does this work for South Asian applicants?
Sometimes. TU Graz and the University of Graz accept an English-taught degree, with extra conditions. Many other universities want a test.
Does an English-taught degree from my country count in Finland?
At Tampere, only if the degree comes from the listed countries. Helsinki also uses a country list, so check it.
Do I still need to show English if I’m exempt?
Sometimes. Szeged’s page, in one version, still requires B2 proof by the end of your studies.
How long does a test certificate stay valid?
It varies. TU Graz doesn’t accept certificates older than two years. Check each program.
How we checked this
We read the English-requirement pages of the universities listed above in October 2026, using official university and admissions pages only. We didn’t cover Denmark, Italy, Poland, Spain, France, Switzerland, or Belgium, and individual programs can set stricter rules than their university’s general page. Where a country list was cut off or I couldn’t see it, we say so in the table.
Final take
An English-taught degree can replace IELTS, but only at universities that say so on their own page, and the details change by country, program, and document. Check the program page, get the document the university actually asks for, and keep the reply in writing.
To see which funded programs you qualify for, try our Scholarship Toolkit, browse our Europe scholarship guides and IELTS guides, and join the WhatsApp channel for new deadlines.
