The dreams of international students to study in the UK don’t have to shatter just because of the hurdle of IELTS. A number of universities in the UK offer several other alternatives to evaluate your English skills, paving the way for your academic pursuit in the UK. A thorough research can help you enroll yourself at an eminent university in the UK without qualifying in the IELTS exam – one of the prerequisites to study abroad. Below are a few options that international students can explore while they are contemplating to study in the UK.
Universities offer a number of ways to assess your proficiency in English:
Online assessment
Some of the universities in the UK conduct direct online interviews to evaluate the English fluency of international students. This allows them to examine your communication skills directly.
English as a major language
If you studied English as a major language during your bachelor’s programme then your degree will be recognized as evidence of your expertise in English and you could be exempted from IELTS by the university.
English in high school
You can secure your admission at a university in the UK with your high school English grades! If you obtained more than 70% marks in English, you could be entitled to admission without IELTS.
Foundation course in English
To polish your skills in English, you can register yourself in a foundation English course offered by many universities in the UK. These courses help you bridge the gap thus getting you ready for your further studies in the UK.
How to obtain a UK study visa without IELTS?
Certificate of Eligibility
This document which is issued by your chosen university, works as your gateway to study in the UK. It assures that you meet the mandatory English language proficiency requirements for your preferred course even without qualifying for IELTS. Fundamentally, it assures the visa-sanctioning authority that you’re proficient in English.
Letter of Acceptance
This document acts as an official document that invites you to study in the UK. A letter of acceptance from a university in the UK confirms your registration in a legitimate course which proves that you are sincere towards the elected programme.
Alternative Language Tests
While IELTS may not be required, however demonstrating that you’re capable in English is still vital for a visa depending on different scenarios. Hence you can opt for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)-approved tests that are validated for SELT like Pearson: ‘PTE Academic UKVI’ or ‘PTE Home’, IELTS SELT Consortium: ‘IELTS for UKVI’, etc.