Do I need to take any English language exams like IELTS before applying in Germany/Poland for a Master's/Bachelor's?

Whether you need IELTS before applying to Germany or Poland comes down to your program's teaching language and your prior education, not the country itself. English-taught courses almost always want a proficiency score, while German-taught or Polish-taught courses want proof of that local language instead. Your existing academic background can waive the exam entirely if it was taught fully in English.

Typical Score Requirements By Country

When You Can Skip The Exam

• You hold a passport from a recognised native English-speaking country
• Your previous high school diploma or Bachelor's degree was taught entirely in English, backed by an official Medium of Instruction letter
• Your target university accepts alternatives such as Cambridge English, PTE Academic, or in some Polish cases Duolingo
• Remember standard English scores stay valid for only two years from the test date

My Advice

Request your Medium of Instruction letter from your previous university now, even before you decide on a waiver, since getting it issued can take weeks. Then check the exact admissions page of your target course in Germany or Poland, because required bands genuinely shift between English-taught and local-language programs.