Do I need to take the IELTS exam if I have completed 14 years of schooling in English medium and five years of law studies in UK/Germany?
It depends on the specific institution, but your background gives a genuinely strong waiver case. UK universities often accept an official Medium of Instruction certificate from your law school in place of IELTS, and UKVI generally accepts a matching CAS. German university policies vary more, so confirm with admissions directly.
Your 14 years of English medium schooling followed by a 5 year law degree gives you one of the strongest possible waiver profiles, but no country guarantees an automatic exemption. UK universities tend to look favorably on this background, while German institutions vary widely depending on the specific university's own policy.
How Each Country Typically Responds
| Country | University Waiver Likelihood | Visa Impact |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Often waived with an official Medium of Instruction certificate from your law school | UKVI generally accepts a CAS that confirms internal English assessment, no separate SELT needed |
| Germany | Varies, some public universities accept an MOI letter, others still require IELTS or TOEFL | German visa offices usually defer to whatever the university decided |
Steps To Secure Your Waiver
- Request an official Medium of Instruction certificate from your law school confirming your degree was taught and assessed entirely in English
- Check the specific university's English Language Requirements or Waiver Policy page
- Email admissions directly, stating your 14 years of English medium schooling and 5 year law degree, and ask explicitly if an MOI letter suffices
My Advice
Get your Medium of Instruction certificate issued before you submit any application, since having it ready lets you request a waiver immediately rather than scrambling later. If your target German university has a strict policy, sit IELTS as a backup so a rejected waiver request does not cost you an admission cycle.
Do you even need IELTS for Germany?
Which test, what band, or whether you can skip it. Sorted in one free session.
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