If my Bachelor's degree was taught entirely in English, will universities in the UK, Canada, or Singapore accept my Medium of Instruction certificate instead of IELTS for my application?
No single rule applies across all three countries: most UK universities accept an official Medium of Instruction certificate for an English-taught bachelor's, Canadian universities decide this programme by programme, and schools such as NTU and NUS in Singapore also waive IELTS for fully English-medium Indian degrees.
An English-medium bachelor's degree can replace IELTS in some cases, but the rule changes by country and even by individual programme, so you need to check each one rather than assume a blanket exemption.
MOI Acceptance by Country
| Country | MOI Commonly Accepted? | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Often, at many universities | The course-specific English requirements page |
| Canada | Sometimes, varies widely | Whether that specific programme grants an IELTS waiver |
| Singapore | Often, at several universities | Whether your transcript confirms English as the medium of instruction |
What Your MOI Letter Should Include
- Official letterhead from your degree-awarding university.
- A clear statement that teaching, coursework, and examinations were entirely in English.
- Your degree title and study dates, matching your transcript exactly.
- An authorised signature and stamp, since unsigned letters are routinely rejected.
My Advice
In my experience, students request a generic MOI letter and then find the wording does not satisfy a specific university. Ask your target university for their exact required MOI wording before requesting the letter from your previous institution, so you only need to request it once.
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