The ranking
| Rank | Country | Typical band | MOI accepted | University's own test | Verdict without a test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cyprus | 5.5-6.0 | Widely | Yes, common | Routinely works |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 5.5 | Often | Yes, common | Routinely works |
| 3 | Italy | 6.0 | Many master's programmes | Sometimes | Works at master's level |
| 4 | Greece | 5.5-6.0 | Some institutions | Sometimes | Programme-dependent |
| 5 | Malta | 5.5-6.0 | Some programmes | Rare | Narrow, but English is official |
| 6 | Hungary | 5.5-6.0 | Some programmes | Yes, some | Often with an interview |
| 7 | Finland | 6.0-6.5 | Limited | Entrance exam instead | Rarely works |
| 8 | Denmark | 6.5 | Rarely | No | Effectively closed |
| 9 | Sweden | 6.5 | Generally not | No | Closed |
The pattern is geographic and it has been stable for years: the further south and east, the more flexible. If you have no English test and no realistic path to one this cycle, Sweden and Denmark are not your countries.
What a Medium of Instruction letter is worth
An MOI letter is a statement from your previous institution that your programme was taught and examined in English. A strong one carries the institution's letterhead, your name and student ID, the exact dates of study, the registrar's signature and seal, and that explicit phrase.
⚠️ The commonest weakness is a letter that mentions instruction and omits examination. Many universities check for both. Ask for the exact wording when you request it, and read the MOI guide before you go to your registrar's office.
Three real limits are worth knowing before you build a plan on it:
It rarely works at bachelor's level. The whole argument is that a previous degree was in English. After HSC there is no previous degree to point at.
It loses to a test score in competitive programmes. Where applicants outnumber seats, the IELTS holder is ahead even where an MOI is technically accepted.
It usually fails for scholarships. This is the expensive one. Most funded schemes specify a test score, so you can be admitted on an MOI and then find yourself excluded from the money — often after the scholarship deadline has passed.
The other two routes
The university's own English test. Common in Cyprus, Malta and Bulgaria, usually online, usually free or inexpensive. It is real and it works, but it is valid only at that university. It cannot be reused elsewhere and it is worth nothing at a visa interview.
Duolingo. Accepted at a growing number of institutions and refused at many, and it is not accepted by every country as visa-stage evidence even where a university takes it. Check both the university and the immigration authority before relying on it — see the Duolingo guide.
The arithmetic nobody does
IELTS Academic costs roughly BDT 20,000 to 26,000, and a serious preparation plan takes six to eight weeks. Set that against what going without costs you:
| Without a test | With a 6.5 |
|---|---|
| Two or three countries realistically open | All nine open |
| Most funded scholarships closed | All open |
| Weaker in competitive programmes | Competitive |
| An extra unknown at the visa stage | One less thing to explain |
| Sometimes an interview instead | No interview needed |
For most applicants the test pays for itself the moment it puts one funded programme within reach. If you are set on Cyprus or Bulgaria, self-funded, and applying to a programme that publishes an MOI route, going without is a defensible decision. In every other case it narrows your options far more than it saves.
What to do
- 1Check the actual admission page of two programmes you want. The rule belongs to the programme, not the country.
- 2Request an MOI letter regardless — it costs nothing and occasionally proves useful.
- 3If any funded route interests you, book the test. Read the country-by-country requirements and the preparation plan first.
Official sources — check for yourself
- IELTS — official site
- British Council Bangladesh — IELTS
- Higher Education Authority — Cyprus
- University Admissions Sweden
- Duolingo English Test
Rules and figures change. We review these articles periodically and show the date above, but always confirm the current requirement with the official source before you act on it.
Common questions
Which European country can I study in without IELTS?+
Cyprus and Bulgaria are the two of our nine where it routinely works, usually through a Medium of Instruction letter or the university's own online English test. Italy accepts an MOI on many master's programmes. Sweden and Denmark generally require a test.
Does a Medium of Instruction certificate replace IELTS everywhere?+
No. It is widely accepted in Cyprus, often in Bulgaria and Italy, sometimes in Greece, Malta and Hungary, and rarely in the Nordics. It also fails for most scholarships, which specify a test score, so an MOI can win you admission and still lock you out of the funding.
Is it worth taking IELTS if I only want a cheap country?+
Usually yes. The test costs roughly BDT 20,000 to 26,000 and six to eight weeks, and it opens all nine countries plus every funded scheme. Going without is only a sensible trade if you are self-funded and applying to specific programmes that publish an MOI route.
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