Start with the stronger document
Before requesting a letter, check your transcript and, if your university issues one, your diploma supplement. If either has a printed field naming the language of instruction, that is better evidence than any letter, because it is part of the academic record rather than a statement made on request. The University of Padua's published rule is exactly this: the documentation must explicitly indicate the language in which the course was delivered. Tampere University asks for the language to be stated in the degree certificate, an official transcript, a diploma supplement or another official document from the awarding institution.
Only if none of those name the language do you need a separate letter. Most Bangladeshi transcripts do not, which is why the letter exists.
The six elements, and what each is for
| Element | What it must contain | Why it is checked |
|---|---|---|
| Letterhead | Official printed letterhead with the institution's address | Proves it came from the institution, not a department printer |
| Your identifiers | Full name as on your passport, student or roll number, programme title | Ties the letter to the transcript and the passport |
| Dates | Month and year of enrolment and of completion | Shows the letter covers the whole programme |
| The sentence | Both instruction and examination named as English | A letter that omits examination is the commonest rejection |
| Signatory | Registrar or controller of examinations, with name, designation, signature and institutional seal | An unnamed signature is not verifiable |
| Reference | Letter date and a reference or memo number | Lets the university verify it with your institution |
A model letter to hand to your registrar
Registrars issue what they are asked for. Bring the wording with you. Everything in italics below is yours to replace.
[Institution letterhead]
>
Ref: *[office reference number]* | Date: *[date of issue]*
>
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
>
Subject: Certificate of Medium of Instruction and Examination
>
This is to certify that *[full name as printed in the passport]*, son or daughter of *[father's name]*, bearing student identification number *[roll or ID]*, was enrolled in the *[full programme title, for example Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering]* programme of this institution from *[month, year]* to *[month, year]*, and was awarded the degree on *[date]*.
>
The medium of instruction and the medium of examination for the above programme were English throughout the entire duration of the programme. All lectures, coursework, assignments, examinations and the final thesis or project were conducted, written and assessed in English.
>
This certificate is issued on the request of the student for the purpose of higher studies abroad.
>
*[Signature]*
*[Name]*, Registrar / Controller of Examinations
*[Institution]* | *[Institutional seal]*
Two lines in there do the heavy lifting: instruction and examination together, and throughout the entire duration. A letter covering only part of a programme invites the question of what language the rest was in.
The four defects that get a letter rejected
- 1"Instruction" without "examination". Universities want to know your written work was assessed in English, not just delivered in it. This is the defect the existing MOI guide also warns about, and it remains the most common one.
- 2A departmental letter instead of an institutional one. A head of department's note on plain paper is not the registrar's certificate. Some universities accept it; assume yours does not.
- 3A name that does not match the passport. If your certificates carry a different spelling, fix that first — see fixing a name mismatch.
- 4A poor scan. A grey photocopy with the seal invisible reads as unverifiable. Scan in colour, at 300 dpi, as a single PDF, and check the seal and signature are legible at full size before uploading — the practical rules are in scanning and file size rules for uploads.
Getting it issued in Bangladesh
Ask at the registrar's or examination controller's office, in person where possible. Bring your transcript, certificate, national ID and a printed copy of the wording above. Fees are nominal or nil at most institutions, and the wait ranges from same-day at some private universities to several weeks where the office batches requests. Ask for two or three originals at once: different universities want originals, and a second application later costs another wait.
Whether your institution can issue one at all depends on what it actually taught in. A National University or affiliated college degree may or may not qualify, and a Bengali-medium programme does not. A madrasah stream qualification generally does not either.
If the registrar refuses, or hedges
Two situations come up often enough to plan for.
The office will only certify "instruction", not "examination". Some registrars treat the examination clause as a claim they cannot make. If so, ask instead for a letter that quotes the programme's own regulations on the language of assessment, or for a transcript annotation. A weaker document that is accurate is better than a strong one the office will not sign.
The programme was partly in Bengali. Say so, and drop the MOI route rather than obtaining a letter that overstates it. A university that later checks with your institution and finds a discrepancy is not looking at a paperwork problem; it is looking at a credibility problem, and that reaches your visa file too.
Does it need attestation?
For uploading to an admissions portal, normally no — a clear scan of the original is what is asked for. For a visa file, the requirement follows that country's rules on academic documents rather than a special rule for MOI letters. Do not pay for attestation of an MOI letter until an admissions office or the embassy has asked for it in writing.
Where the letter is actually accepted, institution by institution, is the subject of which European universities accept an MOI letter.
Official sources — check for yourself
- University of Padua — knowledge of English for admission
- Tampere University — language requirements, master's programmes
- University of Debrecen — application and admission
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
What exactly should the MOI letter say?+
That the medium of instruction and the medium of examination for your named programme were English, throughout the whole programme, with your full name and student number, the dates of enrolment and completion, the registrar's signature and designation, the institutional seal, a date and a reference number.
Is a transcript better than a letter?+
Yes, where the transcript or diploma supplement prints the language of instruction as a field. Universities such as Padua ask for documentation that explicitly indicates the language of delivery, and an academic record carries more weight than a letter written on request.
How many copies should I ask for?+
Two or three originals. Several universities ask for an original rather than a scan, and requesting a second letter months later means queuing again at the registrar's office.
Does an MOI certificate need attestation or apostille?+
Not for a normal admissions upload, where a clear colour scan is what is requested. For a visa file, follow the destination country's rules for academic documents and only pay for attestation once an admissions office or embassy has asked for it in writing.
Tuition, funds, IELTS band and the visa route — side by side.
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