Earning a UK degree is a dream for millions of students worldwide. Students from all over the world want to study in the UK for better career prospects, academic excellence, and social respect, and to migrate to the first world. The enthusiasm in these international students gets a reality check when it comes to language barrier.
Most international students sit for IELTS as an English language test and passing this competitive test will guarantee your admission at your dream university in the UK. What if you fail? Don’t panic! There are MOI-accepted universities in the UK for international students.
IELTS can be challenging for many students. For that we have a Medium of Instruction (MOI) for you, as an alternative. UK universities are accepting MOI for international students.
The biggest question is: What is MOI? And how can international students benefit from it? Let’s find out:
The medium of instruction is the language used in the classroom to convey the course content to the students. Choosing an effective medium of instruction is crucial to facilitate education to students. There are places where the students’ mother tongue is used as the medium of instruction; though it is not mandatory. There are places where a different spoken language can be used as the medium of instruction to teach the majority of the students.
Thanks to MOI, international students now have a great opportunity to study in the UK without having to take an English language test.
Benefits of studying at MOI-approved universities in UK for international students:
- Your application process will be recognised as an alternative to any English language test at your applied university.
- You can bypass taking an English language test when applying to these universities.
- Even if you are not a native English speaker, it helps a lot if you know English.
Top MOI-accepted universities in the UK for international students:
- University of Hertfordshire
- Birmingham City University
- Northumbria University
- Bangor University
- University of Bedfordshire
- University for the Creative Arts
- University of Greenwich
- University of South Wales
University of Hertfordshire
Just 25 miles away from London, the University of Hertfordshire is located in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. The institution with a history of more than 70 years accommodates more than 36,000 students from more than 140 countries. Students of UH have accessibility to more than 550 career-focused programmes that help them build their career. 93.5% graduates of University of Hertfordshire are in work or pursuing further studies within 15 months. 83.6% of the students of this university are satisfied with academic support and learning opportunities. UH offers scholarships and bursaries to its students.
Rankings & Recognitions:
- Only university to be awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise in 2024
- 1st in the East of England for overall student satisfaction (NSS, 2023)
- Silver award in the national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF, 2023)
- Herts was ranked the 11th best university in the southeast and 83rd overall for Graduate Prospects & Teaching Quality
- Top 100 universities in the world is under 50 years old
Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University has a rich history that dates back from 1843. With more than 31,000 students from 100 countries, this university is located in Birmingham, England. It offers more than 1,000 contemporary and flexible programmes with 2,300 faculty members. You will be surprised to know that 50 courses of this university are accredited by top professional bodies.
BCU has a reputation of launching the highest number of business start-ups in the West Midlands than any other and has connections with the top employers like Microsoft, Cisco, Jaguar Land Rover, etc. The university offers lucrative scholarships to its students. Undoubtedly, BCU is one of the top MOI accepted universities in the UK for international students.
Rankings & Recognitions:
- Gold-rated for Student Experience in Teaching Excellence Framework 2023
- Silver-rated for Student Outcomes in Teaching Excellence Framework 2023
- The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher & Further Education 2019
Northumbria University
Originally founded in 1880, Northumbria University is a research-intensive university with campuses located in London and Newcastle in England. With modern state-of-the-art facilities and vibrant campuses, this institution offers a wide range of programmes to its 7,000+ students from every corner of the world. It is one of the top 25 universities in the UK for research and graduate employment. Top corporations like Nike, IBM, etc. hire graduates of Northumbria. It is also one of the top universities for graduate start-ups. The university has a diverse culture by attracting international students from more than 137 countries.
Rankings & Recognitions:
- UK University of the Year 2022 by Times Higher Education
- Modern University of the Year 2025 by The Times and The Sunday Times
- Ranked 80th Globally in Times Higher Education’s Young Universities Rankings 2020
- Top 50 institutions in the world for sustainability in Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
Bangor University
Bangor University is one of the best UK universities for international students with MOI. Located on the North Wales coast, Bangor University has a rich education history of 140 years. This top Welsh university is accredited by global professional bodies like ACCA, BCS, IBMS and many more. Bangor is the top 20 UK university for course content by facilitating its students with a wide range of industry trending programmes. 88% of the students of Bangor are either working or pursuing further education within six months of graduation.
Rankings & Recognitions:
- No.1 Welsh University of the Year in Daily Mail University Guide 2024
- Top 20 UK University for Course Content in StudentCrowd University Awards 2024
- Top 20 in UK for Teaching Quality in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
- Top 15 UK University of the Year by WhatUni 2024
- 5-Stars Global Rating for Employability in QS Star Rating System
- Top 40 UK University for Career Prospects by WhatUni 2024
University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire has vibrant campuses in Luton, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, and Putteridge Bury. The university attracts domestic and international students from a mix of around 115 countries by offering a wide range of accredited professional programmes. The institution offers one of the most affordable accommodations in South East England and scholarships and bursaries to its students.
Rankings & Recognitions:
- 3rd in UK for All Graduate Start-ups in HESA 2023
- 3rd in UK in the People & Planet University Green League 2023/24
- Most Cost-Effective Accommodation in South East England in Student Crowd 2024
- 5-star Rating for Environmental Sustainability in The Times Higher UK University Rankings 2024
University for the Creative Arts
By offering a wide range of programmes and cutting-edge facilities, University for the Creative Arts offers one of the best education to its students in the UK who want progressive careers in the creative sectors. With 160 years of rich education history, the institution has four beautiful campuses located in Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, and Maidstone; near London. Top employers from creative industries like Architecture, Film, Fashion, Fine Art, Media, Creative Design etc. highly prefer graduates from UCA to hire. The institution managed to be one of the top in the UK by achieving impeccable global rankings in different segments. The university also offers scholarships to its students.
Rankings & Recognitions:
- Top UK’s Art and Design University for World-leading Research Outputs in Research Excellence Framework
- Top 2 Specialist Creative University in UK according to The Guardian 2024
- Top 3 Specialist Creative University in UK in The Times / Sunday Times and Daily Mail 2024
- Top 50 Creative Media & Entertainments Schools in the World in Rookies Global School Rankings 2022
University of Greenwich
Founded in 1890, the University of Greenwich is the second oldest polytechnic institution in the UK. The university has jaw dropping beautiful campuses in London and Kent. It does not take more than 45 minutes to reach Central London from any of the campuses. The institution is a pioneer in offering a wide range of programmes to its students. It is a Gold-rated university for student experience. It is also one of the UK universities with MOI acceptance for international students.
Rankings & Recognitions:
- Gold-rated University for Student Experience and Outcomes in Teaching Excellence Framework 2023
- Best UK University by StudentCrowd 2023
- Member of University Alliance
University of South Wales
With three beautiful campuses located in Cardiff, Newport, and Pontypridd, the University of South Wales is mainly pioneered in three faculties- the faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science; the faculty of Business and Creative Industries; and the faculty of Life Sciences and Education. Interestingly, three of its campuses are focused on three different faculties. With more than 2,700 staff, USW accommodates more than 23,000 domestic and international students.
Rankings & Recognitions:
- Shortlisted for Times Higher Education University of the Year
- Cyber University of the Year for 4 years running
- Top in Wales and 11th in the UK for helping graduate start-up businesses
- Awarded the QAA Quality Mark for meeting UK expectations for quality & standards
Our Final Take
The Medium of Instruction (MOI) has opened an alternative door for students who have an urge to study at a UK university without sitting for IELTS. All of the universities mentioned above are the MOI accepted universities in the UK for international students. The MOI is a gateway for those international students who lose motivation to apply at universities in the UK after not being able to pass the IELTS.
Thus, prospective students can visit the websites of their preferred universities to check whether they accept MOI or not. We know this might be quite hectic for some enthusiastic students to find the right and credible information on their dream university. This is why it is crucial to take help from an expert education counsellor for proper guidance and knowledge on the university. You can take help from us because BWBS Education Consultants has years long experience in education consultancy with proper guidance from university selection to application process and university arrival, we got you covered.
FAQ:
Is it possible to study in the UK without IELTS?
Yes, you can study in the UK without IELTS. There are UK universities that accept MOI as an alternative to IELTS. You can contact BWBS for details.
What is MOI?
Medium of Instruction (MOI) is the language spoken in the classroom for lessons. Though, it doesn’t mean it has to be the official language of that country.
What is the full meaning of MOI?
“Medium of Instruction”
How reliable is an MOI certificate for admission?
An MOI certificate is a reliable source to show your English language proficiency for admission at a university. But it depends on the policies of the university.
What are the MOI accepted universities in the UK?
The list of UK universities offering courses for international students with MOI:
- University of Hertfordshire
- Birmingham City University
- Northumbria University
- Bangor University
- University of Bedfordshire
- University for the Creative Arts
- University of Greenwich
- University of South Wales
Which universities accept MOI in the UK?
The list of the Universities in UK accepting MOI for international students:
- University of Hertfordshire
- Birmingham City University
- Northumbria University
- Bangor University
- University of Bedfordshire
- University for the Creative Arts
- University of Greenwich
- University of South Wales
How can I study in the UK without IELTS?
You can apply to MOI approved universities. Contact BWBS for details.
