A Complete Guide on MOI Accepted Universities in UK in 2026-27

Studying in the United Kingdom without IELTS is now a real possibility for Indian students - and the Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate is the key. This article contains all the information on MOI accepted universities in UK in 2026 for Indian students. 

For Indian students aiming for the 2026 intake in UK, several top universities accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate in lieu of IELTS - provided English was the primary language of study for their prior studies/degrees. While the elite Russell Group institutions review MOI dynamically alongside high Class 12 English scores, modern UK universities offer structured and highly flexible MOI pathways. These universities accept MOI on a selective basis - typically requiring graduation within the last 2 to 5 years and minimum Class 12 English marks of 60% to 70%.

This guide presents complete details on what MOI certificate is, the mandatory conditions from UK universities for acceptance of the MOI and class 12th cut-off marks in English - based on different top universities in UK. 

Let us first understand what is a MOI Certificate.

What is a MOI Certificate?

A Medium of Instruction or MOI certificate is an official document - issued by your previous educational institution - school, college or university - confirming that your entire course or degree programme was taught and examined in English. It is printed on your institution’s letterhead and signed by an authorised official such as the Registrar, Controller of Examinations or Principal.

Since many universities in the UK have started accepting an MOI Certificate, it’s no longer a mandatory requirement for students to sit for English exams like IELTS, TOEFL or PTE. 

What Must a MOI Certificate Include to be Accepted by UK Universities?

For a UK university to accept your MOI certificate, it must contain:

• Student's full name - matching the name on your passport 

• Name of the course/degree and duration (e.g., B.Com, 2021-2024)

• An explicit statement such as: "The medium of instruction and examination for the entire programme was English"

• Official seal and signature of the authorised signatory (Registrar or Principal)

• Date of issue - preferably within the last 6 months to a year of your application

Why have UK Universities Started Accepting MOI Certificate?

To make their the educational environment more and more international-student friendly, UK universities are constantly working upon measures that actually limit high potential students from getting through the selection process. For that reason, UK universities are actively widening their English language requirement policies to attract talented students who have genuinely studied in English but may struggle with or lack access to expensive standardised tests.

Benefits of MOI Certificate

Below we have listed some benefits for both - the UK universities and Indian students. 

1. It helps to reduce overall application costs. Since English exams are really expensive (approx. INR 18,000), acceptance of the MOI certificate by UK universities really help Indian students 

2. Students and universities don’t have to wait until last minute for suitable test scores.

3. Reduced stress - No additional exam pressure on top of the application process

4. It is also accepted for a UK Student Visa (CAS) without one needing a separate English test score.

Conditions for MOI Acceptance by UK Universities for Indian Students

It’s not that every MOI certificate gets through the application process - allowing students to not take the IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo exams before the application process. The UK universities in fact apply several filters before accepting an MOI in place of standardised English test(s). Some most common conditions for the acceptance of an MOI by UK universities are given below.

1. Your previous school/college/university must be English-medium. It must be the sole or primary language of teaching and assessment throughout the course of the program. Additionally and importantly, you must have graduated from class 12th either from the CBSE board or the ICSE board with a minimum score in English to be 70%. students from certain specific state boards (like the Jammu & Kashmir State Boards or the Punjab/Haryana State boards) might still be asked to take the English test. This step is taken by universities to lessen up the UK Student Visa rejection rates. 

2. Your previous degree or any other educational qualification must have been completed within the last 2 to 5 years only. As degrees older than that may not qualify you for getting an English test waiver

3. The acceptance of MOI certificate by UK universities also depend on the type of program you’re getting enrolled to. Most UG and PG courses in fields like business, engineering, IT, computer science, data science, finance and creative arts can be accepted well by universities. But for highly specialised and professional fields like law, medicine, nursing, education and health sciences - taking IELTS or other English test would be a mandatory requirement. 

4. Lastly, it must be noted that each UK university has its own, different policy for MOI acceptance. Hence a certificate accepted at one university may not be valid at another. Hence students must always talk to the international admissions team without themselves reaching a conclusion about submitting the application without an English test.

Top MOI Accepted Universities in UK for Indian Students 2026

Below is a curated list of UK universities known to accept MOI certificates from eligible international students. 

Is MOI also Accepted for UK Student Visa?

Very often Indian students may have this important question in mind that - "If my university accepts MOI - can I still get a UK Student Visa without IELTS?" The answer to this question is a yes in most cases.

This is in advantage of the international students that the UK Visas and Immigration authority (UKVI) recognises the university's assessment of English proficiency based on MOI for CAS letter issuance. Hence, this means if your UK university accepts your MOI and issues you a CAS letter, the visa process does not separately require an IELTS score. The university conducts the verification of your MOI certificate and takes responsibility for confirming your English language competency.

This was all about the MOI accepting universities in UK for Indian students in 2026-27. For more such information and admission-related assistance, reach out to Shiksha's Counselling Services for free.