Some universities accept a medium-of-instruction letter or their own test. Visa offices are a separate question, and that is where students get stuck.
Two different gatekeepers
Admission and visa are decided by different bodies. A university may waive IELTS on the basis of an English medium-of-instruction certificate. The visa office may still want evidence that you can follow the course. Confirm both before you decide to skip the test.
Routes that work
These are the waivers we see accepted most often:
- A medium-of-instruction letter from your Indian university, accepted by many institutions in Germany, Poland, Italy and Latvia
- The university's own online English assessment or interview
- Duolingo English Test, accepted by a growing number of institutions but not universally
- A prior degree completed entirely in English in an English-speaking system
Why we usually still recommend taking it
A 6.5 in IELTS opens far more programmes, strengthens the visa file and costs one month of preparation. Skipping it narrows your shortlist at exactly the stage where you want options. Treat a waiver as a fallback, not a plan.
Figures in this guide are indicative and were checked on 2026-07-19. Fees, visa rules and financial-proof amounts change; confirm the current numbers with the university and the relevant embassy or immigration authority before you act.