Studying in the UK without IELTS: key facts
- Who decides
- The universityGOV.UK: degree-level providers may assess English (CEFR B2)
- Bachelor’s route
- NEB Grade 12 English B–B+Grade B = 60–69%, B+ = 70–79%
- Master’s route
- MOI letterFrom the awarding university’s Registrar
- Result validity
- 2 to 7 yearsUCB 24 months; Greenwich 7 years
- Interview
- Often requiredChester makes it a condition
- Russell Group
- Usually IELTSMOI generally not accepted
- Nursing (NMC)
- IELTS 7.0 / OET BNMC: writing 6.5 or OET C+
- IELTS fee in Nepal
- NPR 28,800–36,200IDP Nepal
- HOA’s help
- FreeUniversities pay HOA after enrolment
University rules checked on each official page on 15 October 2026. Rules change between intakes; confirm before you apply.
Tool Which universities accept your English without IELTS?
Choose your details to see which of the 8 universities with a published Nepal route match, using the rules on their official pages (checked 15 October 2026).
Section 01 Is studying in the UK without IELTS legitimate?
Yes. GOV.UK sets the English level for a degree-level Student visa at CEFR B2 and lets the university assess it in its own way (GOV.UK, knowledge of English). When a university accepts your Grade 12 English or MOI letter, it confirms on your CAS how it assessed you, and you apply for the same Student visa as everyone else.
Two things do not change. First, the university decides: there is no UKVI list of “IELTS-free universities”, and rules differ by course and intake. Second, you still have to use English: universities often run a credibility interview, and visa officers can interview you too.
Save the test fee
IELTS in Nepal costs NPR 28,800–36,200 (IDP Nepal). The MOI route saves up to NPR 35,000 and 2–3 months of preparation.
Apply sooner
No test date to book or results to wait for, which matters for tight intakes such as January 2027.
Same visa and work rights
20 hours a week in term time, the same Graduate Route (18 months for applications from 1 January 2027).
Fewer universities
Most Russell Group universities and every nursing route still need a test. A waiver narrows your choice; it does not widen it.
Section 02 The two routes to a UK university without IELTS
How NEB letter grades map to percentages
UK universities quote Nepali English results as letter grades, grade points or percentages. NEB’s Grade 11–12 scale:
- A+90% and above
GP 4.0 - A80–89%
GP 3.6 - B+70–79%
GP 3.2 - B60–69%
GP 2.8 - C+50–59%
GP 2.4 - C40–49%
GP 2.0
Route 1: Grade 12 English (mainly bachelor’s)
- Your NEB (or HSEB) Grade 12 English result, usually grade B or B+
- Some universities ask for the Compulsory English subject specifically
- Many set an age limit on the result (24 months at UCB, 7 years at Greenwich)
- Some add conditions, such as English-medium schooling and an interview (Chester)
- Documents: Grade 12 transcript and certificate; HOA checks the grade against each university
Route 2: MOI letter (master’s)
- Your bachelor’s (or master’s) was taught and examined in English
- Letter from the awarding university’s Registrar, signed and wet-stamped
- Some universities limit how old the degree can be (3 years at Aston)
- Some want a minimum degree result (2:2 at Arden)
- Documents: MOI letter, all transcripts, degree or provisional certificate
Below the required grade? Look at universities with a lower published bar, use an MOI letter if you hold an English-medium degree, or take IELTS, PTE or another accepted test. See IELTS vs PTE vs TOEFL.
Section 03 How do you get an MOI letter in Nepal?
A Medium of Instruction letter is only as good as its wording and its signatory. These steps follow what the universities on this page ask for.
- Check the university accepts MOI for your course
Acceptance is set by each university and course, not by UKVI. Confirm it before you request the letter. Russell Group universities generally still require IELTS.
- Ask the right office
Request the letter from the Registrar or the Office of the Controller of Examinations of the university that awarded your degree (Tribhuvan, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Purbanchal or another). Some UK universities, such as Arden, refuse letters signed by a lecturer or head of department.
- Make sure it says the right things
Your name as on the passport, degree title, years of study, and a clear statement that teaching and examinations were in English. Official letterhead, signature, title and an original (wet) stamp; Aston asks for a wet stamp from the awarding institution.
- Check how recent it must be
Rules differ: Aston wants the degree completed within the last 3 years; Arden accepts letters for 5 years. HOA checks this against your shortlist.
- Send it with your application
Upload the MOI letter with your transcripts and degree certificate. HOA reviews the wording free before you submit.
Free MOI check: send HOA a photo of your draft or issued letter before you upload it, and a counsellor checks the wording, signatory and stamp against each university on your shortlist. WhatsApp your letter
Section 04 Which UK universities accept Nepali students without IELTS?
Read on official pages 15 October 2026
Below is what each university publishes for applicants from Nepal, with a link to the page. HOA’s partner data counts more than 25 universities that accept MOI for selected courses; this section shows only what the universities state publicly, so you can check it yourself.
Universities that publish a Grade 12 English or MOI route for Nepal
University of East London
London · London living-cost rate Grade 12 English MOI letterGrade 12 English at 60% or GP 2.8 (NEB grade B). An MOI letter from Tribhuvan, Kathmandu or Pokhara University is accepted instead of IELTS for graduates who meet the entry requirements.
Official pageHOA guideUniversity College Birmingham
Birmingham Grade 12 EnglishCompulsory English (theory and practical) in Grade 12 with a CGPA of 3.0 or above, taken in the last 24 months. No MOI route on its Nepal page.
Official pageHOA guideUniversity of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton Grade 12 EnglishGrade 12 Compulsory English: undergraduate grade B, CGPA 2.6 or 65%; postgraduate grade B, CGPA 2.8 or 70%. No MOI route on its Nepal page.
Official pageHOA guideUniversity of Greenwich
London · London living-cost rate Grade 12 EnglishGrade 12 (Plus 2) English counts as IELTS: B = 5.5, B+ = 6.0 and 6.5, A = 7.0. Most courses ask 6.0 or more, so plan on B+. Must be within 7 years of starting.
Official pageHOA guideUniversity of Chester
Chester Grade 12 EnglishNEB English B+ or GPA 3.0, if you studied in English medium throughout school and pass a pre-screening interview before the conditional offer.
Official pageHOA guideLondon Metropolitan University
London · London living-cost rate Grade 12 EnglishNEB Grade 12 English at B+ or above for courses that need IELTS 6.0 or more; the same page also quotes grade A (80%) for some degrees, so confirm your course.
Official pageHOA guideAston University
Birmingham MOI letterMOI route for a degree from Kathmandu, Tribhuvan or Pokhara University completed in the last 3 years and taught wholly in English; the letter must be wet-stamped by the awarding university. Its Nepal page says NEB Grade 12 students cannot get an English waiver.
Official pageHOA guideArden University
Manchester, London and other UK centres MOI letterMOI from selected Nepali universities for a bachelor’s or master’s with at least a 2:2. The letter must come from the Office of the Registrar (not a lecturer or head of department) and is valid for 5 years.
Official pageHOA guide
Universities to confirm before relying on a waiver
These were on the previous version of this page. On 15 October 2026 their Nepal pages showed no Grade 12 or MOI route (or could not be read), so treat a waiver as unconfirmed until the university states it in writing.
University of Roehampton
London Confirm firstIts Nepal page lists IELTS only (6.0 undergraduate, 6.5 master’s). Ask HOA before relying on any waiver.
Official pageHOA guideLeeds Beckett University
Leeds Confirm firstIts Nepal page lists IELTS 6.0 (no skill below 5.5) for undergraduate and postgraduate courses; no Grade 12 or MOI route is published.
Official pageHOA guideBuckinghamshire New University
High Wycombe Confirm firstIts Nepal page gives academic entry only and no English route; it asks applicants to contact admissions for course-specific English rules.
Official pageHOA guideUniversity of Huddersfield
Huddersfield Confirm firstNo Nepal-specific English route was published on its country pages when HOA checked. Ask HOA to confirm with the university.
Official pageHOA guideThe University of Law
Several UK campuses Confirm firstHOA partner data lists an MOI route for master’s entry, but the university’s Nepal page could not be read on 15 October 2026. Ask HOA to confirm.
HOA guide
More options: see the MOI university list, or book a free consultation and HOA will match your grade, course and budget to universities that accept it.
Section 05 When do you still need IELTS?
- Nursing and midwifery: to register with the NMC you need IELTS Academic 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing, or OET grade B (C+ in writing) (NMC). An MOI letter cannot replace it. Nursing guide
- Most Russell Group universities: generally ask Nepali applicants for IELTS or another approved test.
- Courses below degree level: a foundation year or separate pre-sessional course usually needs a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at CEFR B1. Greenwich offers pre-sessional English only to students with UKVI IELTS. Foundation guide
- Grade too low or too old: if your Grade 12 English is below the university’s bar or outside its time limit, and you have no English-medium degree.
- University says no: where the university’s Nepal page lists IELTS only (Roehampton and Leeds Beckett on 15 October 2026).
Section 06 What does it cost to study in the UK without IELTS?
Rates checked 15 October 2026 · NPR 195 per £1
Skipping IELTS saves the test fee, but everything else is the same: tuition, living costs, the visa fee and the health surcharge, and the visa money you must show for 28 days.
One-year master’s outside London (example)
Visa money to show (28 days)
The living-cost amounts apply to visa applications made on or after 30 November 2026 (HC 584); before that date they are £10,539 and £13,761 (GOV.UK). Tuition example from University of Hertfordshire, 2026/27. Three of the universities with a published route (UEL, Greenwich and London Met) are in London, where the higher living-cost rate applies. Use the NPR cost calculator for your own course, and see the 28-day bank balance guide.
Do not count on part-time pay. You can work 20 hours a week in term time at a minimum of £12.71 an hour (age 21+, GOV.UK), but the visa money must already be in your account before you apply.
Section 07 How to apply without IELTS, step by step
- Step 1Free route check
HOA checks your Grade 12 English grade and date, or your MOI eligibility, against each university and course you are considering.
- Step 2Documents
Grade 12 transcript, or MOI letter and degree transcripts; passport; statement of purpose; references. HOA reviews each one free.
- Step 3Apply and prepare for the interview
Undergraduates apply through UCAS (13 January 2027 for September 2027 entry); master’s applicants apply direct. Prepare for a credibility interview: common questions.
- Step 4Offer, NOC and deposit
Get your NOC (NPR 2,000, noc.moest.gov.np) before your bank sends the deposit. The university then issues your CAS, which records how your English was assessed.
- Step 5Funds, TB test and visa
Hold the visa money for 28 days, take the TB test, and apply. Decisions usually take about 3 weeks from outside the UK.
- Step 6Travel
HOA’s free pre-departure briefing covers arrival, enrolment and settling in.
Section 08 Study in UK without IELTS: frequently asked questions
Yes, at some universities. For degree-level courses GOV.UK lets the university assess your English itself, to CEFR level B2, instead of asking for a test. From Nepal the two usual routes are a strong Grade 12 English result (often NEB grade B or B+) for bachelor’s applicants, and an MOI letter for applicants who already hold an English-medium degree. Each university sets its own rule, so check yours first.
On their official pages checked 15 October 2026, the University of East London (TU, KU or PU graduates), Aston (KU, TU or PU degree completed in the last 3 years) and Arden (selected Nepali universities, Registrar letter) accept MOI. HOA’s partner data counts more than 25 UK universities that accept MOI for selected courses; there is no single official list. Russell Group universities generally still require IELTS. MOI university list
It depends on the university. From official pages checked 15 October 2026: UEL 60% or GP 2.8 (grade B); Wolverhampton grade B (CGPA 2.6 or 65% undergraduate, 2.8 or 70% postgraduate); UCB CGPA 3.0, taken in the last 24 months; Chester B+ or GPA 3.0 with an interview; Greenwich B+ for most courses, within 7 years; London Met B+ for most courses.
Sometimes. Grade B means 60–69% (grade point 2.8). It meets the published rule at the University of East London and Wolverhampton, but UCB, Chester, Greenwich and London Met ask for more (around B+ or GPA 3.0) for most courses. Use the route checker to see which universities match your grade.
Yes. If the university assesses your English itself, it records this on your CAS and you do not need a separate test for the visa. The visa, its fee and its work rights are the same as for IELTS students. Visa officers can still interview you, so you must be able to speak English at the level the university certified.
Often, yes. Many universities hold a credibility or pre-CAS interview for applicants from Nepal, and Chester makes a pre-screening interview a condition of its Grade 12 English route. UKVI may also call you for an interview. HOA runs free mock interviews.
Ideally the Registrar or Controller of Examinations of the university that awarded your degree, on letterhead with a signature and an original stamp. Arden accepts letters only from the Office of the Registrar, and Aston asks for a wet stamp from the awarding institution, so a letter from a college lecturer or department head may be rejected.
Usually not. MOI letters prove an English-medium degree, so they suit master’s applicants. Bachelor’s applicants normally use their Grade 12 English result instead, or take IELTS or another accepted test.
Generally not. Most Russell Group universities ask Nepali applicants for IELTS (often 6.5 or more) or another approved test. HOA has placed students across all 24 Russell Group universities and will tell you which test score each course needs.
Not if you want to register as a nurse. The Nursing and Midwifery Council requires IELTS Academic 7.0 in reading, listening and speaking and 6.5 in writing, or OET grade B (C+ in writing), whatever the university accepted for admission. Nursing guide
You still have options: universities with a lower published bar (such as UEL and Wolverhampton at grade B), an MOI letter if you hold an English-medium degree, or a test. Pre-sessional English is not a shortcut: courses below degree level usually need a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from a Home Office-approved provider, and Greenwich, for example, offers pre-sessional English only to students with UKVI IELTS. IELTS guide
It varies. UCB accepts English results taken in the last 24 months; Greenwich accepts them within 7 years of starting. Other universities may set their own limit, so older results are more useful for an MOI-based master’s route than for a Grade 12 waiver.
The IELTS fee in Nepal is NPR 28,800–36,200 depending on the test type (IDP Nepal), and the MOI route saves up to NPR 35,000 and 2–3 months of preparation. Every other cost (tuition, visa money, visa fee and health surcharge) is the same.
No. You can work 20 hours a week in term time and full-time in official vacations, at a minimum of £12.71 an hour (21 and over). The Graduate Route is 18 months for applications made from 1 January 2027 (3 years after a PhD), exactly as for students who took IELTS.
Yes, at every stage, including checking your Grade 12 English or MOI route against each university. Partner universities pay HOA after a student enrols. All 20+ HOA counsellors hold the British Council’s UK counsellor certification. Book a free consultation
Sources Where these rules come from
Each university rule was read on its official page on 15 October 2026. MOI acceptance is decided by each university and course, not by UKVI or any central body, and there is no official list. HOA’s own figures (25+ MOI universities, 99% visa success) are self-reported from internal tracking.
- GOV.UK: Student visa: knowledge of English (CEFR B2 for degree level; university may assess)
- GOV.UK: Student visa: money you need
- GOV.UK: Statement of changes HC 584 (living-cost rise from 30 November 2026)
- GOV.UK: Graduate visa
- GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage rates
- Nursing and Midwifery Council: Accepted English language tests
- IDP Nepal: IELTS test fee in Nepal
- University of Hertfordshire: MSc International Business (fees)
- Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Nepal: No Objection Certificate portal
- University of East London: UEL, Nepal
- University College Birmingham: UCB, Nepal
- University of Wolverhampton: Wolverhampton, Nepal
- University of Greenwich: Greenwich, English requirements
- University of Chester: Chester, Nepal
- London Metropolitan University: London Met, Nepal
- Aston University: Aston, Nepal
- Arden University: Arden, English requirements
- University of Roehampton: Roehampton, Nepal
- Leeds Beckett University: Leeds Beckett, Nepal
- Buckinghamshire New University: BNU, Nepal
- University of Huddersfield: Huddersfield, country requirements
Section 09 More UK study guides for Nepali students
- Study in UK from NepalCosts, intakes, visas: the full guide
- MOI university listUniversities accepting MOI from Nepal
- IELTS for UK studyScores, fees and preparation
- UKVI waiver and MOI rulesWhat the Immigration Rules allow
- Bachelor’s in the UKNEB entry and UCAS
- Master’s in the UKOne-year courses from Nepal
- Student visa guideCAS, 28-day rule, TB test
- Graduate Route18 months from 2027
- UK study costs in NPRTuition, living, visa
- UK universities for Nepali studentsAll HOA university guides
Find out if you can skip IELTS, free
Send your Grade 12 marksheet or MOI letter and a British Council-certified HOA counsellor will check it against each university on your shortlist. No fees at any stage. Visit us in Putalisadak, Kathmandu or Chipledhunga, Pokhara (Sun–Fri 9:30 AM–6 PM · Sat 11 AM–4 PM (peak season)).
- Free at every stage
- 99% visa success (self-reported)
- British Council-certified counsellors