Study in UK Without IELTS in 2023

Last Updated on March 7, 2023 by Spynaija

Can I Apply to UK Universities Without IELTS?

Oftentimes, prospective students from various countries around the world seeking to study in the UK often ask this question, Well, the answer to this question is a YES. In as much as studying in most universities in the UK demands that candidates should take the IELTS test, there are some universities in the UK that have waived this test with other alternative requirements for their prospective applicants. Kindly read through to know all the universities you can apply to study in the UK without the IELTS requirement.

What is IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an international standardized assessment test of English Language proficiency for non-native English Language speakers.

The IELTS is used to evaluate the English language proficiency of all prospective international students seeking to study in all native English-speaking countries. The IELTS often consists of four (4) assessment tests which include; Writing, Reading, listening, and speaking tests often graded on a scale of 0-9 within a duration of not less than three hours fifty-five minutes.

Most Universities in English-speaking nations like the US, Australia, and the UK often assess the English language proficiency of their prospective international students through the IELTS. However, there are exceptions to that as there are some universities with alternative requirements, kindly refer to the FAQs below this page to see some of the alternative requirements for most of the listed universities.

UK Universities Without IELTS Requirement

Listed below are all the universities you can apply to study in the UK without the IELTS requirement. These universities don’t require IELTS from their international students.

1. University of Essex 

The University of Essex is a public research university located in Essex, England. The university was established in 1963. The university welcomed its pioneer students in 1964. It acquired university status in 1965. The university has a total of 2,562 academic and professional staff and a student population of about 14,926, comprising both local and international students. You can apply to study at the University of Essex without going through the IELTS test

2. University of Central Lancashire

The University of Central Lancashire is a public university located in Preston, Lancashire, England. The University of Central Lancashire was founded as Institution for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge in 1828 by Joseph Livesey’s Temperance Society. It was awarded university status in 1992. The university has an undergraduate and postgraduate student population of about 24,823 as of the 2019/2020 session. The University of Central Lancashire is one of the universities you can apply to study in the UK without the IELTS requirement.

3. University of Greenwich

The University of Greenwich is a public university, founded in 1890. The university is located in London and Kent, United Kingdom. The university was first established as a polytechnic from 1890 – 1992 when it was granted university status by the Major government (together with various other polytechnics) which was renamed to the University of Greenwich in 1993. The University of Greenwich is one of the few universities you can apply to study in the UK without the IELTS requirement.

The University of Greenwich offers courses in various academic disciplines which include architecture, business, computing, mathematics, education, engineering, humanities, maritime studies, natural sciences, pharmacy, and social sciences.

4. Swansea University 

Swansea University was first established as the University College of Swansea in 1920, it is a public research university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom.

Swansea University currently boasts of over 20,375 undergraduates, and postgraduate local, and international students. The university offers about 330 undergraduate and 120 post-graduate courses. Swansea University is one of the universities you can apply to study in the UK without the IELTS requirement.

5. University of Northampton 

The University of Northampton is a public university located in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England. It was formed in 1999 by the amalgamation of a number of training colleges, it achieved university status as the University of Northampton in 2005. With a student population of 12,000 plus, comprising both local and international students spread across its two campuses. The university has four faculties namely: the Faculty of Business & Law, the Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology, the Faculty of Health & Society; and the Faculty of Education & Humanities.

6. University of Plymouth

The University of Plymouth is a public research university located in Plymouth, England. The university was first established as the Plymouth School of Navigation in 1862. The university currently has a student population of about 18,410 students, spread across its three (3) faculties with an administrative staff strength of 2,915. The University of Plymouth is one of the universities you can apply to study in the UK without the IELTS requirement.

7. Portsmouth University

The University of Portsmouth is a public university located in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The university was founded as the Portsmouth and Gosport School of Science and Art in 1870. It gained university status on 7th July 1992. The university has a staff capacity of about 3,500 and a student population of 25, 526.

8. Northumbria University

Northumbria University is a public university located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. The university was founded by John Hunter Rutherford as Rutherford College of Technology in 1877.

In 1992, the Rutherford College of Technology, now Newcastle Polytechnic was reconstituted as the new University of Northumbria, as part of a nationwide process in which polytechnics became new universities. The university currently has a student population of about 28,345 undergraduates, and postgraduate local, and international students, with an administrative staff strength of about 1,375.

9. Robert Gordon University

Robert Gordon University is a public university located in Aberdeen, Scotland. The university was founded in the 18th century by Robert Gordon, a prosperous Aberdeen merchant. It achieved university status in 1992. The university awards degrees in a wide range of disciplines from BA/BSc to Ph.D., primarily in the professional, technical, health, and artistic disciplines. The university currently has a student population of about 16,787 undergraduates, and postgraduate local, and international students, with an administrative staff strength of about 1,595. Robert Gordon University is one of the universities you can apply to study in the UK without IELTS requirement.

10 University of Bolton

The University of Bolton is a public university located in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. The university was first established in 1982 as the Bolton Institute of Higher Education. It gained university status in 2004. The university has a total of 700 academic and professional staff and a student population of about 8,175, comprising both local and international students. You can apply to study at the University of Bolton without going through the IELTS test

11. London South Bank University

London South Bank University (LSBU) is a public university located in Elephant and Castle, London. It was first established as the Borough Polytechnic Institute on 30th September 1892, it achieved university status in 1992 under the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act. The university has a student population of about 16,840 undergraduates, and postgraduate local, and international students, with an administrative staff strength of about 1,700. The London South Bank University is one of the universities you can apply to study in UK without IELTS requirement.

12. University of Geneva

The University of Geneva is a public research university founded in 1559 by John Calvin as a theological seminary. The university is located in Geneva, Switzerland. It remained a theological institution until the 17th century when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. The university dropped its religious affiliations and became officially a secular institution in 1873. With about 40% of its student population being international students, the university has a total student capacity of 17,356 spread across its nine (9) faculties. The University of Geneva is one of the many universities in the UK you can apply to study without the IELTS requirement.

13. University of Bristol

The University of Bristol is a research university located in Bristol, England. The university was first established as the Merchant Venturers’ school in 1595. Bristol University has a total of six academic faculties comprising various schools and departments with over 200 undergraduate courses. Bristol University awards academic degrees spanning bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as junior doctorates and higher doctorates. The University of Bristol is one of the universities you can apply to study in the UK without the IELTS requirement.

14. Birmingham City University

Birmingham City University is a public university in Birmingham, England. The Birmingham City University was initially established as the Birmingham College of Art in 1843, it was designated as a polytechnic in 1971 and gained university status in 1992. The university has a student population of over 26,000 undergraduates, postgraduate, local and international students spread across its four (4) faculties.

15. University of Basel

The University of Basel is a public university located in Basel, Switzerland. The university was established on 4 April 1460, it is the oldest university in Switzerland, and it is one of the world’s oldest surviving universities. The university currently boasts of about 378 professors and 13,500 students spread across its seven (7) faculties. It’s currently one of the UK universities without IELTS requirements.

16. University of Warwick 

The University of Warwick is a public research university located on the outskirts of Coventry between the West Midlands and Warwickshire, England. The University was established in 1965. The university has a population of about 27,278 undergraduates, postgraduate local, and international students spread across its three (3) faculties with about 2,492 academic and research staff. The university has various courses in Arts, Science Engineering, Medicine, and Social Sciences. The University of Warwick is one of the universities you can apply to study in UK without IELTS requirement.

You can find the University of Warwick acceptance rate, scholarship aids, tuition fees, and admission requirements in this article

17. Aston University 

Aston University is a public research university located in Birmingham, England. Aston University was founded as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School in 1895, which later evolved to become the UK’s first College of Advanced Technology in 1956. It was granted university status by the Royal Charter on 22 April 1966. The university currently has a student population of about 15,500 students, comprising both local and international students spread across its seven (7) faculties. This university is one of the institutions you can apply to study in the UK without the IELTS requirement.

18. Bangor University

Bangor University is a public university in Bangor, Wales. The university was established as the University College of North Wales on 18th October 1884. The university currently has a student population of about 9,945 students, comprising both local and international students spread across its three (3) academic colleges. Bangor University is one of the few UK universities that admit international students without the IELTS requirement.

19. Brunel University

Brunel University is a public research university located in Uxbridge London, England. Brunel University was founded in 1966 and named after a Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The university currently has a student population of about 15,580 students, comprising both local and international students spread across its three (3) constituent academic colleges. Brunel University is one of the UK universities that admit international students without IELTS requirements.

20. Sheffield Hallam University

Sheffield Hallam University is a public research university in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The university was founded as Sheffield Polytechnic in 1843. It gained university status in 1992. The university has a student population of about 31. 385 undergraduates, postgraduate local and international students, with an administrative staff strength of about 2,114. Sheffield Hallam University is one of the UK universities without IELTS requirements.

FAQs About Studying in the UK without IELTS.

We have compiled some frequently asked questions and some possible answers for prospective applicants.

Study in the UK without FAQs	ANSWERS
Can I Apply to UK Universities Without IELTS?	YES. In as much as studying in any university in the UK demands that all candidates should take the IELTS test, there are some universities in the UK that have waved this test with other alternative requirements
What are the alternative requirements for these universities?	Some of the alternative requirements include; Proof of over 60% in the English Language in Class XI and XII, either an undergraduate degree in English or a pre-sessional language course made available for their prospective international students.
Which is the easiest part of IELTS?	Recent reviews from students who took part in the IELTS are that Listening and speaking are the easiest sections.
What is the hardest part of IELTS?	Most applicants find the listening section as the hardest part of the IELTS test. In this section, applicants would have to listen, remember, and then answer the questions.

Conclusion

In this article, we have provided the list of universities you can apply to study in UK without IELTS requirement for international students and some other valuable information for all prospective applicants.

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