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Studying in English abroad: where you can, and which language tests count

Which countries offer degrees taught in English, where the official search for them is, what language level a student visa asks for, and which subjects are usually taught only in the local language.

By the Studies Multiverse team · checked 26 September 2026 against each official page · how we check

Official searches for English-taught degrees

  • Germany: the DAAD International Programmes database lists degrees taught in English. For those programmes students show English instead of German.Source: daad.de, checked 26 September 2026
  • France: Campus France keeps a catalogue of programmes taught in English.Source: campusfrance.org, 27 January 2025
  • Netherlands: the Study in NL Studyfinder lists English-taught programmes.Source: studyinnl.org, checked 26 September 2026
  • Spain: SEPIE, the government agency, says more than 800 programmes are fully or partly taught in English.Source: sepie.es, checked 26 September 2026
  • Sweden: Study in Sweden says there are over 100 English-taught bachelor’s and over 1,000 master’s programmes, applied for through universityadmissions.se.Source: studyinsweden.se, checked 26 September 2026
  • Denmark: Study in Denmark says there are over 500 English-taught programmes and has a programme search.Source: studyindenmark.dk, checked 26 September 2026
  • Finland: Study in Finland says there are over 600 English-taught bachelor’s and master’s programmes, searched and applied for through Studyinfo.fi.Source: studyinfinland.fi, checked 26 September 2026
  • Czechia: Study in Czechia lists more than 1,000 programmes in English, and notes that Czech-taught study at public universities is tuition-free.Source: studyin.gov.cz, checked 26 September 2026
  • Hungary: the Study in Hungary Study Finder covers programmes in English.Source: studyinhungary.hu, checked 26 September 2026
  • Poland: STUDYFINDER on study.gov.pl can filter programmes by language, including English.Source: study.gov.pl, checked 26 September 2026
  • Austria: Study in Austria has a programme finder with a category for programmes in English.Source: studyinaustria.at, checked 26 September 2026
  • South Korea: Study in Korea, run by the government, can search courses by language of instruction.Source: studyinkorea.go.kr, 7 March 2025
  • Japan: Study in Japan says English-taught degrees exist at universities and graduate schools, but most classes are in Japanese.Source: studyinjapan.go.jp, checked 26 September 2026
  • Italy: English-taught medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine exist and have their own admission test (IMAT).Source: universitaly.it, checked 26 September 2026

Language rules for the student visa

  • United Kingdom: a Student visa asks for English at CEFR level B2 for degree-level study, and B1 below degree level.Source: gov.uk, 31 October 2024
  • Ireland: a study visa for degree-level study needs proof of English from an approved test taken within two years of the course start. Universities may ask for more than the visa minimum.Source: irishimmigration.ie, 16 September 2024
  • Australia: a Student visa (subclass 500) needs an approved English test score or an exemption, for example a passport from the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland. The government’s document checklist tool shows your case.Source: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, 16 September 2026
  • Canada: the government’s study permit document list includes no language test. The university sets its own requirement.Source: canada.ca, 26 January 2026
  • United States: the government sets no English test for a student visa. The consular officer may ask to see the scores your university required.Source: travel.state.gov, checked 26 September 2026
  • New Zealand: the education provider judges your English; test results are optional supporting evidence for the visa.Source: immigration.govt.nz, checked 26 September 2026
  • Netherlands: language tests are part of the university’s admission, not the residence permit.Source: ind.nl, 21 September 2026
  • Denmark: English-taught programmes ask for English at “B” level (for example IELTS 6.5), and Danish-taught ones for Danish Test 2 or 3. These are admission rules set for the programmes.Source: studyindenmark.dk, checked 26 September 2026

Subjects usually taught in the local language

  • Sweden: clinical medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine and teacher education cannot be studied in English.Source: studyinsweden.se, checked 26 September 2026
  • Finland: some fields, such as medicine, are taught only in Finnish or Swedish.Source: studyinfinland.fi, 25 September 2026
  • Germany: most programmes are taught in German and most universities ask for at least B2. For medicine, DAAD says good German is essential and exams are usually in German.Source: daad.de, checked 26 September 2026
  • Austria: teaching is mainly in German, and universities ask for B2 or C1 depending on the institution.Source: studyinaustria.at, checked 26 September 2026
  • France: for French-taught first and second undergraduate years, a 2008 decree sets French at DELF B2 or equivalent.Source: ressources.campusfrance.org, 18 January 2008

The tests, in one line each

  • CEFR: the Council of Europe’s scale from A1 (beginner) to C2 (mastery). Visa and university rules are often written as a CEFR level such as B2.Source: coe.int, checked 26 September 2026
  • IELTS: an English test owned by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press and Assessment.Source: ielts.org, checked 26 September 2026
  • TOEFL iBT: an ETS test of academic reading, listening, speaking and writing.Source: ets.org, checked 26 September 2026
  • PTE Academic: Pearson’s computer-based academic English test, about two hours long.Source: pearsonpte.com, 24 September 2026
  • Duolingo English Test: an online test you can take at any time, with results in about two days. Check that your university and visa accept it before you book.Source: englishtest.duolingo.com, checked 26 September 2026
  • Cambridge English: a range of exams from beginner to C2 Proficiency, such as B2 First and C1 Advanced.Source: cambridgeenglish.org, checked 26 September 2026

Questions

Can I study medicine in Germany in English?

Generally no. DAAD says good German is essential for medicine and exams are usually in German. English-taught medicine does exist in some other countries, for example Italy, which runs a separate admission test for it.

Which English test should I take?

The one your university and your visa both accept. The UK and Australia set visa-level rules; the US, Canada and the Netherlands leave it to the university. Check the university’s own page before booking.

Rules change. Every line above links to the official page it comes from; read it before you act, and tell us if something has changed: report a correction.

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