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Studying in Europe without IELTS: the other ways to prove your English
In short: IELTS is rarely the only way in. Of the 7 European and Georgian universities below, 6 publish a route that needs no test at all (an entrance interview, an English-taught previous degree or school, or their own assessment), and most accept TOEFL, Cambridge or PTE instead. Duolingo is not accepted at the Estonian universities listed.
What 7 universities accept, from their own pages
| University | Instead of IELTS | Without any test | Watch out | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semmelweis University (medicine)Hungary · Cost of a year | No certificate asked | English is assessed in the written entrance tests and an English-language interview. | You still need upper-intermediate English to pass the entrance exam. | Official page read 7 Nov 2026 |
| Politecnico di Milano (master’s)Italy · Cost of a year | Certificate from the official list | If your bachelor’s was taught in English, upload a document certified by your university stating the teaching language. | Turkey: at least 75% of courses must have been in English. The Italian embassy in Egypt may still ask for IELTS or TOEFL for the visa. | Official page read 7 Nov 2026 |
| Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, BucharestRomania · Cost of a year | Any internationally recognised certificate showing at least B2, under two years old | A certificate from a high school that taught in English, or a baccalaureate that shows at least B2 in English. | The certificate must state the CEFR level explicitly. | Official page read 7 Nov 2026 |
| University of TartuEstonia · Cost of a year | TOEFL iBT, Cambridge (169), PTE Academic (59), IB or European Baccalaureate in English, UK GCE | Exempt if you finished secondary school, or one full year of university, in English in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. | Duolingo is not on the list, and online or offshore study does not count for the exemption. | Official page read 7 Nov 2026 |
| Tallinn UniversityEstonia · Cost of a year | TOEFL iBT, Cambridge (169), PTE Academic (59), IB | Exempt if your previous education was fully in English in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, with proof from the school. | Duolingo and a medium-of-instruction letter are not accepted. | Official page read 7 Nov 2026 |
| Technical University of MunichGermany · Cost of a year | Only certificates on TUM’s recognised list | Some bachelor’s programmes check English in their own aptitude assessment, so no certificate is needed for them. | School grades no longer count, and never for a master’s; check your programme’s regulations for any other proof. | Official page read 7 Nov 2026 |
| Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (medicine)Georgia · Cost of a year | A B2 certificate such as IELTS or TOEFL | None published: a certificate is required, and you may be invited to a video interview. | TOEFL is the main alternative to IELTS here. | Official page read 7 Nov 2026 |
Last checked: 7 Nov 2026. Each row comes from the university's official admissions page, linked. Rules differ between programmes at the same university, so read the page for yours. For which countries teach in English, see studying in English abroad.
What to do next
- Read your programme's own page: the university-wide rule can differ from a faculty's.
- Gather proof early: a school or university letter stating English was the teaching language can take weeks.
- Check what the visa asks for your country on the visa comparison.
- Work out the cost with the calculator, and see where tuition is lowest.
Questions
Can I study in Europe without IELTS?
IELTS is rarely the only way in. Of the 7 European and Georgian universities below, 6 publish a route that needs no test at all (an entrance interview, an English-taught previous degree or school, or their own assessment), and most accept TOEFL, Cambridge or PTE instead. Duolingo is not accepted at the Estonian universities listed.
Is a medium-of-instruction letter enough?
At some universities. Politecnico di Milano accepts a certified letter that your bachelor’s was taught in English for its master’s; Tallinn University does not accept one. Always check the programme page.
Does the visa ask for IELTS even if the university does not?
Sometimes. The university decides admission, but an embassy can ask for its own proof of English: Politecnico di Milano notes that the Italian embassy in Egypt may still ask for IELTS or TOEFL.