For students around the globe, the United States of America is a dream destination for higher education. It is estimated that there are 30% of international students studying in the United States. Higher education in the United States is recognized around the world, and students studying here can experience excellent campus life. Universities help international students settle into the new environment and there is an international student office that makes life easier for them. IELTS is considered important for those applying for higher education, but these are not a necessary test you need to take when applying for a US university because it is possible to study in the US without IELTS. Read this blog further to learn more about US universities that welcome students without the constraint of IELTS.
For many students, IELTS becomes a barrier as it can be difficult for non-native English speakers to master. Trying IELTS multiple times is not an option that many appreciate as it can get quite expensive to give it over and over again. If you are planning to study in the USA without IELTS, here are the basic requirements you should keep in mind:
When applying for post-graduate courses, you will need a letter from your previous university stating that the postgraduate course you took was in English.
The following table lists the top universities in the USA you can apply to without worrying about IELTS:
University | Alternate for IELTS |
University of Delaware | English Language for Internationals(ELI) |
Northwood University | EIKEN/ IB/ Cambridge English Test/ ELS/ PTE Academic |
Rice University | Duolingo |
University of Dayton | PTE/ Duolingo |
State University of New York | PTE/ Duolingo/ Cambridge English Scale |
University of New Orleans (UNO) | ELI (English Language for Internationals) |
California State University | PTE |
University of Colorado | Duolingo |
University of Arkansas | PTE/ iTEP/ Cambridge Assessment English/ Duolingo |
National Louis University | PTE |
University of North Alabama | TOEIC |
Yes, it is possible to study in the USA without IELTS given that you have completed your upper secondary education or obtained a diploma with English as the medium of instruction in the program or they have pursued studies in a English-speaking country for a certain period of time. In addition, some universities may also allow admission for those who do not have IELTS or TOEFL if they complete the university preparatory program known as the Intensive English Language Program (IELP), which enables international students to have a better command of English.
Although IELTS is a fairly mandatory requirement to study in the United States, there are a host of universities that offer selected programs that you can apply for without IELTS scores. These universities include California State University, University of Dayton, University of North Texas, Northwood University, among others.
There are many central countries to study overseas without IELTS test or TOEFL test. These include Germany, USA, Canada, UK, Malaysia, and Australia.
IELTS is not a mandatory requirement for a US student visa for those who have completed an International Baccalaureate or previous study in an English-speaking country.
From language proficiency exams to program-specific tests, the exam requirements to study in the United States vary depending on the course you have chosen. Generally, IELTS/TOEFL is required outside of certain universities, while GMAT and GRE are required to select postgraduate programs.