If your BS or MPhil was taught in English, you may be able to skip IELTS. Some scholarships and some universities accept a letter from your previous university saying so. That letter is called a Medium of Instruction letter, an MOI letter, or an English proficiency certificate, and Pakistani registrar offices issue them regularly. Two things trip students up. A badly worded letter gets queried. And a perfectly good letter still does not work everywhere, because some universities refuse it outright for Pakistani applicants. This guide covers what the letter is, what it must say, a sample, and how to check whether your target accepts it before you rely on it.
What an MOI letter is and what it is not
An MOI letter is a short official statement from your university that your degree was taught and examined in English. It is not a test result. Nobody measures your speaking or writing. The university is vouching for the language in which you studied.
Some selectors accept it. Others want a measured score and say so. The rule belongs to the scholarship or the admitting university, and you find it by reading their page, not by asking what other students did.
The two names are used almost interchangeably. Brawijaya University's scholarship page on our site lists "English proficiency certificate or Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter" as one item, and our China Scholarship Council (CSC) page calls the same thing an English Proficiency Certificate from your university. Use the exact name the application form uses, and make sure the letter says plainly that the medium of instruction was English.
Some universities will not take it from Pakistan at all
This is the part most guides skip. Admissions offices set their own policies, and they differ sharply. Two examples from official UK university pages:
- The University of Sheffield's English language page says applicants from Pakistan or educated in Pakistan must provide an approved English language test result, and that MoI letters and English test waivers will not be accepted.
- The University of Stirling has a postgraduate English language waiver, but it ties degree-based waivers to qualifications taken within five years of your course start date, excludes courses needing an overall IELTS of 7.0, and, for some Pakistani qualifications, requires the MOI letter to come from a university on its approved list.
So the same Pakistani BS can be enough in one place and worthless in another. Never plan around a waiver until you have read that specific university's own words for your country and your level. Rules also change between intakes, so read the page again in the month you apply, not the month you start preparing.
What the official pages say about English-medium study
Here is what the universities we checked actually require. It is a sample of the range, not a full list.
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| University of Sheffield (UK) | Pakistani applicants need an approved English test. MoI letters and waivers are not accepted. Elsewhere on the page, MoI letters for other countries must come from the Registrar, Deputy Registrar, Registrar's Office or Controller of Examinations, and the page sets limits such as a ten-year age limit and exclusions for some health programmes. |
| University of Stirling (UK) | Degree-based waivers have a five-year window, exclude courses needing IELTS 7.0, and rely on recognised institutions. Check the current waiver page. |
| Corvinus University of Budapest (Hungary) | English listed as the language of instruction is not enough. The previous institution must issue official records showing exams were taken in English. Most master's applicants need no certificate, with one named exception that accepts a bachelor's fully taught in English from certain universities. English is also assessed at interview for some programmes. |
| University of Debrecen (Hungary), Stipendium Hungaricum FAQ | If the language of instruction in your former education was English, give a written confirmation from your previous school, and no further language proof is required. Your sending partner may still require a test. |
| Stipendium Hungaricum application guide (2026/27 cycle) | You must meet the minimum language criteria of your host institution. If previous studies were in the programme language, a document showing that can be uploaded in place of a test certificate. |
| Zhejiang University (China), graduate programmes | Non-native English speakers provide valid test scores or proof that their previous degree was entirely taught in English. |
| Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları) | Applicant guidance says candidates for English-taught programmes need an internationally recognised language certificate such as TOEFL or an equivalent. Awardees without Turkish at C1 also attend a one-year Turkish preparatory course, including those placed in English-taught programmes. Read the current call. |
The pattern: Hungarian and some Chinese pages accept the previous-degree route, a Turkish scholarship page asks for a certificate, and British universities range from conditional to a flat no. "My friend skipped IELTS" tells you nothing.
Who issues it in Pakistan
The letter comes from the institution where you earned the degree, not from you, a lawyer or a consultant. In most universities the right office is the Registrar's office or the Controller of Examinations. Some route it through the dean or the department chairperson first. Colleges affiliated with a larger university may send you to the parent university.
We could not find a published, standard MOI certificate procedure for the Pakistani universities we searched, so the process is likely set by each office. The University of the Punjab's regulations page does state that the medium of instruction for all its degree programmes is English, except language programmes in other languages. That is a policy statement, not a certificate, but it helps your request. Practical points:
- Ask for the letter on official letterhead, signed and stamped, with the officer's designation printed under the signature.
- Ask in the same visit as your transcript and degree. They usually go through the same office.
- If your degree is from an affiliated college, ask both the college and the affiliating university what they will issue.
What the letter must say
Reviewers skim these letters in seconds. Use this checklist.
| Element | Why reviewers check it |
|---|---|
| Your full name exactly as on your passport | Spelling mismatches between documents cause delays at attestation and in portals. |
| Father's name or roll/registration number | Lets the reader match the letter to your transcript. |
| Degree title and programme, for example BS Computer Science | A vague "your studies" is not enough. |
| Start and end dates, or session years | Shows English instruction covered the whole degree. |
| A direct statement that the medium of instruction and examination was English | The one sentence that does the real work. |
| Issuing officer's name, designation, signature and stamp | Without these it is a plain printout. |
| Date of issue and a reference number | Some bodies want a recent letter, and a reference number makes verification possible. |
| Letterhead, address and contact details | The selector may email the registrar to confirm. |
A common weak spot: the letter says the programme was taught "in English and Urdu," or that "English is the official language of the university." You want a sentence about your degree, not about the university in general.
Sample MOI letter wording
This is a sample for illustration only. The student, university and officer are invented. Their format may differ, and that is fine if the key sentence is present.
[University letterhead]
Ref. No.: [reference number]
Date: [date of issue]TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Subject: Medium of instruction certificate
This is to certify that Mr./Ms. [Full Name as on passport], son/daughter of [Father's Name], Registration No. [number], was enrolled in the [Degree and Programme, e.g. BS Software Engineering] at this university from [month, year] to [month, year].
It is further certified that the medium of instruction and examination for the entire programme, including coursework, assignments, examinations and thesis/project work, was the English language.
This certificate is issued on the request of the student for submission to [scholarship or university name].
[Signature and stamp]
[Name of officer]
Controller of Examinations / Registrar
[University name, address, phone, official email]
If the scholarship names its own wording, such as proof that your previous degree was taught entirely in English, ask the registrar to mirror it. If you hold both a bachelor's and a master's, request a letter for each unless the office will list both on one page.
If your registrar refuses or says they only issue transcripts
- Ask whether they issue a "language of instruction" or "medium of examination" certificate under another name.
- Ask the department chairperson for a signed letter, then ask the registrar to countersign it.
- Check that your degree really was in English. If not, plan on a test.
Never ask a friend, a printing shop or an agent to produce a letter for you. A forged or altered document gets an application cancelled and can follow you into later applications. Our guide to spotting fake study abroad consultants covers the "we can arrange the certificate" pitch.
Attestation: when the letter needs more than a stamp
Some programmes want a scan of the letter. Others want attested documents. The Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev scholarship page on our site says documents must be legalized and attested through IBCC, MOFA and HEC channels.
Keep two things separate. HEC's degree attestation system is for degrees and related academic documents, and its published rules apply to those. Whether an MOI letter itself needs HEC, IBCC or MOFA attestation is decided by the receiving scholarship or university. Do not assume the full chain, and do not skip it if the checklist names it. If the document list is silent, email the office and keep the reply.
When you do attest your degree, HEC's degree attestation page is blunt about one thing: your personal details on the CNIC and all educational documents must be identical, or the attestation process will not start. HEC's FAQ describes a Degree Supplementary Information Form (DSIF) for some name variations, and extra evidence for women whose names changed after marriage. Fix mismatches before you apply for attestation, and make the name on your MOI letter match too. Our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains the order of steps, and the international scholarship documents checklist shows where language proof fits.
Scholarships on our site that mention it
This table reflects our scholarship pages, which we compile from official instructions. Rules change every cycle, so confirm on the official site as of 2026 before relying on it.
| Scholarship | What our source says |
|---|---|
| Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) | No IELTS needed for English-taught programmes if your previous degree was in English. You provide an English Proficiency Certificate from your previous institution. Individual Chinese universities set their own thresholds, so check your host university. |
| SBW Berlin scholarship | A Medium of Instruction letter can replace IELTS or TOEFL if your previous degree was entirely in English. The page names IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90 as the test route and advises contacting your previous university's registrar. |
| Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev scholarship | For English programmes, a test score or previous education in English, in which case an English Proficiency Certificate from the previous institution is accepted. |
| Doha Institute scholarship (Qatar) | IELTS or TOEFL, or an official English medium of instruction letter if your previous degree was in English. Most teaching there is in Arabic. |
| MEXT scholarship (Japan) | Proof of English proficiency: IELTS, TOEFL or MOI letter where required. It varies by university. |
| Brawijaya International Scholarship (Indonesia) | Lists an English proficiency certificate or MOI letter. Most programmes are in Indonesian, so check which are in English. |
CSC and SBW state the exemption outright. MEXT says "where required." If a page does not mention an MOI route, do not assume one exists.
Where you will probably still need a test
Some programmes want a measured score whatever your degree was taught in. Our database lists test scores for Fulbright, and tells Australia Awards Pakistan applicants to take required English tests before the window opens. Read the exact wording before dropping the exam.
Even where the scholarship accepts the letter, the university may have its own rule. A scholarship might waive IELTS while the department asks for a score. Check both. If you are choosing a test, our comparison of IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo helps.
Risks that catch Pakistani applicants out
- The letter proves the degree was in English. It does not prove you can speak English. Interview panels, and some universities such as Corvinus for certain programmes, assess English directly. If you waive IELTS and freeze in the interview, the letter will not rescue you.
- Mixed-medium degrees. If your FSc was in Urdu and only your BS was in English, say so honestly. Most selectors look at the degree you are building on, but some ask about school as well.
- Name mismatches. If your degree says "Muhammad" and your passport says "Mohammad," fix it before you submit.
- Reusing an old letter. Some bodies want a recent date.
A simple way to decide between the letter and a test
- Open the official scholarship page and find the exact language line. Copy it into your notes.
- Open the programme page at the university and find its own language line for your country and level.
- If both accept an MOI letter, request it from your registrar now and keep a scanned spare.
- If either wants a score, book a test, because dates fill up.
- If the wording is unclear, email admissions with one plain question: "My BS was fully taught in English. Will an MOI letter issued by my university be accepted instead of IELTS?" Save the answer.
A letter and a test are not enemies. If you will be interviewed in English anyway, a decent score is a useful safety net.
Frequently asked questions
Is an MOI letter the same as an English proficiency certificate?
In everyday use, yes. Some scholarship pages treat them as one document. What matters is that the letter states your degree was taught and examined in English and carries the university's signature and stamp. Use the name the application form uses.
Does the letter need HEC or MOFA attestation?
It depends on the scholarship or university. Some ask only for a scan. Others, like the Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev scholarship on our site, ask for legalization through IBCC, MOFA and HEC channels. Read the official document list and ask if it is silent.
Will UK universities accept an MOI letter from Pakistan?
Some do under conditions and some do not. Sheffield says it will not accept MoI letters or waivers from Pakistani applicants. Stirling applies a five-year window and other limits. Check each university's page for your country.
Can I use an MOI letter if my degree was a mix of English and Urdu?
Be honest. If the registrar will not certify English instruction, do not push for it. Plan for a test. A letter that overstates the facts is a bigger risk than a missing one.
How early should I ask for it?
As soon as you shortlist programmes. It is a small document, but it depends on a university office with its own timetable, and any attestation step afterwards can take longer than the letter itself.
An MOI letter is one of the cheapest documents to get and one of the easiest to rely on wrongly. Read the language line for your exact programme, ask your registrar for precise wording, and keep a test in reserve in case the university says no.