The German universities offer their graduate and master programs in two categories: German programs and English programs. International students coming from non-native English speaking countries need to prove their proficiency in the English language while applying for English programs. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the commonly accepted English language proficiency test in Germany. However, off late, many of the German universities are accepting students without IELTS provided they prove their English language ability through other modes. In this blog, we will provide you with the relevant details on how to study in Germany without IELTS.
Source : British Council
Some Important Facts about IELTS
- IELTS is the acronym for International English Language Testing System. It is an English language test that is meant to test the language proficiency of non-native English speakers.
- IELTS scores are globally accepted by various organisations including universities and multinational companies. IELTS was established back in 1989.
- The British Council, IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English manage the IELTS test.
- The IELTS test has 4 main sections: Listening, reading, writing and speaking.
- Although there is no minimum score that you must achieve to pass the IELTS test, your test score can fall under a certain “score band”.
- Once you receive your IELTS test report form, you can see which band scale your score falls in. IELTS scores can be put in a nine-band scale that ranges from 1 to 9.
- The higher your score, the better you are with using the English language. If you are an expert user, your score will be in the 9 band which means that you are fluent in English and have full operational command. If you fail to appear for and attempt the test, you will get a score of 0.
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Is IELTS needed for your German Student Visa?
- It is possible to study in Germany and enrol into a master’s program without an IELTS score. In fact, you can apply to certain universities and programs in Germany without taking any English language tests to prove your expertise in the English language.
- In rare cases, some universities accept English taught as a subject in school or college as sufficient proof of your English language proficiency.
- If the program that you are applying for is taught in German or any other language apart from English, you will not be required to submit your IELTS scores. Instead, you might be asked to show proof of your German C1 skills or advanced skills in whichever the language of instruction will be.
- Some universities that you apply to may demand for a Language of Instruction Certificate from the university that you did your bachelor’s in. You only need to request your university or school to grant you a document that holds as evidence that the course had English as the language of instruction.
- If you are from a prominently English-speaking country like the USA or UK and are applying for a master’s program in Australia, you probably will not be asked to provide proof of your English language skills since your mother tongue will already be English.
- In certain instances, universities allow for a direct audio or video interaction to help ascertain your communication skills using the English language. In such cases, you will not need to submit any extra evidence in the form of an IELTS score card.
What are the alternatives to IELTS?
- As a student from a country where the native tongue is not English, you will almost certainly be asked by the German university that you apply to, to show some proof of your ability in communicating effectively. If not IELTS, there are other tests that you can take.
- TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language and is a standardised internationally accepted test of English language ability that is widely accepted by universities and institutions of higher education in Germany. Like the IELTS, TOEFL measures your skills in 4 main sections: Reading, writing, listening and speaking. You are given a score between 0 and 120 with anything above 114 considered as an expert score.
- Cambridge English Certificates or Cambridge English Qualifications are test scores that demonstrate your fluency in the English language. Different levels of the exam based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) assess 4 areas of your language skills including reading, writing, listening and speaking. These tests are globally accepted as prerequisites at more than 25,000 different organisations in the world today. Having a Cambridge English Qualification will increase your opportunities of finding a suitable program of your choice in a university where the primary language of instruction is English.
- TOEIC Certificate stands for the Test of English for International Communication. Unlike all other English language assessments, TOEIC specifically focuses on everyday English language skills and fluency of non-native English speakers in intercultural environments and international contexts. This naturally means that there is a greater emphasis on verbal communication abilities. TOEIC has comprehensive exams with tasks that analyse your pronunciation, vocabulary, cohesion, intonation and content.
Which German universities do not need IELTS?
- Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
- Braunschweig University of Technology (TU Braunschweig)
- Chemnitz University of Technology
- Esslingen University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Esslingen)
- Flensburg University of Applied Sciences
- Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
- Free University of Berlin
- Hochschule Stralsund
- Mittweida University
- Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences
- Ruhr University Bochum
- Technische Hochschule Deggendorf
- TH Köln
- The University of Applied Sciences, Ingolstadt
- University of Bayreuth
- University of Bonn
- University of Freiburg
- University of Giessen
- University of Hildesheim
- University of Kaiserslautern
- University of Kassel
- University of Kiel
- University of Koblenz and Landau
- University of Koblenz Landau
- University of Passau
- University of Siegen
- University of Siegen
Click here for links to the best Technical Universities in Germany :
Can one Study in Germany without IELTS ?
You can, of course, study in Germany without IELTS. You can prove your English language proficiency to the universities that accept the students without IELTS through :
- Other Standard English language tests, as explained above.
- By submitting Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate by your educational institute to establish that the MOI was English in your graduate program.
However, it is strongly advised that you work on your English language skills before going to Europe for your higher studies. Being fluent in English will open many doors in the long-run in terms of job search and career development. Regardless of whether you need to provide proof of your abilities in the form of an IELTS score, if you aspire to do your master’s in Germany, the best thing to do would be to have a good grasp of both English and German.
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