The medium-of-instruction certificate route
Many applicants do not need IELTS or TOEFL at all. If your previous degree was taught in English, most universities accept a medium-of-instruction (MOI) certificate - an official letter from your university's registrar confirming that your program was delivered and examined in English. For a large share of applicants from countries where higher education is in English, this is the simplest, cheapest and fastest route.
For the certificate to be accepted, it must clearly state that English was the language of instruction and assessment for your degree, name the program and dates, and be printed on official letterhead with the registrar's or an authorised officer's signature and the institution's stamp. A vague note that merely says 'the student is proficient in English' is not enough - it must reference the medium of instruction explicitly. Request it early, as registrars can be slow.
Quick tips
- Ask the registrar for a letter stating English was the medium of instruction and assessment.
- Ensure it is on letterhead, signed, stamped, and names your program and dates.
- Request it weeks in advance - administrative offices are often slow.
When IELTS or TOEFL genuinely helps
Even if you qualify for an MOI certificate, a solid IELTS or TOEFL score can strengthen a competitive application. At top universities and for popular English-taught programs, a good score (commonly IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL equivalent) reassures the committee and can be the tiebreaker between similar candidates. Some elite programs require a test score regardless of your medium of instruction, so always check each program's stated requirement.
If you decide to test, book early - seats fill up and official scores can take a couple of weeks to be released and sent. Do not let a late test date jeopardise your deadline.
Quick tips
- Check whether your target programs require a test score even with an MOI certificate.
- Aim for IELTS 6.5+ (or equivalent) for competitive English-taught programs.
- Book the test early and account for score-release time before deadlines.
Chinese-taught programs and HSK
If your program is taught in Chinese - common for undergraduate and some specialised programs - you will usually need an HSK certificate, typically HSK level 4 or 5 depending on the program and field. HSK 4 is a reasonable working level for many programs; competitive or humanities-heavy programs may ask for HSK 5.
If your Chinese is not yet at the required level, the CSC's free one-year Chinese language preparatory year is a genuine lifeline. Many Chinese-taught programs admit CSC students on the condition that they complete this preparatory year first and reach the required HSK level before starting their degree - all fully funded. This means you can pursue a Chinese-taught program even if you start with little or no Chinese.
Quick tips
- Confirm the exact HSK level your program requires (often HSK 4-5).
- If your Chinese is low, plan for the free one-year preparatory year.
- Register for HSK early - test dates and seats are limited in some countries.