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Studying abroad is a dream of many Indian Students. Data shows that in the year 2024 more than 13 lakh Indian students have opted to study abroad. This number is going to rise in the coming years. Students planning to study abroad over the coming years have one common question - Can I study abroad without entrance exam?
During COVID-19 times, many countries have waived the requirement of study aborad entrance exams to attract international students. However, as higher education has resumed to the pre-Covid era, it is now quite uncommon to find a university without an entrance exam.
IELTS, TOEFL, PTE are some mandatory English language exams to be eligible to study at any university abroad. One alternate pathway to study abroad without an entrance exam is to enrol in a pre-seasonal English course, in case a candidate is not able to score well in English language exams.
Students looking to pursue any specialised Master’s programme need to have a good score in GMAT or GRE. Some universities abroad may waive the GMAT/GRE requirement if the candidate has a strong professional background. In this article, students can find some useful information about how to study abroad without entrance exam.
Candidates who have completed their bachelor's degree from an English-speaking country like UK, Australia, Canada, US, among others, are exempted from the English language proficiency scores. Such candidates can directly apply for Master's, given that they satisfy all other eligibility criteria. Below are some more alternate methods to study abroad without entrance exam.
Some international B-schools focus on professional experience and strong academic backgrounds instead of GRE or GMAT scores for admission. Additionally, universities may ask for an essay or SOP, highlighting professional and personal achievements.
One such b-school is ESSEC Business School (Asia-Pacific Campus), Singapore. The average GMAT score required for admission at ESSEC is 680, however, candidates with exceptional academic scores and professional experience can also apply to their masters programme.
Australian National University (ANU), Australia is one of the top-ranked universities in the world and accepts students with a minimum of 600 GMAT score. Alternatively, students who have successfully completed Evidence-Based Management EdX MicroMasters and have scored at least 70% in the final capstone exam are also eligible to apply for their MBA program.
English language proficiency is one of the major requirements to study at top universities in the world. To meet the eligibility, students must obtain the minimum score in IELTS/TOEFL/PTE or other language proficiency exams. Many students fails to fulfil these criteria for one of the other reasons, so the question arises is this possible to study abroad without IELTS. It is uncommon for an international university to accept students without any English language proficiency test. Some universities offer pre-seasonal English courses for students to bridge the language barrier.
Pre-Seasonal English Course
There are several universities in the USA, UK, Canada and other countries, that offer Pre-Seasonal English language Courses. These courses are an alternative to English language proficiency exams. Candidates can use the results of these courses to fulfil the English language requirements of their chosen programme.
Some foreign universities either require an English language proficiency score, or English as a medium of study in 10+2 or graduation. Candidates can look out for these universities as well to study abroad with entrance exam.
Degree Preparation Programmes
One of the way to study abroad with entrance exam is to enrol in a degree preparation course. Many universities in the world offer degree preparation programmes for candidates who cannot meet the eligibility criteria required for direct admission. These courses are held at both UG and PG levels on the university campuses alongside other regular courses. Applicants must hold a strong academic record to be eligible for degree preparation programmes.
Through the degree preparation programmes, candidates can improve their academic skills and subject knowledge. Candidates can get direct admission to the chosen degree course at the university upon successful completion.
The application process is completely online, and candidates can visit the official websites of respective universities to fill out the application. A strong SOP and LOR is recommended to make your application stand out. Some universities may ask for English language proficiency scores.
Looking to study abroad without entrance exam can be overwhelming. Candidates who have decided to pursue higher education abroad need to meet the specific requirements of each university. English language proficiency is one of the most important criteria to pursue any course, be it a short-term summer programme or a Master’s. Moreover, for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, candidates also need to qualify for certain exams. Below is the list of some top study abroad exams.
IELTS: International English Language Testing System or IELTS is a widely popular English language exam. IELTS exam evaluates candidates reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities. IELTS scores are accepted by top countries including USA, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand among others.
TOEFL: Universities from over 160 countries in the world accept TOEFL scores. TOEFL exam includes four sections - Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Candidates are scored on a scale of 0-120.
GRE: Graduate Record Exam is a standardized test to study master's at universities abroad. GRE exam is popular among candidates aspiring to study at top business and law schools across the world. GRE scores are accepted by thousands of universities in around 96 countries.
GMAT exam: focus edition: Around 7,700 programs at over 2,400 business schools accept GMAT scores. GMAT is a popular exam among B-School aspirants. GMAT assess an individual's analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills.
SAT: The Scholastic Assessment Test is popular for undergraduate admissions in countries like USA, and Canada. The exam is conducted by College Board, and it is usually attempted by high school students aspiring to study abroad.
Also read:
It is uncommon to study abroad without entrance exams. Candidates do need to qualify for standardized tests or English language tests like IELTS or TOEFL to study at any university across the world.
Yes, it is possible to study abroad without IELTS exam. You can appear in other language exams TOEFL, DET, or PTE instead of IELTS to study abroad.
Not every university asks for 90 per cent marks in Class 12. Barring some top universities, many universities accepts students with 50 per cent or more marks in Class 12.
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