UK Universities Accepting MOI From Pakistan: Verified List for 2027 Entry
In October 2026, only a handful of UK universities still publish a way for Pakistani students to get in without IELTS or another secure English test. On their own Pakistan pages, Leicester, Nottingham Trent, Royal Holloway, Gloucestershire, Cardiff Metropolitan and Aberdeen accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter — but only from a named list of Pakistani universities, and mostly for postgraduate study. Cardiff Met and Aberdeen also accept 70–75% in HSSC (Intermediate) English, and Portsmouth accepts the Duolingo English Test followed by an interview. Many universities that agents still list as "no IELTS" have withdrawn MOI for Pakistan or paused Pakistani recruitment altogether.
We checked every university below on its own website in October 2026, rather than relying on agent lists or aggregator sites, which are often two or three years out of date. This guide covers which universities accept what, which Pakistani universities' MOI letters count, the universities that have closed this route, and what the UK visa rules require whichever route you use. For the wider picture, start with our hub on studying in the UK without IELTS.
The short answer
- MOI accepted from listed Pakistani universities: Leicester (postgraduate), Nottingham Trent, Royal Holloway, Gloucestershire (postgraduate), Cardiff Met (postgraduate, with HSSC English) and Aberdeen (through an official agent).
- HSSC/Intermediate English accepted: Cardiff Met at 70% (Lahore, Federal or Karachi boards only), Aberdeen at 75%.
- Duolingo: Portsmouth, after a credibility interview; Northumbria lists it among accepted tests.
- Your degree must usually be recent — within three years at Royal Holloway and five at Gloucestershire.
- Removed or paused for Pakistan: Brighton, Stirling and Derby no longer accept Pakistani MOI or English qualifications; Coventry, Lancashire (formerly UCLan), LJMU and Staffordshire have paused Pakistani applications.
- Foundation and pre-sessional courses below degree level always need a UKVI-approved test at B1 — MOI cannot be used.
Why MOI works at some universities and not others
For a degree-level Student visa, you must show English at CEFR B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Pakistan is not on the UK's list of majority English-speaking countries, so being Pakistani — or holding a Pakistani degree — does not exempt you on its own.
The flexibility comes from one rule. Under the Home Office's student sponsor guidance (version 10/2026, in force from 8 October 2026), a university with a track record of compliance may assess your English "its own way" for degree-level study, and record the method on your CAS. That is what an MOI waiver is: the university deciding that your English-medium degree proves B2. Universities without that track record must ask for a Secure English Language Test (SELT), such as IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI or LanguageCert.
Whether a university uses that freedom for Pakistani applicants is its own risk decision. From 1 June 2026, universities must keep their Student visa refusal rate below 5% (down from 10%), with enrolment of at least 95% and course completion of at least 85%, or risk losing their sponsor licence. Pakistani refusal and withdrawal rates have been high, so many universities have responded by requiring a SELT, limiting MOI to a short list of universities they trust, or pausing Pakistan recruitment. Our guide to the university RAG rating and visa compliance explains the new system.
UK universities accepting MOI from Pakistan (October 2026)
These are the universities whose own Pakistan or English-requirements pages publish a non-IELTS route, as of October 2026:
| University | What it accepts | Level | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Leicester | MOI letter | Postgraduate | Four-year bachelor's from a listed university; considered case by case |
| Nottingham Trent University | MOI letter | Postgraduate | Four-year bachelor's from a listed university; case by case; Duolingo not accepted |
| Royal Holloway, University of London | English-medium degree | Postgraduate | Bachelor's or master's from one of nine listed universities, completed within 3 years |
| University of Gloucestershire | MOI letter | Postgraduate only | Ten listed universities; degree completed within 5 years |
| Cardiff Metropolitan University | HSSC English 70% (+ MOI for PG) | UG and PG | Lahore, Federal or Karachi boards only; UG also needs an English interview |
| University of Aberdeen | HSSC English 75%, or MOI | UG and PG | HSSC certificate under 10 years old; MOI from four listed universities, via an official agent |
| University of Portsmouth | Duolingo English Test | UG and PG | English condition cleared after a successful credibility interview |
"Case by case" matters. An MOI from a listed university makes you eligible for a waiver; it does not guarantee one. Expect the university to look at your grades, your English in the interview and the date of your degree, and to ask for a test if it has any doubt.
Which Pakistani universities' MOI letters are accepted
Every university above restricts MOI to a named list. The lists overlap heavily, and a small group of Pakistani universities appears on almost all of them:
| Pakistani university | Leicester | NTU | Royal Holloway | Gloucestershire | Aberdeen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUMS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NUST | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| COMSATS | Yes | Yes (Islamabad, Lahore) | No | Yes | Yes (Islamabad) |
| FAST-NUCES | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| IBA Karachi | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Quaid-i-Azam University | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bahria University | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Air University | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| UET Lahore | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| University of the Punjab | Yes | Yes (named campuses) | Yes | No | No |
| University of Karachi | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| SZABIST | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
The lists are longer than this table. Leicester also names BZU, GCU Lahore, Minhaj, PIEAS and the universities of Lahore and Peshawar; NTU names NCA, PIFD, UMT, NED and the University of Lahore; Royal Holloway names the Lahore School of Economics; Gloucestershire names IMSciences and MAJU. Cardiff Met's postgraduate list is the broadest, adding KEMU, GIKI, Dow, Aga Khan, Kinnaird, LCWU, BNU, NDU, IST and others. If your university is not on the list, assume you will need a test.
What a valid MOI letter looks like
Ask your university's registrar or examinations office for a letter on official letterhead, signed and stamped, that states your full name and registration number, the degree title and years of study, and that the entire programme was taught and assessed in English. Some universities have a standard format; others will accept a statement on your transcript. Request it early — Pakistani universities can take several weeks — and check it matches your degree certificate exactly. Our document preparation service can review it before you submit.
HSSC English instead of IELTS
Two universities accept your Intermediate English marks:
- Cardiff Met: 70% in HSSC English from the Lahore, Federal or Karachi boards. Undergraduates also need an English interview; postgraduates also need an MOI from a listed university.
- Aberdeen: 75% in HSSC or Intermediate English (150 out of 200), with a certificate no older than ten years.
Older guides list several more universities accepting 60–70% in Intermediate English from Pakistan. Most of those offers no longer exist — Stirling, Brighton and Lancashire all appear on such lists and have since withdrawn. If you are applying for an undergraduate degree straight after FSc or A-levels, see our guide on routes into UK study after matric for the full picture.
Universities that have closed this route
This is the section most agent lists leave out. As of October 2026, these universities state on their own pages that they will not accept Pakistani MOI or English qualifications, or are not taking Pakistani applicants:
| University | Current position for Pakistan |
|---|---|
| University of Brighton | Will not accept a Pakistani English language qualification |
| University of Stirling | Accepts only a Secure English Language Test from Pakistan |
| University of Derby | Will not accept MOI evidence; recruitment from Pakistan paused in 2026 |
| Coventry University | Pakistan recruitment paused |
| University of Lancashire (formerly UCLan) | Not processing applications from Pakistan, except MBBS through approved agents |
| Liverpool John Moores | Not accepting Pakistani applications for 2026/27 |
| Staffordshire University | Not accepting Pakistani applications for September 2026 |
| University of Bradford | Self-funded taught postgraduates paused in business, law, social sciences and computing |
| Ulster University | Agent-only applications; none from KP or AJK; IELTS 6.0 or listed tests |
Several other universities often named as "no IELTS" — including UEL, Greenwich, Northumbria, Salford, Middlesex, Wolverhampton and Sheffield Hallam — show no Pakistan MOI or HSSC waiver on their current pages. Middlesex, for example, accepts an English-taught degree only from a majority English-speaking country. Pauses are often dated to a single intake, so some may reopen for 2027: check the university's Pakistan page in the month you apply, and confirm it is a licensed student sponsor.
Other tests that are not IELTS
If your university is not on an MOI list, you will need a test — but it does not have to be IELTS. The UKVI-approved tests taken outside the UK are IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, LanguageCert and PSI Skills for English. For degree-level study at a university that self-assesses, many also accept the standard versions of PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and the Oxford Test of English. Our comparison of OET and IELTS covers healthcare applicants, and UKVI IELTS versus IELTS Academic explains which version a university needs.
The Duolingo English Test costs US$70 and is taken online, but it is not a UKVI-approved test. It works only where the university self-assesses for a degree-level course. Portsmouth accepts it from Pakistani applicants, clearing the English condition after a credibility interview, and Northumbria lists it among its accepted tests. Nottingham Trent does not accept it.
The interview risk
An MOI waiver gets you a CAS, but your English is tested again twice. First, most universities run a credibility interview, in English, before they issue the CAS. Second, the Home Office can interview you during the visa application or at the UK border, and if you cannot show the required level without an interpreter, the visa can be refused or your entry cancelled. A waiver is a way of proving English you already have, not a way around having it. If your spoken English is not at B2, take a test and prepare properly — our UK student visa interview questions guide shows what is asked.
One more limit. Courses below degree level — foundation years, international year one programmes at RQF 3–5, and pre-sessional English below degree level — always require a UKVI-approved test at B1, even at a university that accepts MOI for degrees. MOI cannot be used to enter a foundation year.
Frequently asked questions
Which UK universities accept MOI from Pakistan in 2026?
As of October 2026, Leicester, Nottingham Trent, Royal Holloway, Gloucestershire, Cardiff Metropolitan and Aberdeen publish MOI routes for Pakistani applicants, each only for degrees from a named list of Pakistani universities. Most apply to postgraduate study, and Leicester and NTU assess each case individually.
Is an MOI letter accepted for a UK student visa?
Only indirectly. The Home Office lets universities with a compliance track record assess English their own way for degree-level courses. If your university accepts your MOI, it records that on your CAS. You still need B2 English, and you can be refused if you cannot speak English at interview.
Can I study in the UK with 70% in Intermediate English?
Yes, at Cardiff Metropolitan, which accepts 70% in HSSC English from the Lahore, Federal or Karachi boards, plus an English interview for undergraduates. Aberdeen requires 75%. Most other universities that once accepted Intermediate English from Pakistan have withdrawn it.
Is a COMSATS MOI letter accepted in the UK?
Yes, at several universities. COMSATS is on the MOI lists of Leicester, Nottingham Trent (Islamabad and Lahore campuses), Gloucestershire, Aberdeen (Islamabad) and Cardiff Met. It is not on Royal Holloway's list.
Do UK universities accept Duolingo from Pakistani students?
A few do. Portsmouth accepts the Duolingo English Test from Pakistani applicants, with a credibility interview, and Northumbria lists it among its accepted tests. It is not a UKVI-approved test, so it cannot be used for foundation or other below-degree courses.
Why did UK universities stop accepting MOI from Pakistan?
Because of tighter Home Office compliance rules. From June 2026, universities must keep visa refusal rates below 5% or risk their sponsor licence, and Pakistani refusal and withdrawal rates have been high. Many responded by requiring a secure English test or pausing Pakistani recruitment.
A "no IELTS" plan only works if the university is still recruiting from Pakistan, your degree is on its list, and your English will hold up at interview. If you want us to check your MOI against current university lists — or build a shortlist that mixes MOI options with test-based ones so one closure does not end your application — book a free consultation, or start with our guide to studying in the UK from Pakistan.