Study in France without IELTS – Any student who has ever thought about studying abroad has heard of IELTS. The International English Language Testing System is a way for educational institutions to test the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. The test is graded on a band score of 1-9, with 9 being the highest score an examinee can achieve. The structure of the test is designed to test your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in a comprehensive manner. While most of the educational institutions in popular study abroad destinations like USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand demand a certain language proficiency certification by the way of IELTS, you’d be surprised to know that France offers several options for international students to get admissions without the need of IELTS.
This article seeks to help those students who are looking to study in France and do not wish to spend either time or money on the IELTS exam for any particular reason. Get to know which French institutions offer admission to international students without the need for an IELTS score and the application process for admission there.
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Study in France without IELTS – Universities which exempts IELTS score
Colleges and other educational institutes in France usually have English as a medium of instruction for many of their courses. In spite of this, many of the top universities in France dont rely on the IELTS score. This is also what makes France such an appealing destination for international students for their higher education needs. On the other hand, for courses that are taught in French, you are required to have a French language proficiency test or you need to have graduated from a high school which taught French as an additional subject. Certification courses in the French language are also a valid way to prove your proficiency to prospective universities.
The following list contains the names of the top institutions in France that do not require IELTS scores as a part of the admission process:
- American Business School, Paris
- EBS Paris
- EPITA Graduate School of Computer Science
- ESAIP School of Engineers
- ESC Rennes School of Business, France
- ESGCI, Paris
- ESLSCA Business School
- IESA International
- INSEEC Business School
- ISC Paris
- NEOMA Business School
- Paris School of Business
- SKEMA Business School
- Toulouse Business School
Please note: While none of the above-mentioned universities considers an IELTS score for admission, they will hold a personal online test to judge your English proficiency test. Hence, you can pass through the admission process without having to spend or prepare for IELTS.
Study in France without IELTS – Application Process
Once you have decided on a university in France, you need to begin the application process by sending in your application directly to the university for shortlisting of your profile. If you are selected to move forward, the university will schedule a Skype interview. This is the interview that will be used to judge your proficiency in spoken English and your ability to express yourself in the language. If you clear the interview, you will be sent an offer/acceptance letter from the university which will allow you to begin the rest of the admission process.
After the interview, youll have to go through the Campus France application process on their website. You also have to appear for an interview to obtain a NOC (No objection Certificate). For that, you shall require the following documents:
- A valid passport
- Two photographs
- Letter of admission/confirmation from the University
- Proof of adequate monetary funds
- Proof of accommodation
- CV/resume
- Academic transcripts
- Healthcare insurance
- Campus France registration fee demand draft
After receiving your NOC, you need to apply for a France student visa at VFS France. You shall be expected to go through another brief documentation process, following which you need to book an appointment and submit your file. You will have to get your biometrics done and submit a scanned photograph along with your fingerprint.
At the end of all this process, your visa should ideally arrive in 10 to 15 working days. It is recommended that the students start their visa process at least 3 weeks before leaving for France.
For more information about the application process, you can read student visa article here.
Study in France without IELTS – FAQ
Q. Why do international universities require IELTS?
IELTS is a test designed to evaluate the English language skills of a student based on their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. IELTS scores are generally required for students coming from non-native English speaking countries as proof that they will be able to keep up with courses that are taught in English at foreign institutes of higher education.
Q. Is French the only medium of instruction in universities and colleges in France?
No, educational institutes in France usually have English as a medium of instruction in many of their courses. This is one of the many reasons why France is a sought-after destination by international students looking to pursue higher education courses. There are several universities that offer courses that are taught entirely in English with additional French language classes offered as supplementary courses.
Q. Do I need to clear the IELTS exam to apply to a French institute?
No, many of the top universities in France do not rely on IELTS scores at all. Institutes like the American Business School, EBS Paris, ESAIP School of Engineers and ISC Paris etc are some examples of colleges that do not require IELTS scores during the application and admission process for international students. However, they might take a personal online test to check your proficiency in the English language.
Q. How can I apply to a university in France without IELTS?
You will first have to research and find the institutes that do not require IELTS scores from international students. Refer to the article above for a list of institutes that do not require IELTS scores. Once you have reached a decision, you can begin the application process by sending in your application directly to the university for shortlisting of your profile. If selected, you can move on to the next part of the process, which is an interview. It’s usually conducted through Skype and is used by the university to judge your proficiency in the spoken language and your ability to express yourself fluently in the language. If you clear the interview, you will be granted an acceptance letter which will allow you to begin the rest of the admission process.
