How a Student Got Admission Without IELTS Through MOI Route
Tejinder from Patiala avoided IELTS entirely by using the Medium of Instruction certificate from his English-medium college. Here's how the MOI route works and when it applies.
Tejinder from Patiala — MOI from DAV, no IELTS on the file
Tejinder Sethi had attempted IELTS once and scored 5.5. He had six months before his desired intake at Centennial College in Toronto. His coaching teacher said something that Tejinder almost dismissed: "Ask your college for an MOI letter."
The MOI — Medium of Instruction — exemption allows students who completed a full-time degree program in English at a recognized Indian institution to apply to certain Canadian colleges without an IELTS score. Not all Canadian institutions accept MOI. But several do — including Centennial, Seneca, Fanshawe, and others. Tejinder's BCom from DAV College Patiala, being taught entirely in English, qualified.
What the MOI Letter Must Contain
- Official letterhead of the issuing institution
- Confirmation that the medium of instruction was English for the full duration of the program
- Duration of the program (start and end dates)
- Signature and seal of the authorized official (Registrar or Principal)
- Some institutions also require confirmation that English was not just a language course but the primary medium for all academic subjects
I assumed everyone knew about MOI. When I told my friends from Punjab, half of them had already paid ₹30,000+ for IELTS coaching they didn't need. The exemption is real, it's documented, and many colleges accept it.
— Tejinder Sethi, Patiala
Important Caveats
The MOI exemption is institution-specific. Not all Canadian colleges accept it, and those that do may still require IELTS for certain programs (healthcare, early childhood education, and nursing typically require a test score). Tejinder's Business Analytics program at Centennial accepted MOI. He confirmed this directly with the admissions team before applying.
His Canadian student visa was approved without any IELTS score on file — just the MOI letter from DAV College, certified by the Panjab University registrar.