How to Get a Medium-of-Instruction (MOI) Letter from a Ugandan University

What Is an MOI Letter?

A Medium-of-Instruction letter is an official document from a university (or school) that confirms the language in which instruction was delivered during your studies. For Ugandan applicants, it typically states that:

• Your degree (or secondary education) was taught and assessed entirely in English
• English was the medium for lectures, tutorials, examinations, and coursework
• The institution is accredited by the relevant Ugandan authority (NCHE for universities)

It is signed by an authorised official — usually the University Registrar or a Deputy Registrar — and is issued on official letterhead with a stamp and reference number.

An MOI letter is not the same as an academic transcript (which shows your grades) or a degree certificate. It is a standalone language-medium declaration.

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When an MOI Letter Works — and When It Does Not

The MOI letter is a tool for satisfying a university’s admissions-stage English requirement. It does not cover everything.

Situation	Does an MOI letter help?
UK university: admissions English requirement for a Master’s	✅ Often yes — named universities include Stirling, Sheffield, Surrey for Uganda
Irish university: admissions English requirement	✅ Often yes — ATU Ireland explicitly accepts UACE/UCE English
EU universities (German, Hungarian, Polish, Maltese, Cypriot) with English-taught programmes	⚠️ Depends on the institution — confirm directly
UK student visa (UKVI) SELT requirement: degree-level programme	⚠️ The university sponsor may self-assess English at B2, removing the SELT need — but this is the university’s decision, not yours to claim
UK student visa (UKVI) SELT requirement: below-degree programme	❌ A UKVI-approved SELT (IELTS Secure) is generally still required regardless of MOI
Regulated professions (nursing, medicine, law)	❌ Usually requires IELTS even for Ugandan applicants

The critical UK visa distinction

Uganda is not on the UKVI list of “majority English-speaking countries” — so there is no nationality-based automatic exemption from the SELT (Secure English Language Test) requirement.

However, for degree-level or above courses, the UK’s licensed sponsor university may self-assess the student’s English proficiency at CEFR B2 level. In that case, the university does not require you to take IELTS, and UKVI accepts this assessment without an independent SELT. This is why Stirling, Sheffield, and Surrey can waive IELTS for Ugandan applicants — their admissions teams are making the CEFR B2 self-assessment on your behalf.

For below-degree courses (A-levels, foundation programmes, BTEC-equivalent), the UKVI SELT requirement applies and a UKVI-approved test such as IELTS Academic (Secure) is generally needed. An MOI letter alone does not satisfy this.

Practical implication: if you are applying to a UK Master’s or bachelor’s degree from a Ugandan university where all teaching was in English, ask the UK university’s admissions team directly whether they will self-assess your English from your degree — and whether they need a formal MOI letter to do so.

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When to Get the MOI Letter: Timing Matters

Request the letter at least four weeks before you need it. Applications to most European Master’s programmes close between November and March; visa applications follow two to four months later. If you need the letter for both the admissions stage and the visa stage, request it once and keep several certified copies (or a certified digital version).

Do not wait until the week before a deadline — some universities experience processing backlogs, and late documentation is a common reason for otherwise complete applications being deprioritised.

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Step-by-Step: Requesting an MOI Letter from a Ugandan University

Step 1 — Identify the correct office

At most Ugandan universities, the Academic Registrar’s Office (or the Office of the Deputy Registrar, Academic Affairs) is the authorised issuing body. Do not approach your head of department, a lecturer, or a faculty administrator — only a letter from the Registrar or a delegated senior official carries the institutional authority that European universities expect.

At Makerere University (the most internationally recognised Ugandan institution), contact the Academic Registrar’s Office via the official university portal or in person at the Senate Building, Makerere Hill Road.

For other NCHE-accredited universities, the equivalent office is the Registrar’s office at the university’s main administration building.

Step 2 — Write a formal request letter

Address your request formally in writing. Email is generally acceptable, but attach a hard-copy signed letter as a PDF. Your request should include:

• Your full name (as it appears in your academic records)
• Your student/registration number
• Your programme of study and the years of enrolment
• The name of the receiving institution you are applying to
• The specific purpose (English-language proficiency evidence for graduate admission)
• Your preferred collection method (in-person, by post, or email PDF with stamp — confirm which the receiving university will accept)

Keep a copy of the request for your records.

Step 3 — Follow up after one week

If you have not received a response or confirmation within five working days, follow up by phone or in person at the Registrar’s office. Academic administration offices at Ugandan universities have variable email response times.

Step 4 — Check what the receiving university requires

Before collecting the letter, confirm with the European institution:

• Do they need the original on letterhead, or will a certified copy or scanned PDF suffice?
• Do they require an apostille or consular legalisation? (Uganda is not a Hague Apostille member, so full consular legalisation is needed if a legalised document is required — this is a separate and more complex process.)
• Do they need it translated? (For English-speaking destinations — UK, Ireland, Malta — this is unlikely. For Germany, some universities require a German translation for official documents, though the nature of an MOI letter in English makes this less common.)

Step 5 — Collect and certify as needed

Collect the original letter. If multiple copies are needed, ask the Registrar to issue multiple originals simultaneously (re-issuing later may involve a repeat fee and delay). For applications requiring a certified copy, have a qualified solicitor or commissioner of oaths in Uganda certify photocopies.

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What the Letter Should Contain

A complete MOI letter from a Ugandan university should include:

• University name and official logo/letterhead
• Reference number and date of issue
• Full name of the student and student registration number
• Programme title and department
• Years of enrolment (start and end date or expected end date)
• A clear, unambiguous statement that the programme was delivered and assessed in English (e.g., “All lectures, tutorials, coursework, and examinations for the above programme were conducted in the English language”)
• Name, title, and signature of the authorised signatory (Registrar or delegate)
• Official university stamp

If the letter does not include any of these elements, ask for a corrected version before submitting. A vague or incomplete letter may lead the admissions office to request further documentation, costing you time.

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Which European Destinations Are Most Likely to Accept It?

The following is based on confirmed research (June 2026); all waivers are at the institution’s discretion and subject to change.

Destination	Named Uganda waiver?	What typically suffices
UK (degree-level)	✅ Stirling, Sheffield, Surrey name Uganda	MOI letter from prior degree or UCE/UACE English grade
Ireland (ATU)	✅ Named	UACE/UCE English grades
Germany	⚠️ No nationality-level rule; institution-led	German C1 or equivalent usually needed unless programme specifies otherwise
Malta	⚠️ Institution-led	Varies; English as official Maltese language helps
Cyprus (private)	⚠️ Institution-led	Many English-taught private universities accept Uganda
Hungary	⚠️ Institution-led	Vary by programme
Poland	⚠️ Institution-led	Some English-taught programmes accept IELTS alternatives

For any destination, the safe approach is to email the admissions office with your Ugandan university background and ask whether an MOI letter will satisfy the English requirement before committing to an application.

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How World Study Africa Helps

Navigating English language requirements across seven European destinations — each with different rules, institutional variations, and visa implications — is time-consuming and easy to get wrong. World Study Africa’s advisory service is free for most students; we are compensated by partner universities, not by you.

We help Ugandan applicants identify which programmes will waive IELTS on the basis of an MOI letter, what document format each destination requires, and whether any additional certification (legalisation, translation) is needed for your specific corridor.

Explore all IELTS alternatives for Ugandan students or check your eligibility.

Questions? Chat with our team on WhatsApp. You can also browse the full Uganda study-abroad guide.