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

For most Kenyan graduates, an MOI letter — a short letter from your university Registrar confirming that your degree was taught in English — can replace an IELTS certificate entirely for German university applications, and can satisfy the English-language requirement at many UK and Irish institutions. The German Embassy Nairobi’s official student-visa checklist states that a separate English-language certificate is “usually not required” when the admission letter or supporting documents confirm that your studies were conducted in English. That is significant, because IELTS preparation and testing costs both time and money.

English is Kenya’s co-official language under Article 7(2) of the Constitution and the medium of instruction from Grade 4 upward, including at university. Most Kenyan graduates therefore have a valid basis for requesting an MOI letter. The key is knowing exactly what the letter must say, how to request it, and where its limitations lie.

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What Is a Medium-of-Instruction Letter?

An MOI letter (sometimes called a Language of Instruction letter or English-Medium letter) is an official letter issued by your university confirming:

• The name of the institution and its accreditation status
• Your full name and student or registration number
• The degree programme you completed (or are completing)
• The dates of study (start and expected or actual completion)
• A clear statement that the medium of instruction for the programme was English
• The name, title and signature of the issuing officer (usually the Registrar or Director of Academic Affairs)
• The university’s official stamp or seal

It is not a transcript, a degree certificate or a language proficiency test. It is an institutional attestation — essentially your university saying: “This person studied here, in English.”

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Why Kenyan Students Are in a Strong Position

Kenya’s constitutional and educational framework means the claim is straightforward for most graduates.

The Constitution of Kenya, Article 7(2) designates both English and Kiswahili as national and official languages. English is the medium of instruction in Kenyan schools from Grade 4 through university — a fact recognised in the German Embassy Nairobi student-visa guidance, which notes that English proficiency certificates are usually not required for applicants whose university studies were in English.

This means: if you completed a degree at a CUE-accredited Kenyan university, your institution can legitimately issue an MOI letter, and Germany will generally accept it in place of IELTS. This is confirmed for Germany; it is assessed case-by-case elsewhere.

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How to Request the Letter: Step by Step

Step 1 — Identify the correct office

At most Kenyan universities, MOI letters are issued by the Registrar’s office (also called the Academic Registrar, Registrar (Academic Affairs) or Examinations Office). Some universities route this request through the Dean of Students or the International Office if one exists. If you are unsure, ask at the main student services desk or email the Registrar directly.

Step 2 — Submit a formal written request

Do not ask verbally. Put your request in writing — email is usually sufficient — and include:

• Your full legal name (as it appears on your academic documents)
• Your student ID or registration number
• Your degree programme and year of graduation (or expected graduation)
• The purpose of the letter (European university/visa application)
• The destination country or university requiring it
• The number of original copies you need (request at least three)
• A deadline, if you have one (visa appointments typically require advance notice)

A brief, professional email works. Keep a copy of your request.

Step 3 — Specify the required content

Many registrars are familiar with MOI letters, particularly at universities that regularly send graduates abroad. If yours is not, include a brief list of what the letter must contain: your name and student number, degree name, dates of study, and a statement that the medium of instruction was English throughout the programme. For Germany specifically, the letter should also state that it is issued for the purpose of a student visa application.

Step 4 — Pay any institutional fee

Kenyan universities vary on whether they charge for administrative letters. Fees and timelines differ by institution — confirm both when submitting your request. Allow a minimum of two working weeks, and longer if you are applying during examination or graduation season.

Step 5 — Collect originals, not photocopies

For visa and university applications you need original letters, not scanned copies. Request enough originals at the time of your initial application — typically three to five — rather than returning to collect them one at a time. Each should bear an original signature (not a printed copy of a signature) and the university’s official stamp.

Step 6 — Authenticate if required

For German student-visa applications, the letter does not typically need to be apostilled — but it must be in English (or accompanied by a certified German translation if it was issued in Kiswahili). For Poland, the Polish Embassy Nairobi requires academic documents to be legalised by the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so check whether the MOI letter falls within that requirement for your specific case. For other destinations, check the embassy or university’s instructions.

CUE (Commission for University Education) verifies degree certificates; KNEC verifies KCSE results. Neither typically certifies MOI letters — that authentication, where required, goes through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a notary.

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Where an MOI Letter Is Accepted vs Where It Is Not

Germany — Accepted (confirmed)

The German Embassy Nairobi checklist confirms that Kenyan applicants who studied in English do not generally need to submit a separate English-language certificate. The admission offer from your German university should also state that English instruction is the medium — and ideally your MOI letter supports this. Check the specific wording expected by your German university at the time of applying.

United Kingdom — Institution-dependent (estimate)

Many UK universities accept KCSE English grades (typically C+ or above on the 12-point scale) or a university-issued MOI letter in lieu of IELTS for applicants from English-medium educational backgrounds. However:

• Some programmes set their own IELTS floor regardless (particularly nursing, medicine and teacher training)
• UKVI imposes Secure English Language Test (SELT) requirements for certain visa categories — these cannot be waived by an MOI letter alone
• Each university’s admissions team decides; confirm in writing before assuming a waiver applies

For Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarship applications, English-proficiency evidence requirements vary — check the relevant scholarship’s current guidance.

Ireland — Often accepted, not universal (estimate)

Irish universities frequently accept MOI letters from Kenyan applicants given English’s official status in Kenya. Some institutions will ask for KCSE English grades or a prior degree from an English-medium institution in lieu of IELTS. Others still require IELTS for certain programmes. Confirm with your target Irish institution before applying — and get the confirmation in writing so you are not asked to resubmit IELTS at the visa stage.

Malta, Cyprus, Hungary, Poland — varies

For Malta (University of Malta) and most English-taught private programmes in Cyprus, the admission requirements state English proficiency — confirm whether an MOI letter satisfies this or whether IELTS/TOEFL is explicitly required. For Hungary’s Stipendium Hungaricum and most self-funded Hungarian programmes, check the individual programme’s requirements. Poland’s public universities teaching in English have their own English-proficiency expectations — many accept MOI letters; confirm on the institution’s admissions page.

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A Sample MOI Letter Template

The following structure is a reference only. Your university’s Registrar will use their own letterhead and format — do not write the letter yourself and ask the registrar to sign it.

University Name — Official Letterhead

Date: [DD Month YYYY]

To Whom It May Concern,

This is to certify that Your Full Name, Registration Number XXXX, was enrolled in the Degree Name programme at [University Name] from Month Year to Month Year / Present.

The medium of instruction throughout this programme was English. All lectures, tutorials, examinations and academic assessments were conducted in English.

This letter is issued at the request of the student for the purpose of a European university and/or student visa application.

Signed: Registrar's Name and Title
Official Stamp: [University Seal]

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Limitations: When an MOI Letter Is Not Enough

An MOI letter is not a substitute for IELTS in every situation. Be clear-eyed about when you still need IELTS:

• If a specific programme requires a minimum IELTS score regardless of educational background (common in health sciences, law and teacher training)
• If the UKVI Student route requires a SELT for your specific situation (check gov.uk)
• If a scholarship scheme’s English requirements specify IELTS by name
• If the institution rejects MOI letters from institutions it cannot verify

The safest approach: email the admissions office of each target university, name your Kenyan institution, confirm it teaches in English, and ask in writing whether an MOI letter will suffice. Save the reply.

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How World Study Africa Helps

We advise Kenyan students on exactly which English-proficiency documents each destination and institution requires — so you are not paying for IELTS preparation you do not need, and not assuming a waiver that does not apply to your course. Our core advisory is free to students; we earn a commission from partner universities when you enrol. We never charge for document guidance.

See which destinations accept Kenyan MOI letters →

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