Different Entrance Exams Required for Studying, Working, and Immigrating to Different Countries
Planning to study, work, or settle abroad? One of the biggest challenges is understanding which exams are required by different countries. Depending on your destination and purpose, you may need entrance exams, English language proficiency tests, professional licensing exams, or local language certification.
This guide covers the most popular exams accepted around the world for higher education, employment, immigration, medicine, engineering, law, and language proficiency.
Why Do Countries Require Different Exams?
Countries use standardized examinations to evaluate applicants fairly. These exams help universities, employers, and immigration authorities assess:
- Academic knowledge and readiness
- English (or other) language proficiency
- Professional competence
- Critical thinking and reasoning skills
- Subject-specific expertise
- Communication abilities
Country-wise Exam Requirements
| Country | Study / Entrance Exams | English / Language Tests | Professional / Immigration Exams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | SAT, ACT (undergrad); GRE, GMAT (grad); LSAT (law); MCAT (medicine) | IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test | USMLE (doctors), NCLEX (nurses), FE/PE (engineers) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | GRE, GMAT (often optional); some universities accept SAT/ACT | IELTS (General/Academic), CELPIP, TOEFL, PTE Academic/Core | MCCQE + NAC OSCE (doctors), NCLEX (nurses), Express Entry language tests |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | UCAT (medicine/dentistry), LNAT (law), GRE/GMAT (some postgraduate) | IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, TOEFL (universities) | PLAB / UKMLA (doctors), CBT + OSCE (nurses) |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | UCAT ANZ (medicine), GAMSAT (graduate medicine), GRE (some programs) | IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT | AMC (doctors), OET (healthcare), Skills Assessment (various professions) |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | UCAT ANZ (medicine) | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic | NZREX (doctors), OET (healthcare) |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | TestAS (some universities); many programs have no entrance exam | IELTS, TOEFL (English-taught); TestDaF, DSH, Goethe-Zertifikat (German-taught) | Recognition via Anabin/ZAB; professional licensing varies by field |
| 🇫🇷 France | TCF / university-specific tests; some programs use Parcoursup | IELTS, TOEFL (English-taught); DELF, DALF, TCF (French-taught) | Professional recognition via relevant bodies |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | IMAT (English-taught medicine) | IELTS, TOEFL | CELI, CILS (Italian language); professional exams by field |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | PCE (Prueba de Competencias Específicas) for non-EU students | IELTS, TOEFL | DELE (Spanish language); professional recognition required |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission) | IELTS, TOEFL | JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | University-specific tests; TOPIK often required | IELTS, TOEFL | TOPIK (Korean language) |
| 🇨🇳 China | University entrance exams or HSK for language programs | IELTS, TOEFL | HSK (Chinese language) |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | SAT, GRE, GMAT (depending on program) | IELTS, TOEFL | Employer- or board-specific licensing |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | University-specific requirements | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE | Professional licensing exams (e.g., DHA, DOH, MOH for healthcare) |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | HPAT (medicine), GRE (some postgraduate) | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE | Professional registration exams by field |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | GRE, GMAT (some programs); many master’s are test-optional | IELTS, TOEFL | Employer- or profession-specific requirements |
Most Popular English Language Tests
| Exam | Purpose | Accepted In |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic / General / UKVI) | Study, work, immigration | 140+ countries |
| TOEFL iBT | Primarily university admission | Worldwide (especially strong in the US) |
| PTE Academic / PTE Core | Study & immigration | Many countries (Australia, UK, Canada, etc.) |
| Duolingo English Test | University admission | Growing acceptance (thousands of institutions) |
| CELPIP | Canadian immigration & citizenship | Canada |
| OET | Healthcare professionals | UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and others |
Exams for Undergraduate Admissions
- SAT – Primarily USA; also accepted by many international universities
- ACT – Alternative to SAT (mainly USA)
- UCAT / UCAT ANZ – Medicine and dentistry (UK, Australia, New Zealand)
- LNAT – Law schools in the UK
- IMAT – English-taught medicine in Italy
- EJU – Japanese university admission for international students
- PCE – University entrance for non-EU students in Spain
Exams for Master’s / Graduate Programs
- GRE (many graduate programs)
- GMAT (business / MBA programs)
- Executive Assessment (some executive MBA programs)
- Note: Many universities (especially in Europe, Canada, and increasingly the US) have made GRE/GMAT optional
Medical Entrance & Licensing Exams
| Exam | Country | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| MCAT | USA (also accepted in Canada, some Caribbean/Australian programs) | Medical school admission |
| USMLE | USA | Medical licensure & residency |
| PLAB / UKMLA | UK | Medical registration for international graduates |
| AMC | Australia | Medical registration |
| MCCQE (+ NAC OSCE) | Canada | Medical licensing |
| IMAT | Italy | Admission to English-taught medical programs |
| GAMSAT | Australia (and some UK programs) | Graduate-entry medicine |
| NZREX | New Zealand | Medical registration |
Nursing Exams
- NCLEX-RN / NCLEX-PN – USA & Canada
- CBT + OSCE – United Kingdom (NMC)
- OBA (Outcomes-Based Assessment) – Australia
- OET – English language test specifically for healthcare professionals (accepted in multiple countries)
Engineering & Other Professional Exams
- FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) and PE (Professional Engineer) – USA
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) assessments – UK and many Commonwealth countries
- Skills Assessment by relevant assessing authorities – Australia
- Country- or board-specific professional registration exams elsewhere
Language Proficiency Exams (Non-English)
| Language | Main Exams |
|---|---|
| German | Goethe-Zertifikat, TestDaF, DSH, telc |
| French | DELF, DALF, TCF |
| Spanish | DELE, SIELE |
| Italian | CELI, CILS, PLIDA |
| Japanese | JLPT |
| Korean | TOPIK |
| Chinese | HSK |
Top International Exams (Most Commonly Required)
- IELTS
- TOEFL iBT
- PTE Academic
- GRE
- GMAT
- SAT
- ACT
- Duolingo English Test
- MCAT
- UCAT / UCAT ANZ
- LSAT
- USMLE
- NCLEX
- PLAB / UKMLA
- TestDaF / DSH
- DELF / DALF
- JLPT
- TOPIK
- HSK
- OET
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which English test is accepted by the most countries?
IELTS is one of the most widely accepted English language tests for study, work, and immigration worldwide (accepted by more than 11,000 organizations in 140+ countries).
Do all universities require GRE or GMAT?
No. A large and growing number of universities have made GRE or GMAT optional or have eliminated the requirement entirely, especially for many master’s programs outside the United States.
Which exam is needed for doctors?
It depends on the destination country:
- USA → USMLE
- UK → PLAB or UKMLA
- Australia → AMC
- Canada → MCCQE (+ NAC OSCE)
- New Zealand → NZREX
Can I study abroad without IELTS?
Yes. Many universities accept TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, the Duolingo English Test, or may waive the English proficiency requirement if you have studied in English or meet other specific criteria.
