Top Universities that Do Not Require GRE

GRE

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Raj
Raj Vimal
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Nov 20, 2024 13:52 IST
GRE or Graduate Record Examinations is a standardized test required for getting into many graduate schools in the world. Scores of GRE exam play a significant role in getting admission into thousands of graduate programs across the globe. Is there any university in the world which offers admission without GRE exam?
Top University in the world without GRE

GRE is one of the most important standardized tests for studying abroad. It can significantly increase or decrease your chances of getting admission into top universities around the world. The GRE Exam is owned and administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service) and is accepted by many graduate schools. There are multiple reputed universities in the world that don't even require GRE score to offer admission. However, you need to fulfil other eligibility criteria for this. 

Universities waive off the requirements of GRE to open doors for more qualified students around the world. In this article, we are going to discuss the top-ranked universities worldwide which don't require GRE scores for admission in PG programs.

Top Universities Which Don't Require GRE

Here, we have mentioned the list of top universities in the world, which do not accept scores of Graduate Record Examination for offering admission:

University

Program

University of Toronto

Master of Science in Applied Computing

University of Oxford

MSc in Computer Science

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

University of Melbourne

Master of Engineering – Mechanical

McGill University

Master of Applied Science in Biotechnology

University of Cambridge

MPhil in Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology

National University of Singapore

Master of Science – Civil Engineering

University of British Columbia

Master of Engineering

Monash University

Master of Advanced Engineering

Even top universities offer programs without the GRE test. Apart from this, students can apply to various programs where GRE is optional.

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Universities in US which don't require GRE for Masters








The table displays a list of universities in the US, with their QS World University Rankings, 2025, where GRE is not mandatory for a master's programme.

Institute QS World University Rankings, 2025
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) #1
Purdue University #89

University of Pittsburgh

#275
Northeastern University =396

Washington State University

=466

Florida International University

=574

New Mexico State University

#791-800

University of Cincinnati

#761-770

George Mason University

#1001-1200
University of North Texas #1001-1200

Universities in UK which don't require GRE for Masters







The table displays a list of universities in the UK, with their QS World University Rankings, 2025, where GRE is not mandatory for a master's programme.

Institute QS World University Rankings, 2025
Imperial College London #2
University of Cambridge #5
University of Edinburgh #27
University of Manchester #34
University of Sheffield #105

University of Reading

#172

Middlesex University

#721-730

University of Central Lancashire

#951-1000
Birmingham City University #1001-1200
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Explore MS colleges in UK

A++Shiksha Grade
University of Oxford

Oxford, UKPublic

48 courses
27.5 L - 56.64 L
A+Shiksha Grade
University of Manchester

Manchester, UKPublic

127 courses
20.17 L - 40.88 L
A++Shiksha Grade
Imperial College London

London, UKPublic

115 courses
24.42 L - 47.14 L
A++Shiksha Grade
250 courses
17.04 L - 65.62 L
A++Shiksha Grade
The University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh, UKPublic

62 courses
21.77 L - 43.43 L
A+Shiksha Grade
King's College London

London, UKPublic

72 courses
23.73 L - 47.25 L
AShiksha Grade
University of Birmingham

Birmingham, UKPublic

99 courses
8.66 L - 34.52 L
A+Shiksha Grade
University of Glasgow

Glasgow, UKPublic

111 courses
20.55 L - 41.41 L
AShiksha Grade
University of Leeds

Leeds, UKPublic

77 courses
19.64 L - 40.88 L
A++Shiksha Grade
University of Cambridge

Cambridge, UKPublic

8 courses
26.32 L - 37.88 L
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Universities in Canada Which Don't GRE for Masters

The table displays a list of universities in Canada, with their QS World University Rankings, 2025, where GRE is not mandatory for a master's programme.

Institute QS World University Rankings, 2025

Concordia University

=415

University of Windsor

#547

University of Manitoba

#661-670

University of New Brunswick

#681-690
University of Regina #951-1000
Brock University #1201-1400

List of Study Abroad programs where GRE is optional

University of California, Berkeley

Master of Science in Architecture

University of California, Berkeley

PhD in Architecture and Environmental Design

George Mason University

Humanities and Social Sciences

GRE General Test

The GRE general test measures your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills – skills that have been developed over a long period of time and are not related to any particular field of study but have very high significance.

  • Verbal Reasoning: The verbal reasoning section measures your ability to analyze, reason from incomplete data, select important points, summarize text, understand the meaning of individual words and understand the relationship among concepts.
  • Quantitative Reasoning: The quantitative reasoning section measures your ability to understand and interpret given information, solve problems using mathematical models, and apply basic elementary concepts such as arithmetic, algebra and geometry.
  • Analytical Writing: The analytical writing section measures your ability to articulate complex ideas, support ideas with relevant reasons, examine claims, sustain a coherent discussion and control the elements of standard written English.

GRE Subject Test

The GRE subject test measures the student’s knowledge and skills in a particular field of study. This test is for students having an undergraduate degree or extensive background in one of the following subjects:

  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Psychology

The GRE subject test scores are widely used by universities all over the world for admission or fellowships by respective panels. GRE subject test scores supplement students’ undergraduate records, recommendation letters and other qualifications for graduate-level study.

Why is GRE Exam Important?

Students from across the world apply for admission for programs, now colleges need to know about the candidates before giving them admission. While giving admission Universities assess students based on their performance in the standardized test. Even if the candidates have scored above average in their previous degrees, universities do not know about the quality of the education provided in different countries. Therefore, a standardized test brings everyone on the same page and assess them on equal parameters. So the scores of the test become important criteria for getting admission. It becomes important for the candidate whether they will be selected or rejected by their dream school.

Study Abroad Without GRE

Studying abroad is a long and often complex process and expensive too. Clearing the GRE exam is not easy for everyone. Students work hard to score well in the GRE exam but still not able to make it to their dream college. Also, for giving this exam an aspirant has to shell US $205 every time registering for it. Apart from this, many students submit their applications at the last moment, so, they focus on the application process and don't go for the GRE Exam. Apart from the GRE/GMAT, students have to give English Language Proficiency Tests like IELTS, TOEFL or PTE. So, they focus their energy on all other aspects of the application. Universities also understand that students did not get high scores in standardized tests like GRE. Therefore, there are various universities offering different programs without GRE/GMAT.

Also, experts argue that this exam is quite expensive and students need to give a great amount of time for preparing for this exam, so, they should have the choice of giving it. As many aspirants possess a sufficient amount of work experience in their domain and a good GPA or an advanced degree in their field, so, they should be exempted from giving the GRE test.

Top Master's Courses Which Don't Need GRE

The following master's programmes can be done without GRE.

Criminal Justice Finance
Education Accounting
Computer Science Liberal Arts
Psychology English
Sociology Public Health
Marketing Management
Human Resources Social Work
Nursing Healthcare Management
Theology Public Policy and Administration
Communication Mass Communication

Criteria for waiving off GRE Scores

  • Some universities also waive off the GRE score if the candidate's GPA is above average and has an overall strong profile.
  • Various universities waive off the GRE score if the candidate has gained relevant work experience in a similar field he is looking to study further.
  • Apart from this, in very few cases, universities waive off the GRE score if the candidate has an excellent undergraduate research project. In these cases, universities assess the candidate's potential from his work.
For assistance regarding higher education abroad and admission, reach out to Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for free.

Q:   What is GRE exam for?

A:

GRE or Graduate Record Examination is a standardized computer based exam conducted by the by Educational Testing Service (ETS). Many top business schools in the world offer admission in Business programs on the basis of GRE Score. This test access the aptitude of a student for abstract thinking. Score equal to 160 or above is a good enough to get admission in various courses. There are two types of GRE tests.

  1. GRE General Test
  2. GRE Subject Test

Also, students can take the GRE exam at home.

Q:   Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?

A:

The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.

Q:   How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?

A:

The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses: 

The Undergraduate Application Process:  

Step 1:  You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.

Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.

Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.

Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements. 

Check out:  tips to improve your SOP

Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS. 

Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.

Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.

The Postgraduate application process: 

Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\

Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.

Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.

Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course. 

To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application. 

Step 5:  If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester. 

Q:   How to prepare for UK 10th board exam 2025?

A:

Those who are preparing for the UK Class 10 exam 2025 are recommended to follow the tips below.

  • Know the exam pattern
  • Make a proper time table as per the syllabus
  • Solve previous year question papers
  • Make short notes of important formulas and theorems
  • Revise regularly
  • Figure out weaker areas and learn them well

With proper planning and hard work, students can easily clear the UK 10th board exam.

Q:   What rank is Wolverhampton University in UK?

A:

The University of Wolverhampton is one of the best universities in the United Kingdom. The university is consistently ranked among the best universities nationally and globally. For nearly 200 years, the University of Wolverhampton has been consistently providing a quality of education to students and producing highly skilled graduates. The national rankings of the University of Wolverhampton are given below:

Ranking Body Ranking
The Guardian University Guide 2024 #101
The Complete University Guide 2024#117

Q:   What is University of Wales, Trinity Saint famous for?

A:

University of Wales, Trinity Saint (UWTSD) was founded in 2010, is a public institution for higher education and research at multiple locations. It was set up under the 1828 royal charter of Lampeter, the institution was the result of the merger between Trinity University College and the University of Wales. The institution merged with the Swansea Metropolitan University in 2013.

  • Top Ranked University: The UWTSD is not ranked by any major ranking body, however as per the university ranking given on the official website of the university, it is ranked among:
  1. #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Film Production and Photography
  2. #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Fashion and Textiles
  3. #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Graphic Design
  4. #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Education
  5. #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Sports Science
  6. #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Mechanical Engineering
  7. #1st in Wales for Fine Arts
  • Variety of Courses: UWTSD offers more than 300 programs at various levels including undergraduate, postgraduate degrees as well as multiple online courses.
  • Highly distinguished and learned faculties: the faculty at UWTSD    is highly learned and distinguished which enables students to be the best in their field of study.
  • High Placements: According to Graduate Outcome data 2019-2020 quoted by the UWTSD, more than 95% of its graduates were found to be employed within 15 Months of graduation. The average salary of a graduate is not explicitly released by UWTSD, however, as per some unofficial sources the average salary of the graduates of UWTSD is approximately INR 30-35L. with the highest salary being reported as high as INR 66.5L for jobs in Financial Services.

Q:   What is the maximum and minimum score in GRE to get admission for MS in USA?

A:

GRE is a popular standardised test for getting admission in MS program in the world. However, there are many universities in the USA that offer admission to MS courses without GRE scores. There is fixed minimum or maximum GRE score for admission. However, even if your GRE score is below the average for a particular program, you may still be considered for admission if you have strong qualifications in other areas. It is adviseble to check university website for the exact information.

Q:   How good is the University of Chester (UK)?

A:

 University of Chester is surely a good option for international students mainly beacuse of a diverse range of excellent academic programs.Below are some reasons why University of Chester is good:

Academics:  The University of Chester offers over 200 undergraduate, postgraduate, and research degree programs to international students. The University of Chester University offers undergraduate major and minor courses. Students can also pursue master’s or doctoral programs at the University of Chester University.

Location of the university - The University of  is in a location where arts & culture, technology industry and entertainment industry providing endless internship. International Students have access to beaches, outdoor activities, live music/performances and attractions which makes their make campus life more enjoyable. The location gives University of Chester students an additional mark to study at University of Chester. 

Ranking: Many global ranking sources like THE (Times Higher Education), etc., have ranked University of Chester among the top universities in the world since 2021. These bodies consistently rank it among the top universities in UK. 

Fees: : The cost of attending University of Chester for Indian students can vary depending on several factors. Tuition fees for international students at University of Chester are typically higher than for Uk citizens. However, it is important that the tuition fee can change over time, and it is recommended to visit the official website to recheck the fees and accommodation. Indian students should also consider other costs such as housing, health insurance, meals and transportation attending University of Chester. 

About the Author
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Written by
Raj Vimal
Study Abroad Expert

Raj Vimal has experience of 7+ years in SEO Content Writing, which includes 5+ years in the Ed-Tech industry. He has written articles about studying abroad, especially in the USA, UK, and other English-speaking coun... Read Full Bio

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