New Restrictions on English Proficiency Testing Heighten Barriers for Russian Students

On Thursday, Russia officially labeled the British Council as an “undesirable organization,” a decision that is likely to complicate the ability of Russian citizens to pursue studies and reside abroad.

The British Council is one of the entities involved in administering the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), a prominent academic English examination utilized globally by non-native speakers.

By classifying the British Council as “undesirable,” any form of collaboration with the organization is now prohibited in Russia. Experts caution that this may extend to the IELTS exams managed by the British Council.

If Russian students and academics are unable to demonstrate their English proficiency through the IELTS exam, they will encounter restricted options for international academic pursuits, and those aspiring to live and work in English-speaking nations may find it challenging to secure a visa.

For instance, IELTS scores are recognized by UK Visas and Immigration as evidence of English language ability for individuals intending to reside, work, or study in the U.K.

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, IELTS suspended all its examinations in Russia, although numerous Russian citizens continue to take the test in other countries.

According to Russian law, engaging with the activities of an «undesirable organization» can result in penalties of up to 15,000 rubles ($189) for first offenses, as noted by Kovcheg (The Ark), a support group for anti-war Russians both domestically and internationally.

More severely, financial transactions—such as payments for English proficiency exams—might be interpreted as providing support to such organizations, an act that could lead to criminal charges and a potential prison sentence of up to five years.

Russia’s Prosecutor General has accused the British Council of furthering British foreign interests “under the pretense of English teaching” and of advocating for the “LGBT movement,” which has recently been classified as “extremist” by the Russian government.

The British Council has yet to respond to this classification.

This action represents the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at Western-affiliated institutions.