Top 20 Scholarships Without IELTS for International Students (2026/2027)

Are you dreaming of studying abroad but don’t have an IELTS score? The good news is that many prestigious scholarships around the world either do not require IELTS or accept alternative proof of English proficiency, such as a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, an institutional English assessment, or a university interview. Requirements vary by scholarship and university, so applicants should always verify the specific language policy for their chosen program.

This guide highlights the Top 20 Scholarships Without IELTS for 2026/2027, including fully funded government scholarships and university-funded opportunities.

1. MEXT Scholarship (Japan)

The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship is one of the world’s most prestigious fully funded scholarships. Many application routes allow candidates to apply without submitting an IELTS score, with English ability assessed through other means depending on the route and institution.

Benefits

• Full tuition
• Monthly stipend
• Round-trip airfare
• Preparatory language course (if applicable)

Official Website: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/

2. DAAD Scholarship (Germany)

Many DAAD-funded programs accept applicants without IELTS if they can provide a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate or other accepted proof of English proficiency, depending on the university and program.

Official Website: https://www.daad.de/en/

3. Türkiye Scholarships

Türkiye Bursları offers fully funded scholarships for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs. IELTS is not universally required, though language requirements depend on the selected program.

Official Website: https://www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr/

4. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

The Korean Government Scholarship supports international students with full funding. Many applicants are not required to submit IELTS during the scholarship application process, although universities may have separate requirements.

Official Website: https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/

5. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)

Many CSC programs do not require IELTS and may accept an English Medium of Instruction certificate or other proof of language proficiency.

Official Website: https://www.campuschina.org/

6. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships

Several Erasmus Mundus programs accept alternatives to IELTS depending on the consortium and partner universities.

Official Website: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/

7. Commonwealth Scholarship

Some participating universities may waive IELTS if applicants meet alternative English language requirements.

Official Website: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/

8. Chevening Scholarship (United Kingdom)

Chevening no longer has a mandatory English language requirement as part of the scholarship selection process, though applicants must still satisfy the language requirements of their chosen universities if applicable.

Official Website: https://www.chevening.org/

9. Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Certain Fulbright commissions may permit applicants to submit English test results later or accept alternative assessments, depending on country-specific rules.

Official Website: https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/

10. Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship

Many Hungarian universities accept alternative English proficiency documents.

Official Website: https://stipendiumhungaricum.hu/

11. Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship

A fully funded scholarship for international students with flexible English language policies depending on the program.

Official Website: https://www.mfa.gov.bn/

12. Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)

Several participating universities accept English-medium education certificates instead of IELTS.

Official Website: https://biasiswa.mohe.gov.my/

13. University of Brunei Darussalam Graduate Scholarship

International students may qualify through alternative English language evidence.

Official Website: https://ubd.edu.bn/

14. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (France)

Many French universities accept alternative English language qualifications for English-taught programs.

Official Website: https://www.campusfrance.org/

15. Swedish Institute Scholarships

Applicants may qualify through accepted alternative English language documentation depending on the program.

Official Website: https://si.se/

16. Australia Awards Scholarships

English language requirements vary by institution, and some universities may accept alternatives where permitted.

Official Website: https://www.australiaawards.gov.au/

17. New Zealand Manaaki Scholarships

Language requirements depend on the selected university and program.

Official Website: https://www.nzscholarships.govt.nz/

18. KAIST International Scholarship (South Korea)

KAIST may accept various forms of English proficiency depending on the applicant’s educational background and program requirements.

Official Website: https://admission.kaist.ac.kr/

19. Hokkaido University President’s Fellowship (Japan)

Many Japanese universities provide alternative English assessment methods instead of requiring IELTS.

Official Website: https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp/

20. Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP)

Language requirements are determined by participating universities, some of which accept alternatives to IELTS.

Official Website: https://www.adb.org/work-with-us/careers/japan-scholarship-program

Alternatives to IELTS

Many universities and scholarship providers may accept one or more of the following instead of IELTS:

• Medium of Instruction (MOI) Certificate
• TOEFL
• Duolingo English Test
• PTE Academic
• Cambridge English Qualifications
• University English Placement Test
• Online or in-person interview
• Previous degree completed in English

Important Note

A scholarship advertised as “without IELTS” does not always mean there is no English language requirement. In many cases, the scholarship itself does not require IELTS, but the host university may still require another form of English proficiency. Always check the official scholarship and university websites before applying.

Final Thoughts

Studying abroad without IELTS is possible through many internationally recognized scholarship programs. By exploring alternative language qualifications and carefully reviewing each program’s admission requirements, you can significantly expand your study-abroad opportunities. Start preparing your documents early, verify language policies on the official websites, and apply before the deadlines for the 2026/2027 intake.