Top 25 Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS 2026/2027

“Without IELTS” does not mean “without any proof of English, anywhere, ever.” That single misunderstanding wastes more applications than any weak transcript. This guide lists 25 genuinely fully funded scholarships where IELTS is not the gatekeeper — and for every single entry it states the exact mechanism that replaces it: a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter, a different accepted test, an embassy exam, a free language year in another language, a waiver for English-taught degrees, or a scholarship that simply sets no English test of its own while the host university applies its own rule. Read the mechanism column before you celebrate. If a program appears here, it is because its official rules genuinely open one of those doors — not because a blog promised that “no English proof is needed anywhere.” In several cases you will still need to satisfy a university, a visa officer, or a placement test later, and this article tells you precisely where that second checkpoint sits.

Who is this list for? International students — especially from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Nigeria and Indonesia — whose previous degree was taught in English, who cannot easily afford or access an IELTS sitting, or who studied in a language other than English and are willing to take a funded language year instead. If that sounds like you, work through the ranked entries below, shortlist four to six programs using our scholarship directory, compare host universities in the university directory, and track every deadline with the tools in our study tools hub. For the stipend-focused companion list, see fully funded scholarships with a monthly stipend for international students 2027, and for the global ranking of flagship awards, the top 25 fully funded scholarships in the world for international students 2027.

At a Glance: The Three Honest Routes Around IELTS

Keep that table open while you read. Every entry below is tagged with its route, so you can filter this list by your real situation: a student with an English-taught bachelor’s degree and a cooperative registrar can use Routes 1 and 2 today; a student with no English-medium background should look seriously at Route 4, where the language year is paid for; a student who simply dislikes IELTS but tests well can use Route 3 and book a cheaper or home-based alternative test instead.

Eligibility: Who Can Realistically Use This List?

Eligibility differs by program, but five conditions recur. First, nationality: most government scholarships are open to citizens of countries with diplomatic relations with the host, and some reserve quotas by country. Second, academic level: this list spans undergraduate, master’s, PhD and research stays — check the level column for each entry. Third, academic record: fully funded awards are competitive, and most expect an above-average degree, even when they publish no formal GPA cut-off. Fourth, the language mechanism itself: you must be able to produce the MOI letter, alternative score, or waiver evidence the specific program accepts — “my degree was in English” as a verbal claim is not evidence. Fifth, timing: several of these programs open once a year and close months before enrolment, so a missed cycle means a full year’s wait. Age limits apply to some government schemes (Türkiye Burslari and MEXT undergraduate routes are well-known examples), so verify your eligibility against the official call before investing weeks in essays.

The Top 25 Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS — Ranked

Ranking reflects a combination of funding completeness, how genuinely accessible the no-IELTS mechanism is, and how many international students each program actually funds each year. It is an editorial ranking for guidance, not an official league table.

1. MEXT Scholarship — Japan (Route 1: no IELTS for the scholarship itself)

Japan’s MEXT (Monbukagakusho) scholarship is the clearest case on this list. Embassy FAQs state plainly that applicants do not have to submit a TOEFL or IELTS certificate — if you hold one you may include a copy, but it is not required. Language ability is instead assessed through the embassy’s own written examinations and interview during first screening. MEXT covers tuition, a monthly stipend, and round-trip airfare, across undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and specialised training categories. Many degree programs in Japan are taught in Japanese, and MEXT funds preparatory Japanese education where required — which is why no prior Japanese is needed either. Read our full profile of the MEXT Scholarship and verify your country’s timetable with your local Japanese embassy, because deadlines are set country by country. Official reference: the Embassy of Japan’s MEXT FAQ confirms the no-certificate rule at emb-japan.go.jp — wording is mirrored across embassy sites.

2. Chevening Scholarship — United Kingdom (Route 1: scholarship requirement removed)

Chevening removed its own English language requirement in 2020, and its official FAQ still states this today: candidates need no Chevening-set English test at all. The honest caveat, stated on the same official page, is that you must still meet the requirements of your chosen UK university and hold an unconditional offer from one of your three course choices by the deadline. In practice, many UK universities accept TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, or — for some institutions — an MOI letter, so IELTS specifically is frequently avoidable even at the university stage. Chevening funds a one-year master’s degree with tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare and arrival allowances. See our Chevening Scholarship profile and the official statement at chevening.org/faqs.

3. Türkiye Burslari — Türkiye (Route 4: funded Turkish year; Route 1 for the scholarship)

Türkiye Scholarships does not impose a scholarship-wide IELTS requirement. Applicants choosing Turkish-taught programs bypass the English question entirely, because every scholar receives a free one-year Turkish language course before the degree begins. Applicants choosing English-taught programs must meet the university’s requirement, which is set at program level — many Turkish universities accept TOEFL or their own proficiency arrangements rather than IELTS specifically. The package is among the most complete in the world: tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend, health insurance, airfare and the language year. Age limits and minimum academic percentages apply by level, so read the current call on turkiyeburslari.gov.tr carefully.

4. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) — China (Route 1/2: no IELTS for the scholarship; university MOI practice)

The CSC application itself does not demand an IELTS score. For English-taught programs, Chinese universities commonly ask for an English proficiency certificate issued by your previous institution — the MOI route — or another recognised test, while Chinese-taught programs route you through HSK or a funded preparatory year instead. Requirements are set by each university, so the correct procedure is to open the admissions page of your target university and confirm exactly which document it accepts before you apply through the CSC portal. Funding typically covers tuition, dormitory accommodation, medical insurance and a monthly stipend. Because practice varies by university, treat any website claiming a single nationwide “CSC language rule” with suspicion.

5. DAAD Scholarships — Germany (Route 3: a broad list of accepted tests, plus German-taught routes)

DAAD is not a “no English proof” program, and this guide will not pretend otherwise. It earns its place because IELTS is only one item on a genuinely broad official list of accepted certificates for English-taught programs — Cambridge English, TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, TOEIC, PTE Academic, onSET and the Duolingo English Test have all been named as acceptable in DAAD guidance — and because German-taught programs require German proof instead of English. DAAD EPOS pays €992 per month for master’s students and €1,300 per month for doctoral candidates (€1,400 from February 2026), plus insurance and travel support. Explore the DAAD Scholarship profile and the official EPOS database entry via daad.de.

6. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — Europe (Route 2/3: consortium-by-consortium)

There is no single Erasmus Mundus language rule, because each joint master’s consortium sets its own admission requirements. That decentralisation is exactly why it belongs here: many consortia accept an MOI letter, Duolingo, TOEFL or PTE instead of IELTS, and a minority waive a test where your previous degree was fully taught in English. You must check the “entry requirements” page of the specific consortium you want — the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue lists each program’s own site. The scholarship covers participation costs and a monthly allowance for up to 24 months while you study in at least two European countries. See our Erasmus Mundus overview before shortlisting.

7. Commonwealth Scholarships — United Kingdom (Route 1: no IELTS set by the scholarship)

Commonwealth Scholarships, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for candidates from eligible Commonwealth countries, do not impose their own IELTS score. As with Chevening, the university you apply to sets the English condition of your offer, and UK universities between them accept a wide range of tests and, in some cases, prior English-medium study. The awards cover airfare, tuition, and a monthly stipend for master’s and PhD study aimed at development impact. Because nominating agencies in your home country run the first stage in many countries, start with your national nominator’s announcement. Our Commonwealth Scholarship profile explains the routes.

8. Stipendium Hungaricum — Hungary (Route 2: host institution sets the rule)

Hungary’s flagship scholarship states in its official application guidance that the required language proficiency level is set by each host institution — there is no single scholarship-wide IELTS bar. In practice, many Hungarian universities accept an MOI certificate or conduct their own assessment, while others name a test score; the program page of your chosen course is the authority. The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation support, a monthly stipend and medical insurance, and it funds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels through bilateral sending partners. Apply through your country’s sending partner and the official Apply portal, and request your MOI letter early, because registrars in many countries take weeks to issue one.

9. Eiffel Excellence — France (Route 1/3: no IELTS set by the program)

The France Excellence Eiffel program itself sets no IELTS requirement; candidates are nominated by a French institution, and language expectations follow the program you will join — many are taught in French, others in English with the institution’s own proof standard. Eiffel pays €1,200 per month at master’s level and €2,100 per month at doctoral level from January 2026, plus transport, insurance and housing-search support. One essential honesty note: Eiffel does not cover tuition, although French government scholarship holders at public institutions are typically exempt from registration fees for national diplomas — confirm your exact fee position with the host institution in writing.

10. KAUST Fellowship — Saudi Arabia (Route 2: waiver for English-medium graduates)

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology normally asks graduate applicants for an English test — but it operates a formal waiver: applicants whose previous degree was taught in English at a university in a country where English is a primary language of instruction, and certain native-level cases defined in KAUST’s admissions rules, can be exempted. That is a waiver with conditions, not a free pass, and you should quote KAUST’s exact wording when you write to admissions. Every admitted master’s and PhD student receives the KAUST Fellowship: full tuition, a monthly living allowance (published range US$20,000–30,000 per year), housing and medical/dental cover. Verify the current waiver text on KAUST’s admissions pages before relying on it.

11. SINGA — Singapore (Route 1/3: no test mandatory at application stage)

The Singapore International Graduate Award does not make IELTS or TOEFL a mandatory upload at the application stage; official partner guidance notes scores are optional initially and may be requested later in the process. That distinction matters: apply without a score if you do not have one, but be ready to evidence strong written and spoken English at interview and, if asked, by a later test. SINGA funds a PhD for up to four years with full tuition, a stipend of S$2,700 per month rising to S$3,200 after the qualifying examination, a one-time airfare grant of up to S$1,500 and a S$1,000 settling-in allowance, according to A*STAR’s official scholarship page at a-star.edu.sg. It is bond-free and limited to science, engineering and computing-related research areas.

12. Romanian Government Scholarship — Romania (Route 4: funded Romanian year)

Romania’s government scholarship, run through diplomatic missions, funds bachelor’s, master’s and PhD study with a preparatory year of Romanian for students who do not yet speak the language — degree study is in Romanian, so an IELTS score is simply irrelevant to the route. The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation in student dormitories (subject to availability), and a monthly allowance, and it is one of the longest-running “study in the local language” schemes in Europe. Applications go through the Study in Romania platform during the annual window; check the current call for the exact stipend and document legalisation rules for your country.

13. Open Doors: Russian Scholarship Project — Russia (Route 1: competition-based, no IELTS)

Open Doors selects master’s and PhD scholars through an online olympiad-style competition — portfolio and subject tests — rather than through an English certificate. Winners gain tuition-funded places at participating Russian universities; programs are offered in English and Russian tracks. Because the geopolitical and visa situation for Russia changes, verify travel, payment and recognition implications for your own country very carefully before committing, and treat this as a research-first option rather than a default recommendation.

14. Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (Route 3: Duolingo widely accepted)

Ireland’s GOI-IES awards a €10,000 stipend plus a full fee waiver from the host institution for one year of master’s or PhD study. The scholarship does not dictate IELTS: admission language rules belong to Irish universities, which between them accept Duolingo English Test, PTE, TOEFL and Cambridge alongside IELTS, with published minimums per test. If your objection to IELTS is cost or test-centre access, Ireland’s acceptance of an at-home alternative makes this one of the most practical Route 3 options in the English-speaking world.

15. Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships (Route 3: multiple tests, plus training routes)

New Zealand’s Manaaki Scholarships fund undergraduate and postgraduate study for citizens of partner countries, with full tuition, a living allowance, insurance and airfare. English requirements are verified against the host institution’s accepted-test list, which includes alternatives to IELTS, and some scholars receive English language training as part of their award pathway. Country eligibility rotates and is published per intake — check the official Manaaki country list first; if your country is not in the current round, no application strategy can change that.

16. Australia Awards and RTP — Australia (Route 3: PTE and other tests at university level)

Australian universities — the gatekeepers for both Australia Awards placements and Research Training Program (RTP) admissions — accept a suite of English tests, prominently including PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT, not IELTS alone. The RTP base stipend is AUD 34,315 for 2026 and AUD 35,550 for 2027, with universities free to top up toward the published maximum; the official rates are listed by the Department of Education at education.gov.au. Note the separate checkpoint: Australia’s student visa process has its own English evidence rules, which are not identical to university rules — satisfy both, in writing, before you decline a test.

17. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (Route 3: university-set, multiple tests)

HKPFS itself publishes no IELTS mandate; each of the eight participating universities sets English admission requirements and all accept more than one test family. The fellowship pays an annual stipend of HK$344,400 (about US$44,150) plus HK$14,400 per year for conference and research travel for up to three years, with 400 fellowships for 2027/28, per the Research Grants Council at ugc.edu.hk. If your strength is a stellar research record rather than a test certificate, Hong Kong’s test-flexible admissions are worth the effort.

18. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Route 1: language of the research proposal)

Switzerland’s Excellence Scholarships for PhD, research and postdoctoral stays judge your research proposal and host supervisor’s support; language expectations follow the working language of your host lab or institute rather than a scholarship-wide IELTS score. The Federal Council raised the monthly payment to CHF 2,450 from 1 January 2026 (it was CHF 1,920, unchanged since 2006), with a one-off housing allowance raised to CHF 600, per the official announcement at admin.ch. You must secure a Swiss academic host before applying — without that letter, there is no application.

19. Fulbright Foreign Student Program — USA (Route 1/3: test timing, not test absence)

Fulbright’s first-stage application in most countries does not hinge on an IELTS score; candidates are selected on merit, leadership and fit, and English testing (usually TOEFL, arranged for finalists) enters at the placement stage, often funded through the process. Country foundations set their own first-stage rules, so read your Fulbright commission’s page rather than a global summary. The award covers tuition, living support, insurance and travel for master’s and PhD study in the United States. Our Fulbright Program profile maps the country-by-country structure.

20. KNB Scholarship — Indonesia (Route 1/3: test flexibility at partner universities)

Indonesia’s Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) scholarship funds master’s and doctoral study at Indonesian partner universities for students from developing countries, covering tuition, a living allowance, insurance and airfare, with a Bahasa Indonesia language course included. English proof expectations are applied at program level and are materially less rigid than a universal IELTS bar; partner universities publish their accepted evidence per intake. Confirm the current intake’s document list on the official KNB site, because the scheme pauses in some years.

21. MTCP — Malaysia (Route 2: MOI practice at Malaysian universities)

The Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme scholarship funds master’s study at Malaysian universities with tuition, a monthly allowance and airfare. Malaysian public universities routinely assess English proficiency through their own accepted evidence, and MOI letters from English-medium institutions are a long-standing part of admissions practice in Malaysia — but “routinely” is not “always,” so obtain written confirmation from your faculty before you rely on it. This is a good example of why this guide insists on mechanism-checking rather than slogans.

22. Azerbaijan Government Grant (Route 1: no scholarship-wide IELTS bar)

Azerbaijan’s grant program for citizens of OIC and Non-Aligned Movement member states funds preparatory, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral study at Azerbaijani universities, covering tuition, airfare, a monthly allowance, insurance and visa support. The grant itself sets no universal IELTS threshold; language preparation is built into the preparatory-course route for students who need Azerbaijani, Russian or English development. Verify your country’s eligibility and the annual nomination deadline through the official Study in Azerbaijan portal.

23. Kazakhstan Government Scholarships (Route 1/2: university-level language rules)

Kazakhstan’s state scholarship for international students allocates places across bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels at Kazakh universities. Language evidence is handled at university level, English-taught programs commonly accept institutional evidence of prior English-medium study, and Kazakh/Russian language courses are available for students entering local-language tracks. Because quotas are allocated by country and level, check the ENIC-Kazakhstan announcement for your cycle before preparing documents.

24. Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship (Route 2: English-medium system evidence)

Brunei’s government scholarship funds study at Bruneian institutions including Universiti Brunei Darussalam, where English is a principal medium of instruction. The scholarship application focuses on academic merit and programme admission; English evidence follows the host institution’s rules, which recognise prior English-medium education. Intake openings have been irregular in recent years, so treat the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement — not third-party countdown sites — as the only reliable signal that a round is open.

25. Gates Cambridge — United Kingdom (Route 1/3: university admission governs)

Gates Cambridge funds full-time postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge and, like Chevening, sets no scholarship-specific IELTS score: you must meet Cambridge’s own English condition for your course, and Cambridge publishes accepted alternatives and department-level variation. The award covers the full cost of study, a maintenance allowance, airfare and visa costs. It is ferociously competitive — which is precisely why it closes this list: “without IELTS” describes an admissions mechanism, never a lower standard. See our Gates Cambridge profile, and compare Cambridge with the University of Oxford profile if you are also weighing Knight-Hennessy-style alternatives via our rankings hub.

How to Apply: Step by Step

1. Choose your route first. Decide whether you are a Route 1 (no scholarship test), Route 2 (MOI/waiver), Route 3 (alternative test) or Route 4 (language year) candidate. Your route determines your document list.
2. Request the MOI letter now. Ask your registrar for a signed, stamped letter on official letterhead stating your name, degree, years of study, and that the medium of instruction was entirely English. Request two originals.
3. Verify each program in writing. Open the official page of each shortlisted scholarship and university course; where MOI acceptance is not published, email admissions and keep the reply.
4. Check the visa checkpoint. Separately confirm whether your student visa route requires English evidence regardless of the scholarship — Australia and the UK have distinct visa rules.
5. Prepare core documents. Transcripts, degree certificates, passport, CV, motivation letter or study plan, and two referees — see the documents section below.
6. Book an alternative test only if needed. If a shortlisted university insists on a score, choose the cheapest accepted test you can prepare for properly (often Duolingo or PTE) and book it early.
7. Submit before the internal deadline. University nomination deadlines (Eiffel is the classic case) close weeks before the public scholarship deadline.
8. Keep evidence of everything. Save submission confirmations, MOI correspondence and test bookings in one folder per application.

Required Documents

Across these 25 programs, expect to assemble: a valid passport; certified transcripts and degree certificates (with translations where required); the MOI letter or alternative test score that your chosen route depends on; a CV in the funder’s format where specified (DAAD and Erasmus Mundus are strict about this); a motivation letter, study plan or research proposal matched to each program; two academic or professional references; and, for embassy-track programs such as MEXT, the prescribed medical certificate and application forms. Embassy and government schemes may also require police clearance or legalised documents at later stages — budget time, not just money, for attestation queues in your home country.

Deadlines and Timeline

These are pattern timings drawn from recent cycles, verified against the official sources listed below where a 2027 date has been published (HKPFS: 1 December 2026). Where a 2027-cycle date has not yet been published, this table deliberately says “typically” — always confirm the live call.

How to Improve Your Chances

First, make your MOI letter unimpeachable: letterhead, registrar’s signature and stamp, contact details for verification, and explicit wording that all instruction and examination were in English. Second, never let “no IELTS” become “no preparation”: embassy exams (MEXT), interviews (Chevening, Fulbright) and placement tests all reward candidates who can write and speak clearly — practise academic English even if no certificate is demanded. Third, match the mechanism to the program in your cover communication; a sentence showing you read the actual language rule signals seriousness. Fourth, apply to a portfolio of four to six programs across at least two routes, so a single university’s refusal of an MOI letter cannot end your year. Fifth, use our test-prep resources if any shortlisted option does require a score — a modest, well-prepared Duolingo or PTE result beats a rushed IELTS sitting.

Common Mistakes

• Believing “no IELTS” means “no English evidence anywhere.” Universities, placement stages and visa officers may still ask — this article flags each checkpoint; reread your entries.
• Submitting an MOI letter that does not say the right thing. Letters that mention only “English courses” rather than English as the medium of the whole degree are routinely rejected.
• Assuming one program’s rule applies to another. Chevening’s removal of its test requirement does not change Cambridge’s or any university’s own condition.
• Missing the internal nomination deadline. Eiffel, Commonwealth (via nominators) and several embassy schemes close internally weeks early.
• Ignoring the visa layer. A scholarship offer does not amend immigration law.
• Paying agents who “guarantee” no-IELTS admission. No agent can waive a university rule; the mechanisms in this guide are free to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really study abroad with no English proof at all?

In a small number of routes, yes — typically where you study in another language after a funded language year (Türkiye, Romania), or where language is assessed by the funder’s own exams (MEXT). In most English-taught routes, some evidence — an MOI letter, an alternative test, or a university assessment — is still required. “Without IELTS” and “without any evidence” are different claims.

What exactly is an MOI letter and who signs it?

A Medium of Instruction certificate is an official letter from your previous university’s registrar or academic office confirming your degree was taught and examined entirely in English. It should be on letterhead, signed, stamped, and carry a verifiable contact. Lecturers’ personal letters are not a substitute.

Is Duolingo accepted everywhere IELTS is not?

No. Duolingo is widely accepted — DAAD guidance and many Irish, US and European universities list it — but each institution publishes its own list and minimum score. Verify per program, in writing, before booking.

Does Chevening require IELTS in 2027?

Chevening itself does not; it removed its English requirement in 2020, as its official FAQ confirms. Your chosen UK university sets its own condition, which you must meet to hold an unconditional offer.

Will a visa officer accept an MOI letter?

Visa rules are separate from scholarship and university rules. Some visa routes accept specified tests only. Check the immigration authority’s current list for your destination before deciding not to sit any test.

Are these scholarships really fully funded?

The government flagships on this list (MEXT, Türkiye Burslari, CSC, DAAD, Chevening, Commonwealth) cover tuition, living costs and travel as described in each entry. Eiffel is the notable exception on tuition, and this guide flags it in its entry. Always read the funding section of the official call.

I have low grades. Should I still apply?

Fully funded awards are competitive, and most expect above-average results. If your record is weaker, target programs that weigh professional experience, olympiad performance (Open Doors), or development impact, and strengthen your file with relevant work and a precise study plan — but apply realistically, to a portfolio, not a single dream.

When should I start for 2027 entry?

Now. MOI letters, attestations and references take weeks, several flagship deadlines fall between December 2026 and February 2027, and embassy-track programs open in spring 2027.

Sources & Verification

Key facts in this article were checked on 21 October 2026 against: the Embassy of Japan MEXT FAQ (no TOEFL/IELTS certificate required); Chevening’s official FAQ (English requirement removed in 2020; university conditions still apply); DAAD’s official EPOS database entry (€992 / €1,300, €1,400 from February 2026); A*STAR’s SINGA page (S$2,700 rising to S$3,200; airfare and settling-in grants); the Hong Kong Research Grants Council HKPFS page (HK$344,400 plus HK$14,400; 400 awards for 2027/28); the Australian Department of Education RTP page (AUD 34,315 for 2026, AUD 35,550 for 2027); and the Swiss Federal Council announcement (CHF 2,450 per month from 1 January 2026). Program-level language rules for Türkiye Burslari, Stipendium Hungaricum, CSC and Erasmus Mundus are set by host institutions or consortia as described in each entry — verify your specific course before applying.

Disclaimer: Scholarship rules, amounts and deadlines change yearly. Always confirm deadlines, amounts and language-evidence rules on the official website before applying. StudyGraduate is an information portal, not an agency, and cannot guarantee selection, admission or visa approval.