Studying abroad is a dream for many, but the high cost of education and language proficiency exams like IELTS often become major barriers. Fortunately, there are many fully funded scholarships without IELTS available for international students in 2025–26. These opportunities eliminate the need to take expensive and time-consuming English tests, allowing more students to access world-class education. Instead of requiring IELTS scores, many of these scholarships accept alternatives like Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificates, which makes them especially appealing for students from non-native English-speaking countries.
In this detailed guide, we explore some of the best scholarships without IELTS for the upcoming academic year. These scholarships are open to undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students and cover full tuition fees, living allowances, accommodation, health insurance, and even travel costs. If you want to study abroad without taking the IELTS test, this blog gives you everything you need to know to get started.
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Top Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS 2025–26
1. Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları)
The Türkiye Scholarships program is a prestigious government-funded initiative by Turkey, offering full financial support to international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral degrees. It’s one of the top scholarships without IELTS, as the program doesn’t require IELTS scores. Instead, students can submit a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate to prove their English proficiency. Additionally, Turkish universities often conduct interviews to assess language and academic suitability.
2. Chinese Government Scholarships (CSC)
The Chinese Government Scholarship, administered by the China Scholarship Council (CSC), is a well-known program that offers scholarships without IELTS to international students. Available for bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs, CSC scholarships allow students to study at over 270 universities across China. Chinese universities often waive IELTS requirements if applicants can provide an MOI certificate or if they are from English-speaking countries. Some universities may even conduct an online interview to check the student’s language skills. The CSC scholarship covers full tuition fees, free university dormitory or accommodation subsidy, a monthly stipend (CNY 3,000–3,500 for graduate students), and comprehensive medical insurance.
3. MEXT Scholarship (Japan)
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers fully funded scholarships to international students at undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. The MEXT scholarship is another great example of scholarships without IELTS.
Students can apply using a certificate from their previous institution confirming that their education was in English. No IELTS or TOEFL is required. The benefits include full tuition fee coverage, monthly stipend (117,000 to 145,000 JPY), round-trip airfare, and preparatory Japanese language courses.
4. DAAD Scholarship (Germany)
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers a wide range of scholarships for international students to study in Germany. Many DAAD-funded programs do not require IELTS scores, making them attractive scholarships without IELTS.
Students can apply using an English Proficiency Certificate from their last academic institution. Some courses are entirely taught in English, especially postgraduate ones in science, engineering, and management. DAAD scholarships cover monthly stipends (around €861 for graduates and €1,200 for PhD students), full tuition fees, travel allowance, health insurance, and study material support.
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5. Kuwait Government Scholarships
Kuwait’s Ministry of Higher Education offers fully funded scholarships to international students, particularly from developing countries. These scholarships support bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies and are among the lesser-known but valuable scholarships without IELTS.
Applicants are not required to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores. An MOI certificate or other proof of English language instruction from previous studies is sufficient. The scholarship covers tuition fees, monthly stipends, accommodation, books, airfare, and other living expenses.
6. University of Brunei Darussalam Scholarship
The University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) offers fully funded scholarships for international students enrolling in bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs. Brunei’s government promotes education as part of national development, and the UBD scholarship reflects this commitment.
Students are not required to submit IELTS scores. If they can provide proof that their previous education was in English, they are eligible. The scholarship provides full tuition, living allowances (around BND 500 per month), free on-campus accommodation, and medical insurance.
7. Hokkaido University Scholarship (Japan)
Hokkaido University, one of Japan’s leading national universities, offers fully funded scholarships for international graduate students. This is another top option in the list of scholarships without IELTS.
The university accepts applicants with MOI certificates and does not mandate IELTS or TOEFL. The scholarship covers tuition, living expenses, and travel.
8. University of Helsinki Scholarships (Finland)
The University of Helsinki offers several scholarships for international students pursuing master’s programs in various fields. These scholarships are fully funded and do not require IELTS, making them part of the growing list of scholarships without IELTS.
Students can apply using a Medium of Instruction certificate and may need to undergo an interview. Scholarship benefits include a full tuition fee waiver, relocation grant, and monthly living allowance.
9. Malaysian Government Scholarships
Malaysia offers a variety of government-funded scholarships such as the MTCP (Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme) and university-specific scholarships like those at UKM and APU. Most of these are scholarships without IELTS and are available for bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD studies.
Applicants can provide proof of previous English-based education. These scholarships cover full tuition, monthly living allowance, travel costs, and sometimes even research funding.
10. University of Saskatchewan Scholarship (Canada)
For students looking to study in Canada, the University of Saskatchewan offers generous scholarships that do not require IELTS. International students can apply using alternative English proficiency documents like MOI certificates.
This one-time scholarship of up to $10,000 CAD is available for undergraduate and graduate students. It covers a portion of tuition and living expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are scholarships without IELTS and how do they work?
Scholarships without IELTS are fully funded or partially funded financial aid programs that do not require an IELTS test score as part of the application. Instead, they accept alternatives like a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate or conduct interviews to assess English language proficiency.
Can I apply for scholarships without IELTS in 2025–26 as an international student?
Yes, many universities and governments offer scholarships without IELTS for international students in the 2025–26 academic year. These scholarships are available at undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels and often accept MOI or other English proof documents.
What documents are required to apply for scholarships without IELTS?
To apply for scholarships without IELTS, you usually need a valid passport, academic transcripts, recommendation letters, a statement of purpose, and a Medium of Instruction certificate from your previous school or university confirming that your education was in English.
Are scholarships without IELTS accepted by top universities?
Yes, many top universities in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East accept scholarships without IELTS. Institutions like the University of Brunei Darussalam, Hokkaido University, and the University of Helsinki offer programs that allow students to apply without IELTS scores.
Which countries offer the most scholarships without IELTS?
Countries like Turkey, China, Japan, Germany, Malaysia, Kuwait, and Finland are known for offering a wide range of scholarships without IELTS. These nations provide fully funded opportunities that include tuition, accommodation, and monthly stipends.
