If the IELTS fee — or the test itself — is the one thing standing between you and a scholarship application, you are not alone. Thousands of students across Pakistan, Central Asia, and Africa search every year for scholarships without IELTS. The good news: several major scholarship programmes accept alternatives to IELTS, or waive the English requirement entirely under certain conditions.
This guide explains which well-known scholarships are flexible about English proof, what alternatives they accept, and what to check before you apply.
IELTS is expensive and not available in every city. Scholarship providers know this. Many accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate — a letter from your university confirming your previous degree was taught in English — instead of IELTS or TOEFL. Others accept Duolingo English Test, PTE Academic, or a university's own language assessment.
The key rule: the waiver policy is set by the host university or the scholarship programme, not by rumor. Always verify on the official page for the 2027 intake before skipping the test.
MEXT (Japan): The Japanese government's MEXT scholarship does not require IELTS. Applicants go through document screening, written exams, and interviews run by Japanese embassies. English proficiency helps, but no standardized test score is demanded.
DAAD (Germany): Many DAAD postgraduate programmes accept a Medium of Instruction certificate or other proof of English, especially for English-taught courses. Requirements vary by programme — the DAAD scholarship database lists the exact language requirement for each course.
Erasmus Mundus (EU): Each Erasmus Mundus Joint Master sets its own language requirement. Many accept MOI certificates or Duolingo in addition to IELTS/TOEFL. Check the specific consortium's admission page, since policies differ between programmes.
Turkey Burslari: Turkey's government scholarship historically does not require IELTS or TOEFL at the application stage. Selected candidates receive a free one-year Turkish language course before starting their degree.
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC): For English-taught programmes, many Chinese universities accept an MOI certificate instead of IELTS. For Chinese-taught programmes, HSK requirements apply instead.
KAUST Fellowship (Saudi Arabia): KAUST's admission focuses on academic excellence and interviews. English proficiency is assessed through the application and interview process rather than a single mandatory test score.
University-specific waivers: Many universities in Germany, Norway, Poland, Hungary, and Malaysia waive IELTS if your previous degree was taught in English. The MOI letter from your registrar's office is usually sufficient.
A Medium of Instruction certificate is a one-page letter from your university's registrar or examinations office stating that your degree programme was conducted entirely in English. Most universities in Pakistan issue these on request, sometimes for a small fee. Request it early — administrative offices can take weeks.
"Without IELTS" does not mean "without any English proof." Almost every programme requires *something*: an MOI letter, an interview in English, or an alternative test. Submitting zero evidence of English ability is the fastest way to get rejected.
Also note that visa authorities are separate from universities. A university may waive IELTS, but the embassy processing your student visa might still ask for a language test. Check both.
1. Pick 3–4 target scholarships and read their official 2027 language requirements.
2. Request your MOI certificate from your university now — don't wait for deadlines.
3. If a programme is ambiguous, email their admissions office. A short, polite email can save you a wasted application.
Browse the latest fully funded scholarships on Parwaz and check each listing's requirements section. For help writing the rest of your application, see our application guides on SOPs and recommendation letters.