Dreaming of studying abroad but worried about IELTS?
You’re not alone — and the good news is, you don’t always need IELTS to get a fully-funded scholarship abroad!
Yes, many top countries and universities now accept alternatives to IELTS, such as Duolingo, TOEFL, or even a simple English proficiency letter from your previous institution.
In this blog post, I’ll show you 15 fully-funded scholarships you can apply for in 2025 without IELTS. Let’s dive in!
1. 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan Government Scholarship
●Open to students from OIC and NAM countries
●Covers tuition, visa, airfare, and monthly stipend
●No IELTS required — English proficiency letter accepted
2. 🇨🇳 Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)
●Offers full funding for undergraduate, master’s & PhDs
●Tuition, accommodation, health insurance, and stipend
●IELTS often not needed — HSK (for Chinese-taught) or English letter accepted
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)
3. 🇩🇪 DAAD Scholarship (Germany)
●For postgraduate courses in Germany
●Full tuition, travel allowance, health insurance, and monthly payments
●Many programs waive IELTS if your previous degree was in English
4. 🇪🇺 Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
●Study in 2-3 countries in Europe with one master’s degree
●Full tuition, travel allowance, and living stipend
●IELTS optional — some programs accept TOEFL, Duolingo, or English proficiency letter
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree
5. 🇺🇸 Fulbright Scholarship (USA)
●Covers tuition, living expenses, travel, and insurance
●Available for master’s and PhD programs
●IELTS not always mandatory — alternative tests may be accepted
6. 🇬🇧 Gates Cambridge Scholarship (UK)
●Funded by the Gates Foundation at the University of Cambridge
●Full tuition, living costs, and visa support
●Some departments waive IELTS if your degree was in English
Gates Cambridge Scholarship (UK)
7. 🇷🇺 Russian Government Scholarship
●100% tuition + monthly allowance + accommodation
●Study in top Russian universities
●IELTS not required — alternative English proof accepted
8. 🇲🇾 Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)
●Covers tuition fees and monthly living allowance
●Study in public Malaysian universities
●No IELTS — English proficiency letter accepted from previous institution
9. 🇹🇷 Turkey Burslari Scholarship
●Fully funded by the Turkish government for all degree levels
●Includes tuition, accommodation, health insurance, and flights
●No IELTS needed — English language proof from previous education allowed
Turkey Burslari Scholarship
10. 🇸🇦 King Abdulaziz University Scholarship (Saudi Arabia)
●Full scholarship for master’s and PhD students
●Monthly stipend, accommodation, healthcare, and flight tickets
●IELTS may be waived — English proficiency certificate is often enough
11. 🇮🇹 Italian Government Scholarship
●Open to international students pursuing master’s and PhDs
●Tuition fee waiver, monthly stipend, and health insurance
●Many universities accept English-taught degree proof instead of IELTS
12. 🇭🇺 Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)
●Covers tuition, accommodation, health insurance, and stipend
●For bachelor’s, master’s & PhD
●IELTS not required at many Hungarian universities
Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship
13. 🇮🇩 Indonesian Government Scholarship (KNB)
●For bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs
●Includes tuition, living allowance, health insurance, and language course
●No IELTS needed — just provide an English proficiency letter
14. 🇲🇽 Mexico Government Scholarship
●Available for international students from over 180 countries
●Includes tuition, living costs, and visa support
●IELTS not required — must provide English (or Spanish) proficiency letter
15. 🇮🇷 Islamic University of Iran Scholarship
●For international students from Muslim-majority countries
●Covers full tuition, accommodation, and stipend
●IELTS not required — English/Arabic proficiency letter accepted
✅ Final Tip:
When applying, always check the language requirements on each university’s website. Many accept an English Proficiency Letter from your previous institution if your studies were in English.
