7 Fully Funded Scholarships For International Students That Do Not Require IELTS or TOEFL in 2026
One of the biggest barriers between international students and the scholarships they qualify for is the English language test requirement. IELTS costs approximately £175 in the UK, $250 in the US, or the local equivalent elsewhere. TOEFL costs approximately $220. For students in developing countries, these are significant sums, and failing to meet the minimum score can disqualify an otherwise strong application.
The good news is that several legitimate, fully funded scholarships either waive the IELTS/TOEFL requirement entirely or accept alternative forms of English proficiency evidence. This post covers seven of them — all verified against official sources.
Before the List:Â What “No IELTS Required” Actually Means
There are three distinct situations where you can apply for a scholarship without IELTS or TOEFL:
1. English proficiency waiver for native English speakers or prior English-medium education. Most scholarships will waive the test requirement if English is your first language or if you completed your previous degree at an institution where the medium of instruction was English. This is the most common form of waiver and applies to many scholarships that technically have an English requirement.
2. Scholarships that accept alternative evidence. Some programmes accept a letter from your previous institution confirming English-medium instruction, a portfolio of English-language academic work, or an interview in English instead of a formal test score.
3. Scholarships that genuinely do not require any English evidence. A small number of programmes rely entirely on the application itself, your written statement, academic transcripts, and interview to assess English proficiency without requiring a separate test.
The 7 Scholarships
1. FIAS Fellowship Programme 2027-2028 — France
Stipend: €2,200/month | Location: France | Level: Postdoctoral researchers
The FIAS Fellowship for researchers in the social sciences and humanities does not specify an IELTS or TOEFL requirement in its official documentation. The fellowship is assessed through peer review of your research proposal and academic record — your written application in English serves as evidence of your language capability. Many IAS institutes operate internationally in English and host researchers who do not speak French.
Deadline: 25 June 2026
2. Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarship — Germany
Stipend: €992/month + health insurance | Location: Germany | Level: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD
The FES scholarship is for students already enrolled at a German university, which means you have already been admitted to a German higher education institution, implicitly demonstrating sufficient language capability. The scholarship itself does not add a separate English or German language test requirement on top of your university’s own admission requirements.
3. Global South Fellowship — University of Birmingham
Stipend: £1,500/month + £850 travel | Location: UK/USA | Level: Early-career researchers with PhD
The Global South Fellowship does not list IELTS or TOEFL as a specific application requirement. Eligibility centres on having completed a doctorate and being an early-career researcher from a Global South university. The written application materials, your statement of interest, and research outline serve as the English proficiency assessment in practice. If English was your medium of instruction at university, this is typically sufficient.
Deadline: 29 May 2026
4. AFEP Africa Fellows in Education Program 2026
Grant: $25,000 + up to $25,000 expenses | Location: Home country + international | Level: Early-career researchers
AFEP lists proficiency in English as a requirement, but does not specify IELTS or TOEFL test scores. The requirement is assessed through the application itself, your two-page statement of interest, your essay on an educational problem in your country, and your academic credentials. For researchers who completed graduate education in English, this is typically sufficient without a separate test.
Deadline: 30 June 2026
5. Griots Fellowship — LéO Africa Institute
Value: Skills, platforms, networks, and creative project support | Location: Pan-African | Level: African storytellers and cultural practitioners
The Griots Fellowship does not require IELTS or TOEFL. It is a fellowship for African journalists, writers, filmmakers, and cultural practitioners, assessed through your creative portfolio, your professional background, and your motivation. The application itself demonstrates your language proficiency.
6. AIG Visiting Fellowship — Oxford
Value: Fully funded Oxford experience | Location: UK | Level: Senior Nigerian public sector leaders
The AIG Fellowship targets senior Nigerian public sector professionals for a leadership programme at Oxford. Given that the programme is specifically for Nigerian professionals, where English is the official language of government, education, and public administration, IELTS is not a stated requirement. Your professional record and application materials are the primary evidence of language capability.
7. AFRIKA KOMMT! Fellowship 2026-2028 — Germany
Value: Fully funded professional development + salary in Germany | Location: Germany | Level: Young African professionals
The AFRIKA KOMMT! Fellowship is a professional leadership programme, not an academic scholarship, that places young African professionals with German companies, including Robert Bosch. English and/or German proficiency is assessed through the application and interview process rather than through a standardised test score requirement. Candidates from English-speaking African countries typically do not face a formal IELTS barrier.
Scholarships That Waive IELTS for English-Medium Graduates
Beyond the seven above, these major scholarships on this site will typically waive IELTS or TOEFL if you completed your previous degree at an English-medium institution:
- Chevening Scholarship 2027 — waiver available for English-medium graduates; check your specific university requirements
- Commonwealth Scholarship — English proficiency can be demonstrated through prior English-medium education
- Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship — University of Birmingham accepts English-medium education as evidence
- IHE Delft Scholarship — check IHE Delft’s English proficiency policy for English-medium graduates
For every scholarship on this list, check the official programme website before assuming the waiver applies; policies can change between cycles.
FAQ
Can I apply for a UK scholarship without IELTS if I studied in English? In many cases, yes. Most UK universities, including those that host Chevening and Commonwealth scholars, accept a transcript showing your previous degree was taught in English as evidence of proficiency. Confirm with the specific university before applying.
What alternative evidence is usually accepted instead of IELTS? The most commonly accepted alternatives are: a letter from your previous institution confirming English as the medium of instruction, a transcript from an English-medium university, or, in some cases, an institution-specific English test rather than IELTS/TOEFL.
If I take IELTS, what score do I need for most scholarships? The most common minimum is 6.5 overall on the Academic IELTS with no band below 6.0. Some universities and programmes require 7.0 or above. Check the specific host institution’s requirements — not just the scholarship’s stated minimum.
