Scholarships without IELTS: Few scholarships truly need no English proof, but there are legitimate ways around IELTS. Learn what MOI letters, other tests and language-friendly programmes can and cannot do.
“Scholarship without IELTS” is one of the most searched phrases among Pakistani students, and one of the most abused by websites that promise things they cannot deliver. The honest answer: almost every scholarship wants some proof of English, but IELTS is not the only proof.
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The legitimate alternatives to IELTS
- Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate: a letter from your previous university confirming your degree was taught and examined in English. Some universities accept it, others do not, and the scholarship may still ask for a test.
- Other accepted tests: TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test and Cambridge exams are accepted by many institutions. Always check the specific programme.
- Programmes taught in another language: courses in Chinese, Turkish or German need language proof for that language instead.
- Interview or university test: a few universities assess English themselves.
Scholarship examples and what to check
| Chevening | Has its own English requirement and UK universities set theirs. See our Chevening guide. |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth | Requires you to meet your UK university’s English rules. See Commonwealth Scholarship 2027-28. |
| Erasmus Mundus | Every consortium sets its own requirement, and some accept alternatives. See our guide. |
| China (CSC) | Depends on the programme language: Chinese-taught courses need Chinese, English-taught need English proof. |
| Türkiye Burslari | Language needs depend on the programme. Read the official call. |
A safe step-by-step method
- Pick the scholarship first, then the university programme.
- Open the programme page and find “English language requirements”.
- Look for the words MOI, waiver, exemption or alternative test.
- Email the admissions office and ask politely whether an MOI letter will be accepted for your intake. Keep the reply.
- Request your MOI from your university early. It can take weeks.
Warning: do not trust these claims
- Agents who promise “100% no IELTS visa” or “guaranteed scholarship”
- Websites that ask you to pay a fee for a scholarship application
- Programmes that cannot name the official university or award body
Read more about scams in our guide on spotting online scams.
Scholarships without IELTS: frequently asked questions
Is the MOI accepted for a UK or US student visa?
Visa rules are separate from university and scholarship rules. Check the official government visa page for your destination.
Is Duolingo accepted?
Many universities accept it, but not all scholarships do. Confirm in writing.
