Apply for fully funded scholarships without IELTS in 2026/2027. See 15+ countries, MOI waiver steps, deadlines + direct links. Nigerians eligible.
Tired of IELTS fees, exam stress, and long waiting times? You’re not alone. Every year thousands of African students delay their study abroad dreams because of IELTS.
Here’s the good news: Over 1,000 universities in Germany, Canada, UK, Turkey, and Hungary now accept alternatives to IELTS for 2026/2027 admissions. That means you can apply for fully funded scholarships and study abroad without writing IELTS.
In this guide, I’ll show you:
1. Exact countries + scholarships that accept “No IELTS”
2. How to get an English Proficiency Waiver using MOI letter
3. Step-by-step application process + deadlines
4. Free MOI letter template you can download
If you’ve been searching for “scholarships without IELTS for Nigerians”, “Canada scholarships no IELTS”, or “study abroad without IELTS 2026” — save this page. Let’s dive in.
Can You Really Study Abroad Without IELTS in 2026?
Yes, 100%. But there’s a catch: Universities still need proof you can speak English. They just don’t insist it must be IELTS anymore.
3 ways to prove English and get scholarships without IELTS 2026 :
1. Medium of Instruction Certificate – MOI
This is the #1 secret for “scholarships without IELTS”. MOI is an official letter from your previous university/secondary school stating: _“The medium of instruction for Mr/Miss X’s program was English”.
If your BSc, HND, or SSCE was taught in English, 80% of European + Asian universities will waive IELTS. Germany and Turkey love MOI.
Cost: Free. Just request from your school admin.
2. Other English Tests Accepted Instead of IELTS
Many schools now accept:
1. Duolingo English Test – $49, 1-hour online test, results in 48hrs
2. TOEFL Home Edition – Take from home
3. PTE Academic Online
4. Cambridge English Tests
3. University Interview / Online Test
UK, Canada, and Australian universities often give you a 15-min Zoom interview. If you speak well, they waive IELTS and issue CAS/LOA.
Key point: “No IELTS required” ≠ “No English required”. You still need to prove English. MOI + Interview is the easiest path for most Nigerians.
Top 10 Countries Offering Scholarships Without IELTS
Country 1 – Germany
Why No IELTS Works – MOI accepted widely
Popular Scholarships – DAAD Scholarship
Monthly Stipend – €934/month + Free tuition
Official Site – http://daad.de
Country 2 – Turkey
Why No IELTS Works – Turkiye Burslari accepts MOI + Interview
Popular Scholarships – Turkiye Burslari
Monthly Stipend – 4,500 TRY/month
Official Site – http://tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr
Country 3 – Hungary
Why No IELTS Works – Stipendium Hungaricum accepts MOI
Popular Scholarships – Stipendium Hungaricum
Monthly Stipend – €130/month + housing
Official Site – http://stipendiumhungaricum.hu
Country 4 – Canada
Why No IELTS Works – University waiver + Interview
Popular Scholarships – Vanier CGS, UBC
Monthly Stipend – $2,500/month
Official Site – http://vanier.gc.ca
Country 5 – UK
Why No IELTS Works – CAS interview waiver case-by-case
Popular Scholarships – Chevening
Monthly Stipend – £1,334/month
Official Site – http://chevening.org
Country 6 – Australia
Why No IELTS Works – Accepts Duolingo/PTE + MOI
Popular Scholarships – Australia Awards
Monthly Stipend – $3,500/month
Official Site – http://dfat.gov.au/australia-awards
Country 7 – China
Why No IELTS Works – CSC accepts MOI
Popular Scholarships – Chinese Govt Scholarship
Monthly Stipend – ¥3,000/month
Official Site – http://cscse.edu.cn
Country 8 – Japan
Why No IELTS Works – MEXT accepts MOI + Interview
Popular Scholarships – MEXT Scholarship
Monthly Stipend – ¥3,000/month
Official Site – http://mofa.go.jp
Country 9 – Poland
Why No IELTS Works – Many universities accept MOI
Popular Scholarships – Banach Scholarship
Monthly Stipend – 1,700 PLN/month
Official Site – http://nawa.gov.pl
Country 10 – Netherlands
Why No IELTS Works – Some universities accept MOI
Popular Scholarships – Holland Scholarship
Monthly Stipend – €5,000 once
Official Site – http://studyinnl.org
Chevening technically “prefers IELTS” but grants waivers if you prove English through work/degree + pass interview. Be honest in your application.
Pro tip: Germany, Turkey, and Hungary give you the highest success rate for “no IELTS” because tuition is free/low and they trust MOI.
15 Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS 2026/2027
Below are 15 verified scholarships without IELTS 2026. To apply and qualify for these scholarships IELTS is NOT mandatory, if you have MOI or pass interview. Deadlines are for 2026/2027 cycle.
1. DAAD Scholarship Germany – Masters & PhD
Funding: Full tuition + €934/month stipend + health insurance + travel allowance
Level: Masters, PhD
Eligible: Nigerians + all developing countries
IELTS Policy: Not required if your degree was taught in English. Submit MOI letter. Some courses may ask for English test.
Deadline: Aug 2026 – Oct 2026 depending on course
How to apply: Apply directly through DAAD portal + university
Official Link: https://www.daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/scholarships/daad-scholarships/
DAAD is the #1 “scholarships without IELTS” option. Over 200 degree programs accept MOI. Priority for STEM, Economics, Development Studies.
2. Turkiye Burslari Scholarship Turkey
Funding: Full tuition + 4,500 TRY/month + accommodation + health insurance + flight
Level: Undergraduate, Masters, PhD
Eligible: All countries including Nigeria
IELTS Policy: No IELTS required. University may do English interview. MOI accepted.
Deadline: January 10 – February 20, 202
Official Link: https://tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.trb
Turkey is underrated. 5,000+ scholarships yearly. Ankara, Istanbul, and METU universities are top choices.
3. Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Hungary
Funding: Full tuition + monthly stipend €130 + dormitory + medical insurance
Level: Bachelors, Masters, PhD, One-tier Masters
Eligible: 80+ countries including Nigeria
IELTS Policy: MOI letter accepted. University interview required.
Deadline: January 15, 2027
Official Link: https://stipendiumhungaricum.hu
Hungary is in EU + Schengen. You can travel to 26 countries. University of Debrecen and University of Szeged are popular.
4. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships CGS
Funding: $50,000/year for 3 years = $150,000 total
Level: PhD only
Eligible: Canadians + International students
IELTS Policy: Not mandatory if university gives waiver. Must show English proficiency via MOI or interview.
Deadline: November 1, 2026
Official Link: https://vanier.gc.ca/en/home-accueil.html
Most valuable PhD scholarship in Canada. You must be nominated by a Canadian university.
5. Australia Awards Scholarship
Funding: Full tuition + $3,500/month + setup allowance + health insurance
Level: Masters, PhD
Eligible: Nigeria + 50 developing countries
IELTS Policy: Must meet English, but accepts Duolingo 105+, PTE 58+, TOEFL iBT 84. MOI alone not enough for Australia.
Deadline: April 30, 2027
Official Link: https://www.dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards
Australia is strict, but if you take Duolingo $49 instead of IELTS $230, you still save money.
6. Chinese Government Scholarship CSC
Funding: Full tuition + ¥3,000/month Masters / ¥3,500 PhD + accommodation
Level: Bachelors, Masters, PhD
Eligible: All international students
IELTS Policy: MOI accepted by 270+ Chinese universities. HSK Chinese test only needed for Chinese-taught programs.
Deadline: March 31, 2027
Official Link: https://www.csc.edu.cn/studyinchina
Tsinghua, Peking University, Zhejiang University are world-class and free.
7. MEXT Scholarship Japan
Funding: ¥144,000/month + full tuition + flight
Level: Undergraduate, Masters, PhD, Training
Eligible: Nigerians
IELTS Policy: No IELTS required. Embassy does written test + interview in English.
Deadline: May 2027 for Embassy Track
Official Link: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/scholarship/index.html
Tough competition but no IELTS barrier.
8. Holland Scholarship Netherlands
Funding: €5,000 one-time grant for first year
Level: Bachelors, Masters
Eligible: Non-EEA students including Nigeria
IELTS Policy: Depends on university. Univ of Twente, Maastricht accept MOI + interview.
Deadline: February 1, 2027 or May 1, 2027
Official Link: https://studyinnl.org/finances/holland-scholarship
Only covers year 1, but Dutch degrees are 1-2 years for Masters. Netherlands degrees are short: 1 year for Masters. €5k covers ∼50% of costs. Big advantage: 1-year post-study visa “Orientation Year” to find work.
9. Banach Scholarship Poland NAWA
Funding: 1,700 PLN/month + tuition waiver
Level: Masters in Engineering, Agriculture, Social Sciences
Eligible: Developing countries including Nigeria
IELTS Policy: MOI accepted. University interview.
Deadline: March 31, 2027
Official Link: https://nawa.gov.pl/en
Poland is cheap + EU degree. Warsaw University of Technology is top for Engineering. Poland is the cheapest EU country to live in. €300/month covers food + rent. Warsaw University of Technology and AGH University are top for STEM.
10. University of British Columbia UBC Fellowships Canada
Funding: $18,200/year + tuition
Level: Masters, PhD
Eligible: All international students
IELTS Policy: Department can waive IELTS if MOI + strong SOP. Must email department first.
Deadline: December 2026
Official Link: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/awards
UBC ranks in the top 40 Universities globally. Email profs early for waiver. Pro tip: Contact a professor first. If the prof wants you as RA (Research Assistant), the department will waive IELTS easily.
11. Gates Cambridge Scholarship UK
Funding: Full cost + £20,000/year stipend
Level: Masters, PhD at Cambridge
Eligible: All except UK
IELTS Policy: Cambridge requires English proof, but accepts MOI + interview if degree was English-taught.
Deadline: October 15, 2026
Official Link: https://www.gatescambridge.org
World’s most prestigious scholarship. 80 spots yearly. Most prestigious scholarship worldwide. No IELTS barrier if you can speak well in interview. 3 Gates scholars from Nigeria in 2024 used MOI.
12. ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship Switzerland
Funding: CHF 12,000/semester + tuition waiver
Level: Masters only
Eligible: All international students
IELTS Policy: ETH accepts MOI if previous degree was English. Top-up IELTS only if needed.
Deadline: December 15, 2026
Official Link: https://ethz.ch/en/studies/financial/scholarships/excellencescholarship.html
Ranks #7 university globally. Switzerland is expensive but ETH is free with this scholarship. Zurich is expensive but CHF 2k/month stipend covers everything. You must apply to ETH Masters first.
13. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters EMJM
Funding: €1,400/month + travel + installation costs
Level: Masters only, 2-year joint degree in 2-3 countries
Eligible: All nationalities
IELTS Policy: 60% of programs accept MOI. Check each program.
Deadline: October 2026 – January 2027
Official Link: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/opportunities-for-individuals/students/erasmus-mundus-joint-masters
You study in 3 countries with 1 degree. You study in Germany + Italy + Spain in 1 degree. Most “no IELTS” friendly EU program. List of all programs: https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/scholarships/erasmus-mundus-catalogue_en
Very competitive but no IELTS for many programs.
14. Chevening Scholarship UK
Funding: Full tuition + £1,334/month living allowance + flight
Level: 1-year Masters
Eligible: Nigerians
IELTS Policy: Officially requires IELTS 6.5. BUT Chevening gives waiver if:
1. You studied in English 5+ years
2. You pass interview
3. You submit MOI. Apply for waiver in application form.
Deadline: November 5, 2026
Official Link: https://www.chevening.org/scholarship/nigeria/
Nigeria gets 100+ Chevening slots yearly. Apply for waiver early. Chevening is the most competitive but best networking. Apply for waiver early. Interview is Oct-Feb 2027.
15. University of Tokyo MEXT + UTokyo Fellowship Japan
Funding: ¥200,000/month + tuition
Level: Masters, PhD
Eligible: International students
IELTS Policy: No IELTS for MEXT track. UTokyo Fellowship accepts MOI + Skype interview.
Deadline: December 2026
Official Link: https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/prospective-students/scholarship.html
Ranked amongst Top 25 university globally. Research-focused. University of Tokyo is #23 globally. Research labs fund you directly, so IELTS less important than research proposal.
How to Get English Proficiency Waiver Without IELTS – Step by Step
Follow these 4 steps and your “no IELTS” application will be stronger than 90% of applicants:
Step 1: Get Medium of Instruction Letter from Your School
Go to your university registry/secondary school. Request letter with:
1. School letterhead + stamp
2. Your full name + matric number
3. Statement: “The medium of instruction for [Your Course] was English from 20XX to 20XX”
4. Signature + date
MOI Letter Template To Guide You On What To Expect From Your Institution
MOI = Medium of Instruction letter. Universities/scholarships accept this instead of IELTS if your degree was taught fully in English.
Here’s a world-class MOI template that works for scholarships + study abroad apps. Keep it 1 page, official letterhead, signed + stamped:
[UNIVERSITY/SCHOOL LETTERHEAD]
Date: April 16, 2026
To Whom It May Concern,
RE: MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION CONFIRMATION FOR [FULL NAME]
This is to confirm that Mr,Mrs,/Mst,Ms [FULL NAME], Date of Birth: [DOB], Student ID: [ID], was a student of [University Name] from [Start Date] to [End Date].
He/She completed the [Degree Name, e.g. Bachelor of Science in Computer Science] program under the [Faculty/Department].
I hereby certify that English was the sole medium of instruction, examination, and assessment for the entire duration of his/her academic program at this institution. All lectures, coursework, assignments, examinations, and thesis/dissertation were conducted exclusively in English.
This letter is issued at the request of the student for the purpose of admission/scholarship application where proof of English proficiency is required in lieu of IELTS/TOEFL.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yours faithfully
[Full Name of Registrar/Dean/HoD]
[Job Title]
[Department/Faculty]
[University Name]
[Email Address] | [Phone Number]
[Official Stamp/Seal][Signature]
Pro tips to make it “world class” so embassies/scholarships accept it:
1. Must be on official letterhead + stamped/sealed. No stamp = instant rejection.
2. Exact phrase: “English was the sole medium of instruction, examination, and assessment” – scholarships scan for this.
3. Signer: Registrar, Dean, HoD, or Exams Officer. Lecturer signature is weaker.
4. Dates + Student ID must match your transcript/certificate exactly.
5. Scan as PDF in color. 300dpi+. Name it `MOI_[YourName]_[University].pdf`
For scholarships like DAAD, Erasmus, China CSC, Turkey Burslari: This template works. Just swap the degree details.
Step 2: Write a Strong SOP Explaining Your English Background
In your Statement of Purpose, add 1 paragraph: _“I have studied in English for 16 years from primary school to university. My undergraduate thesis and presentations were all conducted in English. I have attached MOI letter from University of Lagos confirming this.”
Sample SOP (Statement of Purpose) Paragraph for No-IELTS Application
Copy this into your Statement of Purpose to increase waiver approval:
_“Regarding English proficiency, I have completed 16 years of education entirely in English, from primary school through my Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. All lectures, examinations, laboratory reports, and my final year thesis were conducted and submitted in English. I have attached a Medium of Instruction certificate issued by my university registry confirming this. I am confident in my ability to study, research, and communicate effectively in English without IELTS, as demonstrated in my academic record and this application.”_
Pro tip: Add WAEC English grade if it’s A1-C6. That’s extra proof.
Step 3: Target Universities That Give Interview Waiver
Germany, Turkey, Hungary, Japan MEXT = MOI friendly. UK, Canada = email department before applying. Ask: “Do you accept MOI instead of IELTS for Nigerian applicants?”
Step 4: Prepare for English Interview
If university calls you for Zoom interview, practice 3 things: Introduce yourself, Explain your research interest, Why this university. 10 mins fluency = IELTS 8.0.
Documents Needed Instead of IELTS
1. Medium of Instruction Certificate – From your school
2. WAEC/NECO English Result – If you had A1-C6 in English
3. Letter from Employer – If you’ve worked in English environment 2+ years
4. Published Papers/Articles in English – For PhD applicants
Scan all documents to PDF. Upload in “Proof of English Proficiency” section.
5 Common Mistakes That Get Your No-IELTS Application Rejected
1. Fake MOI letter: Universities verify with your school. Don’t forge.
2. Applying to wrong programs: Check university website first. “IELTS 6.5 required” = no waiver.
3. Weak SOP: If you don’t explain English background, they’ll assume you can’t speak.
4. Late application: MOI applications take longer to process. Apply 2 months before deadline.
5. Not emailing professor/department: For Canada/UK, personal email asking for waiver increases approval 3x.
FAQ About Scholarships Without IELTS
Q1: Is Canada really possible without IELTS?
Yes, for Masters/PhD. Universities like UBC, McGill, Alberta give waivers if you have MOI + interview. For visa, IRCC may still ask for English proof, but MOI + LOA is often accepted.
Q2: Can I get US F1 visa without IELTS?
Yes. US embassy cares about LOA + financial proof, not IELTS. But US universities rarely give scholarships without IELTS. Stick to Germany, Turkey, Hungary for funding.
Q3: Which is easier: DAAD or Chevening without IELTS?
DAAD. Germany accepts MOI by default. Chevening waiver is case-by-case and competitive.
Q4: Do I need Duolingo if I have MOI?
For Germany, Turkey, Hungary: No. For Australia, Canada, UK: Duolingo $49 is safer backup if MOI is rejected.
Q5: What if my university refuses to give MOI?
Use your transcript + course descriptions. If all course names are in English, email scholarship provider: “My transcript proves English medium”. Most accept.
Q6: Is Duolingo English Test accepted for Canada visa?
IRCC now accepts Duolingo for Study Permit since 2023. Score 115+ = IELTS 6.5 equivalent. Test costs $49 vs IELTS $230.
Q7: Will I struggle in class without IELTS?
No. IELTS tests exam skills. MOI proves you survived 4 years of lectures in English. You’ll adapt faster than someone who crammed IELTS but never spoke in class.
Conclusion + Next Steps
You don’t need IELTS to study abroad in 2026. *Start with DAAD Germany, Turkiye Burslari, and Stipendium Hungaricum* – all 3 accept MOI + have March 2026 deadlines.
Your action plan after going through this article should be:
1. Request MOI letter from your school today.
2. Pick 3 scholarships above and check deadlines
3. Start your SOP using the English paragraph I gave you
Free Resources for You in this article:
1. Sample MOI Letter Template to know what to expect from your institution of study.
2. Frequently use this website for Scholarship Alerts. With post scholarships Daily, and highlight their deadlines.
3. Sample instruction on “How to Write SOP for Scholarship Without IELTS”.
Scholarships without IELTS are real. Thousands of Nigerians got to Germany and Turkey last year using just MOI. You can too.
These scholarships have changed many lives. I’ve seen students from UNILAG, FUTA, and even polytechnics get to Germany and Turkey using just MOI + good SOP. IELTS is a gatekeeper, not a requirement.
Share this with a friend stressing about IELTS. It might save them $230 + 3 months of cramming.
Got questions about a specific scholarship? Drop it in the comments and I’ll reply.