IELTS can be expensive to take. You might also find that there are no test centres near you and you’ll have to wait for a date to take the test. This can eat up a lot of time for students.
Some fully funded scholarships don’t require you to take IELTS. I’ve listed the dates as of November 2026. Some scholarships for 2027 haven’t been published yet. Always check the official pages to make sure.
What Does “No IELTS Required” Really Mean?
Usually, this doesn’t mean you don’t need to prove your English skills at all. It just means you can prove them through an alternative. This could include:
- Alternative English tests (TOEFL/PTE/Cambridge English).
- A letter from your previous school stating that your degree was taught in English.
- A language course in the host country.
- Government tests (such as embassy tests in Japan).
Each university will have different rules. Always check before paying for any tests.
Open Now or Coming Soon
1. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)
The Chinese Government Scholarship allows students to study for a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree in China.
For English-taught programmes, each university will have its own requirements. If you’re studying a Chinese-taught programme, you’ll be required to provide an HSK score.
Application Dates and Deadline
The Chinese Embassy in Indonesia opened applications for 2027/28 on 27th October. The deadline is 14th February 2027.
- Application method: Online only.
- Other countries will have different dates.
- Results will be announced in July/August 2027.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
- Tuition fees.
- Accommodation or accommodation allowance.
- Monthly stipend (undergraduates received 2,500 yuan in the last cycle).
- Medical insurance.
Flights to China are not covered according to the notice in Indonesia.
Requirements
- Undergraduate applicants must be 25 or younger and have graduated from high school.
- CSCA test score report.
- Letter from a Chinese university accepting you.
- Study plan (minimum 200 words).
- Police certificate from the last 6 months.
- Passport valid for 12 months after the start date.
- Physical examination form if staying in China for longer than 6 months.
2. Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship (Hungary)
Over 30 Hungarian universities participate in this scholarship. It covers tuition fees, a monthly stipend, and accommodation.
In the last cycle, bachelor’s and master’s students received a stipend of HUF 43,700 per month, which isn’t enough to cover everything.
Application Dates and Deadline
The 2027/28 application dates have not been published yet.
Last year, the portal opened on 17th November and closed on 15th January at 2 p.m. (Central European Time).
Expect something similar, although this is just a guess.
English Language Requirements
Most English-taught programmes require you to have a B2 level of English.
However, one university in Hungary allows you not to provide a certificate if English is your first language or if your entire degree was taught in English. You’ll need a letter to prove this. Other universities may not allow this.
How to Apply
- Register online for the programme you want.
- Contact your sending partner in your country, as they’ll have their own deadline.
- Upload your documents.
- You’ll then be nominated by your country.
- Sit an entrance exam or interview for the university if required.
Results usually come in June/July.
3. Türkiye Bursları Scholarship (Turkey)
The university will be chosen for you.
The scholarship covers:
- Tuition fees.
- Accommodation.
- Monthly stipend.
- Health insurance.
- Flight tickets.
It is free to apply.
Application Dates
The application window has always been between 10th January and 20th February. The dates are not confirmed for 2027.
Usually, interviews take place between April and June. Results come in early August.
English Language Requirements
Many courses are taught in Turkish. If you’re offered one of these, you’ll have to complete a year of Turkish language courses.
No English test is required. English-taught courses may require you to prove your English skills. Different sources say different things about how strict this requirement is.
Look at the list of courses on the official page.
Important Application Rule
Only apply once. If you apply twice, it can cause all of your applications to be cancelled, according to one guide.
4. KAUST Fellowship (Saudi Arabia)
The KAUST Fellowship is for master’s and PhD students.
It covers:
- Tuition fees.
- Accommodation.
- Health insurance.
- Monthly stipend.
PhD students receive around $25,000 to $30,000 per year.
Application Deadline
The application closes on 3rd January 2027 for Fall 2027.
There is no application fee.
English Language Requirements
You can use TOEFL, PTE, or Cambridge English instead of IELTS.
You can apply without providing a score; however, you must meet the criteria before starting.
One guide says you cannot provide a letter from your previous school. Only some universities offering in-person courses from the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand don’t require you to take the test.
Check the official page.
Required Documents
- Transcripts.
- CV.
- Personal statement.
- Three referee contact details.
- Passport page.
5. TaiwanICDF Scholarship (Taiwan)
This scholarship is available for bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD students.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
- Tuition fees.
- Accommodation.
- Monthly living allowance.
- Return flight.
- Health insurance.
It is only available for students from partner countries.
Application Dates and Deadline
- Opening date: 1st December 2026.
- Closing date: 15th March 2027.
You’ll need to apply twice: once to TaiwanICDF and once to the university.
English requirements will depend on the university. Check with them first.
Closed Scholarships
6. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
The Global Korea Scholarship is offered by South Korea.
It covers:
- Tuition fees.
- Monthly stipend.
- Korean language lessons.
- Flight tickets.
Undergraduate students do not require an English test.
Bachelor’s students will complete a year of Korean language study and then 4–6 years of their degree.
Selection and Application Details
286 students were selected this round.
- 88 places were available in the general embassy scheme for 74 countries.
- You had to be from an eligible country.
- Applicants had to be born after 1st March 2002.
- The embassy route closed on 30th September 2026.
- The university route ran until November.
Dates vary per school, so there may be a few still open.
Winners will be contacted on 7th January 2027.
Graduate Scholarship Route
The graduate route usually opens around February.
UNIST says it will require an English test report in 2027. However, it does not have to be IELTS.
7. MEXT Scholarship (Japan)
The MEXT Scholarship is offered by Japan.
It covers:
- Tuition fees.
- Monthly stipend.
- Flight tickets.
Instead of providing IELTS, you’ll take tests at your embassy.
Required Tests
At the embassy I checked, undergraduate applicants had to sit Japanese, English, and maths tests.
If you’re applying for a natural science degree, you’ll also have to sit a chemistry test and either physics or biology.
Application Dates
Embassy deadlines were in May/June 2026.
- UAE closed on 22nd May.
- Georgia closed on 5th June.
Results come by mid-February 2027.
Some embassies only accept paper applications. Another embassy had a maximum birth date of 2nd April 2002.
Check the age requirements for your country.
Next Application Round
The next round is likely to open in Spring 2027. No dates are available yet.
8. Chevening Scholarship (UK)
The Chevening Scholarship covers:
- Tuition fees.
- Living allowance.
- Travel expenses.
No English test is required. However, you’ll need an offer from a UK course. This may require an IELTS or alternative English test.
Application Deadline
The 2027/28 deadline was 6th October 2026, according to one site.
Check the official page. Next application dates are not available yet.
Things to Avoid When Applying for Scholarships
1. Don’t Rely on Dates from Blogs
Many blogs say Türkiye’s application window is definite. However, it’s just the usual pattern.
Always check the official scholarship website for confirmed dates.
2. Don’t Apply for Documents Too Early
Police certificates and physical examination documents for China will expire after 6 months.
Make sure you prepare them at the right time.
3. Don’t Pay Someone to Apply for You
Türkiye Bursları and KAUST have no application fee.
You can apply yourself through their official application systems.
What to Do Tomorrow
Contact the university you’re most interested in and ask what English proof they accept instead of IELTS.
Ask them to reply via email so you have it in writing in case things change.