I remember the exact moment I almost gave up on my dream of studying abroad. I was staring at my screen, looking at a prestigious scholarship, and my eyes locked onto the words: "Proof of English Proficiency: IELTS/TOEFL required." My stomach dropped. The test fees were high, the preparation was stressful, and the nearest test center was hours away.
If you are reading this, I am willing to bet you feel the exact same anxiety. You see a fully funded scholarship, a chance to change your life and you think, "This is amazing, but I’ll never clear the English test."
Here is the life tip I wish someone had given me back then: IELTS is not the only way.
In fact, for the 2026 intake, dozens of countries and universities have realized that requiring IELTS for every student is redundant. If you have already been taught in English throughout your school or university, why should you have to take another test to prove what you already know?
That is where the "Medium of Instruction" (MOI) certificate comes in. This simple piece of paper is your golden ticket to bypassing the IELTS and securing a fully funded scholarship. In this guide, I am going to walk you through exactly what an MOI is, how to get one, and reveal 15 fully funded scholarships for 2026 that explicitly accept it.
What is a Medium of Instruction (MOI) Certificate? (Your IELTS Alternative)
Think of an MOI certificate as a formal letter from your previous school or university. It’s a document that officially states, "We confirm that [Your Name] completed their [Degree Name] at our institution, and the sole medium of instruction for this program was English."
Why do universities accept this?
It’s simple logic. If you successfully graduated from a school where the classes, exams, and textbooks were all in English, you obviously understand the language. Universities trust their peer institutions. They know that if you passed a degree in English, you can handle a Master’s in English.
How to get your MOI Certificate (Template Included)
You might be thinking, "This sounds too bureaucratic." Trust me, it’s easier than studying for the IELTS.
You need to request this from the registrar’s office, the examinations department, or the administrative head of the college you graduated from.
Here is a template you can use. Copy and paste this into a formal letter addressed to your university registrar:
Once you have that stamped letter, you are ready to compete for almost any scholarship on this list.
The Big List: 15 Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS for 2026
Here is the moment you’ve been waiting for. I have curated a list of 15 prestigious scholarships that either explicitly waive IELTS if you have an MOI or have programs that don't require it. Pay close attention to the "IELTS Alternative" section for each.
1. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
- Country: Germany
- Coverage: Full tuition, monthly stipend (€934 for graduates, €1,300 for PhDs), health insurance, travel allowance.
- IELTS Alternative: MOI Accepted. Germany is a pioneer in tuition-free education. While many DAAD programs are in English, they understand that international students come from English-medium schools. You can submit an MOI certificate from your previous university. If your university cannot provide one, a letter from a professor confirming your coursework was in English is sometimes accepted .
2. CSC Chinese Government Scholarship (China)
- Country: China
- Coverage: Full tuition, free accommodation or housing subsidy, comprehensive medical insurance, and a monthly stipend (approx. 3,000 CNY for Master's, 3,500 CNY for PhD).
- IELTS Alternative: MOI Accepted. China is aggressively recruiting international students for their English-taught programs. For the 2026 intake, universities like Chang'an University explicitly state that you can be exempt from providing IELTS if you have a certificate from your previous institution proving the instruction was in English .
3. MEXT Scholarships (Japan)
- Country: Japan
- Coverage: Full tuition, monthly allowance (approx. 143,000 Yen for research students), and round-trip airfare.
- IELTS Alternative: University Assessment. The Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship is unique. You don't always apply directly to the university first; you often go through the Japanese Embassy in your country. If you are applying for an English-taught program, the embassy or the university will assess your English proficiency through interviews or other documentation. An MOI certificate strengthens your case significantly .
4. Türkiye Burslari (Turkey)
- Country: Turkey
- Coverage: Full tuition, monthly stipend (approx. 4,500 TL for undergrads, 6,500 TL for Master's, 9,000 TL for PhD), accommodation, health insurance, and a one-year Turkish language course.
- IELTS Alternative: MOI Accepted. Turkey is one of the most generous scholarship providers. While they recommend IELTS, they accept an MOI certificate for admission to English-taught programs. However, remember that part of their scholarship includes learning Turkish, which is a huge bonus for your CV .
5. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (Europe)
- Country: Multiple (Europe)
- Coverage: Full tuition, a monthly living stipend (approx. €1,100 - €1,400), and travel/installation costs.
- IELTS Alternative: MOI Accepted (Program Specific). This is a bit tricky but worth it. Erasmus Mundus is a collection of programs run by consortia of European universities. While some programs ask for IELTS, many accept MOI. For example, the WOP-P (Work, Organizational, and Personnel Psychology) program accepts students from diverse backgrounds and evaluates English proficiency holistically . You must check the specific program’s website, but don't assume you need IELTS.
6. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)
- Country: USA
- Coverage: Full tuition, living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and even computer funding.
- IELTS Alternative: Selection Process Waiver. Here is a life tip most people don't know: For the Fulbright program, you don't need IELTS at the time of application. If you are selected as a finalist, the program often provides you with financial support to take the TOEFL or pays for the test. The selection is based on your merit and essays, not a pre-existing test score .
7. Gates Cambridge Scholarships (UK)
- Country: UK
- Coverage: Full cost of study at the University of Cambridge (tuition, maintenance allowance of £20,000+, airfare, visa costs).
- IELTS Alternative: Degree Taught in English. To get into Cambridge, you must meet the university's English requirements. However, Cambridge University grants an exemption if you have completed a full degree that was taught and assessed in English. Therefore, if you have an undergraduate degree in English, you can apply for the Gates Cambridge scholarship without sitting for IELTS .
8. Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)
- Country: Hungary
- Coverage: Full tuition, monthly stipend (HUF 43,700 for Bachelor/Master, HUF 140,000 for PhD), accommodation contribution, and medical insurance.
- IELTS Alternative: MOI Accepted. Hungary is a popular destination, and this government scholarship is very student-friendly. They explicitly allow applicants to submit an MOI certificate instead of a language test, provided their previous studies were in English.
9. Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP)
- Country: South Korea
- Coverage: Full tuition, monthly stipend (approx. 1,000,000 KRW), settlement allowance, research support, and medical insurance.
- IELTS Alternative: MOI + Professor Evaluation. For English-taught tracks, you can submit an MOI. Additionally, if you are applying for research programs, your potential supervisor's evaluation of your English skills (often via a Skype interview) can carry as much weight as a test score.
10. Russian Government Scholarships (Open Doors Olympiad)
- Country: Russia
- Coverage: Full tuition and monthly stipend for the entire duration of your study.
- IELTS Alternative: MOI Accepted. The "Open Doors" project is a unique Olympiad for Master's and PhD students. If you win the Olympiad, you get a scholarship. They accept MOI certificates for English-taught programs. You prove your proficiency by passing the subject-specific Olympiad, not an English test.
11. Azerbaijani Government Scholarship
- Country: Azerbaijan
- Coverage: Full tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, and travel costs.
- IELTS Alternative: MOI Accepted. Azerbaijan is an emerging hub for international students. Their government scholarship is open to applicants from OIC and NAM member countries. They accept a certificate confirming your previous education was in English.
12. Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) - Academia Sinica
- Country: Taiwan
- Coverage: Full tuition waiver, monthly stipend (approx. NT$34,000), and on-campus accommodation.
- IELTS Alternative: MOI Accepted. TIGP is a prestigious program for PhDs in STEM fields. Academia Sinica is a world-class research institution. They accept an MOI certificate from your Bachelor's or Master's institution as proof of English proficiency.
13. Nanjing University Scholarships (China)
- Country: China
- Coverage: Full or partial tuition waiver, monthly stipend, and accommodation.
- IELTS Alternative: MOI Accepted. As one of China's top universities, Nanjing University follows the CSC guidelines but also offers its own university scholarships. They routinely waive English tests for students who can prove their prior education was in English.
14. Norwegian Universities (Various)
- Country: Norway
- Coverage: While Norwegian public universities generally do not charge tuition fees, scholarships for living costs are available.
- IELTS Alternative: MOI Accepted. Norway is expensive to live in, but the tuition is free. Scholarships here are usually for living stipends. Universities like the University of Oslo accept MOI certificates for their Master's programs taught in English.
15. Australia Awards Scholarships
- Country: Australia
- Coverage: Full tuition, return airfare, establishment allowance, contribution to living expenses (CLE), and health insurance.
- IELTS Alternative: MOI + University Confirmation. Australia is usually strict about English, but for select programs and partner countries, the Australia Awards allow for flexibility. If you have an MOI and you receive a "Confirmation of Acceptance" from the university stating you meet their English requirements, the Department of Home Affairs will accept this for the visa.
Your Action Plan: How to Apply Without IELTS
Now you have the list. But knowing is only half the battle. Here is how you execute this plan for the 2026 intake.
1. Secure Your MOI Immediately (Today)
Don't wait. Email your university using the template I provided above. It might take them weeks to process the request. If you are still in your final year, you can request a "Provisional" or "To Whom It May Concern" letter stating that your current program is conducted in English.
2. Match Your Profile to the Scholarship
If you are from Africa, pay close attention to Türkiye Burslari, DAAD, and Stipendium Hungaricum as they have strong historical ties and dedicated quotas for African students .
3. Read the "Language Requirements" Page Twice
When you visit the scholarship website, look for a section that says "Exemption," "Waiver," or "English Proficiency." If it says "Applicants who have completed a degree in an English-speaking country," don't panic. Scroll down. Usually, there is a second line: "or at an institution where English is the medium of instruction." That means you qualify.
The Final Word (And A Life Tip)
I want to leave you with this thought: Don't let a test score define your worth. Your intelligence is not measured by IELTS, and your potential is not capped by TOEFL.
These 15 scholarships prove that the world is shifting towards trusting your actual academic background rather than a single test result. Your job now is to get that MOI certificate, polish your Statement of Purpose, and apply.
Your future desk is waiting for you in Germany, Japan, or Turkey. Go claim it.
