Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS 2027: 10 With December Deadlines
Quick Answer: Yes — you can win fully funded scholarships without IELTS in 2027. The top 10 include Yenching Academy (China), Türkiye Burslari (Turkey), Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary), CSC China, MEXT Japan, GKS Korea, MBZUAI (UAE), DAAD Germany, Open Doors Russia, and NPU China. Most accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate instead of IELTS. Several deadlines fall in November–December 2026, so apply now.
IELTS stopping your study-abroad dream? It doesn't have to. In 2027, dozens of fully funded scholarships let you apply without IELTS — using a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate or English proficiency letter from your university instead.
This guide lists 10 fully funded scholarships without IELTS for the 2027 intake, with December 2026 deadlines highlighted. Every scholarship here covers tuition, living costs, and more — no IELTS score required.
What Is an MOI Certificate? (And Why It Replaces IELTS)
MOI stands for Medium of Instruction. It is an official letter from your previous university confirming that your degree was taught entirely in English. Many scholarship programs and universities accept it as proof of English proficiency — no IELTS or TOEFL needed.
To get one: visit your university's registrar or examinations office and request a Medium of Instruction Certificate on official letterhead. Most universities issue it within a few days, often free of charge.
10 Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS 2027
1. Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027 — Peking University, China
A fully funded 2-year master's in China Studies at China's top university. Covers tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend, and travel. No IELTS for native English speakers or graduates of English-taught programs.
Deadline: November 30, 2026 (9:00 AM Beijing time)
Level: Master's | Official site: yenchingacademy.pku.edu.cn
2. Türkiye Burslari Scholarship 2027 — Turkey
Turkey's flagship government scholarship: full tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, one year of free Turkish language courses, and a return flight ticket. MOI certificate accepted — no IELTS required.
Deadline: Expected February 2027 (applications open January)
Level: Bachelor's, Master's, PhD | Official site: turkiyeburslari.gov.tr
3. Stipendium Hungaricum 2027 — Hungary
Hungary's fully funded government scholarship covering tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation contribution, and medical insurance. Accepts MOI/English proficiency certificates conditionally — a favorite for students avoiding IELTS.
Deadline: Expected January 2027 (applications open November 2026)
Level: Bachelor's, Master's, PhD | Official site: stipendiumhungaricum.hu
4. CSC — Chinese Government Scholarship 2027
One of the world's largest scholarship programs: full tuition, free dormitory, monthly stipend (3,000–3,500 RMB), and medical insurance. Many Chinese universities accept MOI certificates from English-medium graduates — no IELTS needed.
Deadline: November 2026 – April 2027 (varies by university)
Level: Bachelor's, Master's, PhD | Official site: campuschina.org
5. MEXT Scholarship 2027 — Japan
Japan's prestigious government scholarship: full tuition, monthly stipend (~144,000 JPY), regional allowance, and round-trip airfare. The embassy-recommended track does not require IELTS — selection is by documents, exam, and interview.
Deadline: Varies by country (typically May–June 2026 for 2027 intake — check your local Japanese embassy)
Level: Undergraduate, Master's, PhD | Official site: studyinjapan.go.jp
6. GKS — Global Korea Scholarship 2027 — South Korea
South Korea's fully funded program: tuition, monthly stipend, settlement allowance, Korean language training, and airfare. IELTS is not mandatory — English proficiency can be shown through MOI or university documents.
Deadline: Varies by track (typically February–March 2027)
Level: Undergraduate, Graduate | Official site: studyinkorea.go.kr
7. MBZUAI Scholarship 2027 — UAE
The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence offers fully funded M.Sc. and PhD programs in machine learning, computer vision, and NLP — with stipend, housing, and insurance. English proficiency alternatives to IELTS are accepted.
Deadline: December 15, 2026
Level: Master's, PhD | Official site: mbzuai.ac.ae
8. DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027 — Germany
Germany's DAAD funds postgraduate courses with full tuition (often zero fees at public universities), monthly stipend (~934–1,300 EUR), travel, and insurance. Many programs accept MOI certificates instead of IELTS.
Deadline: August – November 2026 (varies by program — check now)
Level: Master's, PhD | Official site: daad.de
9. Open Doors Scholarship 2027 — Russia
Russia's Olympiad-based scholarship for bachelor's, master's, and PhD: full tuition plus stipend, with no IELTS requirement — selection is through an online competition, not language tests.
Deadline: November 1, 2026
Level: Bachelor's, Master's, PhD | Official site: od.globaluni.ru
10. NPU President Scholarship (CSC) 2027 — China
Northwestern Polytechnical University's CSC-track scholarship: tuition, accommodation, insurance, plus 3,000–3,500 RMB monthly stipend. IELTS explicitly not required — MOI accepted.
Deadline: December 31, 2026 (Batch 1)
Level: Master's, PhD | Info: via university international admissions page
December 2026 Deadlines at a Glance
| Scholarship | Deadline | IELTS? |
|---|---|---|
| Open Doors Russia | Nov 1, 2026 | Not required |
| Yenching Academy | Nov 30, 2026 | Waived for English-medium grads |
| MBZUAI UAE | Dec 15, 2026 | Alternatives accepted |
| NPU China (Batch 1) | Dec 31, 2026 | MOI accepted |
| Stipendium Hungaricum | Opens Nov 2026 | MOI conditionally accepted |
| CSC China | Nov 2026 – Apr 2027 | MOI at selected universities |
How to Apply Without IELTS: 5 Practical Tips
- Get your MOI certificate early. Request it from your university registrar now — some take 1–2 weeks to issue.
- Check each program's exact wording. English proficiency certificate and MOI are usually interchangeable, but confirm on the official page.
- Strengthen the rest of your application. Without IELTS, your statement of purpose, recommendation letters, and academic record carry extra weight.
- Apply to multiple scholarships. Deadlines cluster in Nov–Dec — prepare one strong document set and reuse it.
- Watch for conditional offers. Some programs admit you first and ask for language proof later — read the fine print.
Key Takeaways
- 10 fully funded scholarships for 2027 accept alternatives to IELTS — most commonly an MOI certificate from your university.
- Urgent deadlines: Open Doors (Nov 1), Yenching Academy (Nov 30), MBZUAI (Dec 15), and NPU China Batch 1 (Dec 31, 2026).
- An MOI certificate is free and takes days to obtain — request it from your university registrar today.
- Top no-IELTS destinations for 2027: China, Turkey, Hungary, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Russia, and the UAE.
- Always verify language requirements on the official scholarship website — policies can change yearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really get a fully funded scholarship without IELTS?
Yes. Many government scholarships — including Türkiye Burslari, CSC China, MEXT Japan, and Stipendium Hungaricum — accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate or other proof of English proficiency instead of IELTS. The 10 scholarships in this guide all offer no-IELTS pathways for 2027.
What is an MOI certificate and how do I get one?
An MOI (Medium of Instruction) certificate is an official letter from your university confirming your degree was taught in English. Request it from your registrar or examinations office — most universities issue it on letterhead within a few days, usually free.
Which countries offer scholarships without IELTS in 2027?
China (CSC, Yenching, NPU), Turkey (Türkiye Burslari), Hungary (Stipendium Hungaricum), Japan (MEXT), South Korea (GKS), Germany (DAAD), Russia (Open Doors), and the UAE (MBZUAI) all offer fully funded scholarships with no-IELTS options for 2027.
Do I need IELTS for the Yenching Academy scholarship?
No — not if you are a native English speaker or your previous degree was taught in English. Yenching Academy at Peking University waives IELTS for English-medium graduates; others may submit standard test scores.
Is Stipendium Hungaricum without IELTS really possible?
Yes, conditionally. Stipendium Hungaricum accepts English proficiency certificates and MOI letters for many programs, though some universities may request IELTS later. Check your chosen Hungarian university's requirements before applying.
What is the last date to apply for scholarships without IELTS in December 2026?
Key December 2026 deadlines: MBZUAI (Dec 15) and NPU China Batch 1 (Dec 31). November deadlines include Open Doors Russia (Nov 1) and Yenching Academy (Nov 30). CSC China and Stipendium Hungaricum applications also open in this window.
Are no-IELTS scholarships fully funded or partial?
All 10 scholarships in this guide are fully funded — they cover tuition plus living stipends, and most add accommodation, insurance, and airfare. No IELTS refers only to the language requirement, not the funding level.
Conclusion
IELTS should never be the reason you give up on studying abroad. These 10 fully funded scholarships without IELTS for 2027 prove that a strong academic record and an MOI certificate can open the same doors — from Peking University to Budapest to Abu Dhabi.
With December 2026 deadlines approaching fast, start today: get your MOI certificate, shortlist 3–4 scholarships from this guide, and submit before the window closes.
Want more funding opportunities? Explore our scholarship guides and free resources on Boostnetic — new deadlines added regularly.