Master’s Scholarships 2025 Without IELTS and Application Fee
Last updated: August 18, 2025 • Editor: Chgr Team
Looking for master’s scholarships in 2025 that don’t force you to take IELTS and let you apply free or with a fee waiver? This guide lists scholarships and funding programs where (a) IELTS is not strictly required because alternatives are accepted (TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, or MOI), and/or (b) the scholarship application has no fee or universities commonly provide application fee waivers. Always verify the latest rules on each official page.
Quick Comparison Table (2025)
| Program | Country/Region | Covers | IELTS Policy (2025) | Application Fee | Deadline Window | Official |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erasmus Mundus (EMJM) | EU (multi‑country) | Full tuition, monthly stipend, travel | Program‑specific; many accept TOEFL/Duolingo/MOI | Usually no fee (program‑dependent) | Oct–Feb | EU catalogue |
| DAAD EPOS | Germany | Stipend, insurance, travel; some tuition waiver | By course; TOEFL common; MOI sometimes | DAAD application free (uni rules vary) | Dec–Mar | daad.de |
| Türkiye Bursları | Turkey | Tuition, stipend, housing, insurance | IELTS not required at application; alternatives used | Free scholarship application | Jan–Feb | turkiyeburslari.gov.tr |
| CSC (China) | China | Tuition, dorm, stipend, insurance | Many unis accept MOI for English‑taught | CSC free; some unis may charge | Feb–Apr | campuschina.org |
| MEXT — Embassy Track | Japan | Tuition, stipend, airfare | English proof varies; MOI/alt tests accepted | Free via embassy track | Varies by country | mext.go.jp |
| Chevening | UK | Tuition, stipend, flights, fees | Meet university English; Chevening no single test | Free scholarship application | Aug–Nov | chevening.org |
| Commonwealth Master’s | UK | Tuition, stipend, flights | Uni English rules; alt tests often accepted | Free scholarship application | Sep–Dec | cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk |
| Fulbright Foreign Student | USA | Tuition, stipend, airfare, insurance | No IELTS; TOEFL often used | Free scholarship application | Feb–Sep | fulbrightonline.org |
| JJ/WBGSP | Multiple (incl. USA) | Tuition, stipend, travel, insurance | English proof required; TOEFL/others | Free scholarship application | Feb–May | worldbank.org |
| IsDB Scholarship | Member countries/host unis | Tuition, stipend, health, travel | English proof per host uni; alternatives ok | Free scholarship application | Feb–Apr | isdb.org |
| KAUST Fellowship | Saudi Arabia | Tuition, stipend, housing, insurance | TOEFL/IELTS; waivers for English‑medium degrees (case‑by‑case) | No university app fee | Rolling | kaust.edu.sa |
| MBZUAI Scholarship | UAE | Full tuition, stipend, housing | IELTS/TOEFL/EmSAT; waivers in specific cases | No university app fee | Multiple rounds | mbzuai.ac.ae |
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s (EMJM) 2025
Covers: Full tuition, a monthly stipend, travel, and installation support across 2–3 partner universities in Europe.
IELTS: Program‑specific; many accept TOEFL, Duolingo, or a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter.
Application fee: Most EMJMs do not charge an application fee, but confirm on the program page.
Deadline: Typically October–February.
Official: Search the EU catalogue.
DAAD EPOS Master’s 2025 (Germany)
Covers: Monthly stipend, health insurance, travel allowance; some programs waive tuition.
IELTS: Depends on the host course; TOEFL widely accepted, MOI sometimes.
Application fee: DAAD scholarship application is free. University application fees (or Uni‑Assist) may apply for admission.
Deadline: Usually December–March.
Official: daad.de
Türkiye Bursları 2025 (Turkey)
Covers: Tuition, monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance; Turkish prep year if needed.
IELTS: Not required at the scholarship application stage; programs may assess English separately.
Application fee: Free.
Deadline: January–February.
Official: turkiyeburslari.gov.tr
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) 2025
Covers: Tuition, on‑campus housing (or subsidy), monthly stipend, medical insurance.
IELTS: Many universities accept MOI for English‑taught programs; verify per university.
Application fee: CSC application is free; some host universities charge a separate application fee—check your target school.
Deadline: Typically February–April.
Official: campuschina.org
MEXT 2025 (Japan) — Embassy Track
Covers: Tuition waiver, monthly stipend, and airfare; may include preliminary language study.
IELTS: Embassy track commonly accepts English proficiency proofs beyond IELTS (tests or MOI), depending on host university.
Application fee: Free via the embassy track.
Deadline: Varies by country (spring–summer windows typical).
Official: mext.go.jp
Chevening Scholarship 2025 (UK)
Covers: Full tuition, monthly stipend, flights, and fees for one‑year master’s in the UK.
IELTS: Chevening does not mandate a single test score; you must meet your university’s English requirement (TOEFL/PTE/waivers where allowed).
Application fee: Free to apply for the scholarship.
Deadline: Typically August–November.
Official: chevening.org
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2025 (UK)
Covers: Tuition, stipend, travel, and other allowances for study in the UK.
IELTS: Follow the host university’s English policy; alternatives often accepted.
Application fee: Scholarship application is free.
Deadline: Usually September–December.
Official: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk
Fulbright Foreign Student Program 2025 (USA)
Covers: Tuition, living stipend, health insurance, and airfare for master’s study in the USA.
IELTS: TOEFL is the typical standard; IELTS is not required by Fulbright.
Application fee: Free at the scholarship level; university application fees are covered during placement.
Deadline: Country‑specific (often February–September).
Official: foreign.fulbrightonline.org
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship (JJ/WBGSP) 2025
Covers: Tuition, monthly stipend, travel, and insurance for approved master’s programs.
IELTS: English proof required per host program; TOEFL widely accepted.
Application fee: Scholarship application is free.
Deadline: Typically February–May.
Official: worldbank.org — Scholarships
Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Scholarship 2025 — Master’s
Covers: Tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance, and travel for eligible fields and member‑country nationals.
IELTS: English proof is per host university; alternatives often accepted.
Application fee: Free scholarship application.
Deadline: Commonly February–April.
Official: isdb.org
KAUST Fellowship 2025 (Saudi Arabia)
Covers: Full tuition, competitive stipend, on‑campus housing, and health insurance.
IELTS: TOEFL/IELTS accepted; waivers may be available for prior English‑medium degrees (confirm with admissions).
Application fee: No application fee.
Deadline: Rolling (apply early for priority).
Official: kaust.edu.sa
MBZUAI Scholarship 2025 (UAE)
Covers: Full tuition, monthly stipend, housing, transport, and health insurance (AI MS programs).
IELTS: Accepts IELTS/TOEFL/EmSAT; waivers possible in specific cases.
Application fee: No application fee.
Deadline: Multiple rounds through the year.
Official: mbzuai.ac.ae
How to Get Application Fee Waivers (Step‑by‑Step + Email)
- Check the graduate admissions page: Many universities list fee‑waiver criteria (financial hardship, partner programs, event attendees).
- Attend official webinars/fairs: Schools often share one‑time waiver codes to attendees (virtual info sessions, open days).
- Email the department coordinator: Ask about departmental fee waivers or request a code based on merit/need.
- Use partner routes: Some scholarships (Fulbright/Chevening) or pipelines (McNair, GEM) unlock automatic waivers at partner universities.
- Apply early: Waiver budgets are limited; codes can expire before peak season.
Sample email
Subject: Application Fee Waiver Request – Master’s [Program], Fall 2025 Dear [Name/Office], I plan to apply to the [Master’s in X] for Fall 2025. I meet/exceed the minimum requirements (GPA: [X], relevant experience) and have limited ability to pay the application fee. Could you advise on a fee waiver or provide a waiver code? Thank you for your time and consideration. Best regards, [Your Name] [Country] • [Email]
Accepted IELTS Alternatives (What Works in 2025)
- TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition at many schools)
- PTE Academic
- Duolingo English Test (grad acceptance varies by program)
- CAEL (common in Canada)
- Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency
- MOI letter (English‑medium degree) — accepted case‑by‑case
Important: English rules are program‑specific. Always confirm the exact test and minimum scores on the department page.
FAQs
Are there truly “no IELTS and no fee” master’s scholarships?
Yes—several scholarship applications are free (Chevening, Commonwealth, Türkiye, MEXT Embassy, Fulbright, IsDB), and many accept IELTS alternatives (TOEFL/PTE/Duolingo or MOI). University admission may still have its own English and fee rules, but waivers are common.
Which options are closest to a guaranteed full ride?
Erasmus Mundus, Fulbright, Commonwealth, and some DAAD EPOS courses are full funding. KAUST/MBZUAI fund at the university level with no application fee.
Will MOI work everywhere?
No. MOI acceptance varies widely by country, university, and department. Always verify before applying.
How early should I start?
Shortlist programs by September–October, take acceptable English tests (if needed), and target deadlines between November–February.
For 2025, you can absolutely target master’s scholarships without IELTS and without application fees by focusing on free scholarship applications (Chevening, Commonwealth, Türkiye, MEXT, Fulbright, IsDB), programs that accept IELTS alternatives, and universities with confirmed fee waivers like KAUST and MBZUAI. Verify policies on the official pages, request fee waivers early, and submit a strong, well‑documented application.