IELTS is expensive — currently around $250 USD or more in Nigeria — and for many Nigerian students it feels like an unnecessary barrier, especially when English is your first language of formal education. The good news is that several of the world’s most prestigious fully funded scholarships either do not require IELTS at all, or accept alternative proof of English proficiency that Nigerian graduates can provide without sitting a new test. This guide covers eight fully funded scholarships that Nigerian students can apply for without an IELTS score, explains exactly what each one accepts as an alternative, and tells you what you need to know before applying.
Before going through the list, it is important to understand why many major scholarships waive IELTS for Nigerian applicants specifically. English is Nigeria’s official language of instruction at secondary and tertiary level. Nigerian students study in English from primary school through university. Most international scholarship bodies recognise this, and either explicitly waive the IELTS requirement for Nigerian applicants or accept a letter from your university confirming that your degree was taught in English as a sufficient substitute. Always confirm the specific requirement with each scholarship before applying, as policies can change between cycles.
1. Chevening Scholarship — No IELTS Required at Application Stage
This is one of the most widely misunderstood points about Chevening among Nigerian applicants — Chevening does not require IELTS at the time of submitting your scholarship application. You apply for the scholarship first, and if you are selected, you then meet your chosen UK university’s English language requirements as part of your admissions process. Many UK universities accept a Nigerian degree taught in English as proof of language proficiency and will waive the IELTS requirement for admission. Check your specific chosen university’s English language policy — but do not let the assumption that you need IELTS stop you from applying for Chevening. The scholarship itself does not require it. Visit chevening.org for confirmed details.
2. Commonwealth Masters Scholarship — IELTS Waived for Nigerian Applicants
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission explicitly recognises English as Nigeria’s official language of instruction and does not require Nigerian applicants to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores as part of the Commonwealth Masters Scholarship application. Nigeria’s status as an English-speaking Commonwealth country means the language barrier that affects applicants from non-English-speaking countries does not apply. Your Nigerian degree certificate and transcripts, combined with confirmation that your programme was taught in English, are sufficient. Verify the current policy at cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk before applying.
3. MEXT Scholarship Japan — No IELTS or TOEFL Required
The Japanese government’s MEXT Scholarship does not require IELTS or TOEFL at any stage of the application process. Instead, English proficiency is assessed through a written test administered by the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria as part of the scholarship’s own selection process. Nigerian applicants can use their WAEC English results or a certificate confirming English-medium instruction at their previous institution as supporting evidence. Many MEXT programmes at the postgraduate level are taught in English, and the embassy’s written test is the primary language assessment tool. Visit ng.emb-japan.go.jp for current application requirements.
4. Korean Government Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) — No IELTS Required
The Global Korea Scholarship does not require IELTS or TOEFL scores as part of the application. English proficiency for GKS applicants is assessed through the scholarship’s own selection process, which includes a personal interview and review of your academic documents. All GKS scholars are required to complete a one-year Korean language course before beginning their degree programme, so language learning is built into the programme itself. Nigerian applicants whose previous degrees were taught entirely in English can confirm this in their application documents. Visit studyinkorea.go.kr for current requirements.
5. Türkiye Burslari Scholarship — IELTS Not Mandatory
The Turkish government’s Türkiye Burslari Scholarship does not list IELTS or TOEFL as a mandatory requirement for the general application. Language proficiency is assessed as part of the overall selection process, and individual programmes taught in English may have their own language requirements which vary between universities. All Türkiye Burslari scholars are required to complete a one-year Turkish language course before beginning their degree, which reduces the language barrier for students entering Turkish-medium programmes. Nigerian applicants should check the language requirements of their specific chosen programme when selecting their 12 preferred programmes during the application. Visit turkiyeburslari.gov.tr for confirmed details.
6. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) — No IELTS for English-Taught Programmes
The Chinese Government Scholarship does not require IELTS or TOEFL for programmes taught in English. For postgraduate programmes taught in English at Chinese universities, Nigerian applicants can demonstrate English proficiency through their previous degree certificate and transcripts, or a confirmation letter from their Nigerian university stating that their programme was taught in English. For programmes taught in Chinese, a basic HSK (Chinese language test) score may be required instead. The majority of postgraduate programmes available to international students at China’s top universities are now offered in English. Visit campuschina.org and confirm the language requirement of your specific chosen programme before applying.
7. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — English-Medium Study Accepted as Alternative
Many Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programmes accept proof of prior English-medium education in lieu of an IELTS or TOEFL score. For Nigerian applicants who completed their undergraduate degree at a Nigerian university where all courses were taught in English, a letter from the university’s Registry confirming the medium of instruction is typically sufficient to satisfy the English language requirement. The specific policy varies between consortium programmes — some require IELTS while others explicitly accept English-medium degree confirmation. Check the language requirements of each specific programme you are applying to carefully. If a programme you are targeting does require IELTS, check whether your score from a previous test is still valid — IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date.
8. DAAD Scholarship — English Proficiency Certificate Accepted
For DAAD scholarship programmes taught in English, Nigerian applicants can often satisfy the English language requirement by submitting a certificate of English-medium instruction from their Nigerian university rather than an IELTS score. For DAAD programmes taught in German, a TestDaF or DSH score is required instead of IELTS. Many DAAD development-related programmes at the postgraduate level — particularly those under the EPOS framework — are taught entirely in English, and Nigerian graduates whose degrees were taught in English are well positioned to meet the language requirement without additional testing. Visit daad.de and confirm the language requirement of your specific target programme before applying.
What to Prepare Instead of IELTS
For every scholarship on this list, the standard alternative to IELTS is one or more of the following documents. Prepare these in advance so you are ready to submit when each application window opens:
- English-medium instruction letter: A letter from your Nigerian university’s Registry confirming that your degree programme was taught entirely in English. This is the most commonly required alternative document across all of the scholarships listed above. Request it from your university’s Academic Affairs or Registry office — most universities issue this on official letterhead with a stamp and signature
- WAEC or NECO English results: Some scholarships — particularly MEXT — accept your secondary school English results as supporting evidence of language proficiency
- Degree certificate and transcripts: Documents that clearly show your degree was awarded by a Nigerian institution where English is the official language of instruction. For some scholarships this is sufficient on its own
One important note — even for scholarships that do not require IELTS, the individual UK or European university you are applying to for admission may have its own English language requirements that are separate from the scholarship’s requirements. Always check both the scholarship’s language policy and your chosen university’s admissions language requirements before deciding whether you need to sit IELTS. If your chosen university requires IELTS and you do not have a current score, factor the test cost and preparation time into your application timeline.
Moreschooling has full guides for every scholarship on this list. Use the navigation menu to find detailed eligibility, benefits, and step-by-step application information for each programme. Bookmark this page and check back as new cycles open throughout 2026 and 2027.