AbdulFirst, a clear starter: the phrase without IELTS rarely means you never show any English evidence. For 2025 many major UK scholarships either do not require an IELTS score as part of the scholarship application itself, or the scholarship body leaves English verification to the university and visa process.
That means you can apply for funding even if you do not yet have an IELTS certificate. The UK Home Office and top scholarship bodies now accept alternatives in many cases, and universities can sometimes vouch for your English on the CAS. See the official Home Office guidance on how English is assessed. GOV.UK Assets+1
Below I list the high-value UK scholarships and scholarship routes where IELTS is normally not an absolute blocker in 2025, explain the logic, and show what you must actually prepare to win them.
1) Chevening Scholarships — flagship UK government scholarship
Why it matters
Chevening is the UK Foreign Office scholarship for mid-career leaders. It is competitive, prestige-heavy, and covers tuition plus living allowance for a one-year master’s.
The big win for applicants with no IELTS is that Chevening does not require applicants to submit an IELTS score with the initial application. You still must meet the English language requirement set by your chosen university before you can take up the award, but you can apply to Chevening without an IELTS certificate.
That has opened the door for many strong applicants who will prove English through other routes later. Chevening+1
What you must do to convert application into a scholarship
• Apply to Chevening on merit, leadership, and clarity of career goals.
• Choose three eligible UK courses and check each university’s English-waiver policy.
• If awarded, secure an unconditional offer from one of your chosen universities; that university then confirms your English on the CAS so you can get a visa.
Who should chase it
Mid-career professionals with leadership potential and professional impact, even if they lack an IELTS yet.
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2) Commonwealth Scholarships (Commonwealth Scholarship Commission)
Why it matters
Commonwealth Scholarships are full, government-funded awards for citizens of Commonwealth countries. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission does not require an IELTS score to apply for the scholarship itself, though the host university may request evidence of English depending on the program. In practice the CSC often manages English requirements at the university admission stage rather than at the scholarship application stage. Commonwealth Scholarships UK+1
What you must do
• Demonstrate academic strength and need, and submit a tightly written research or study proposal if needed.
• Check the host university admission policy for English. Many universities accept MOI, university interviews, or internal assessments.
• Be ready to secure a CAS that shows the university has assessed your English ability.
Who should chase it
Strong academic applicants from Commonwealth countries, particularly for master’s and PhD study.
3) GREAT Scholarships and other British Council / government-linked awards
Why it matters
GREAT Scholarships and other British Council–linked awards are run in partnership with universities to attract international students.
The scholarship application process is often separate from formal university admission and frequently does not require an IELTS score at the scholarship application stage. The university’s own admission and visa processes still control English verification. Study UK
What you must do
• Apply for the scholarship but treat it as conditional on your meeting the chosen university’s admission and language rules.
• Use MOI letters, transcripts, or internal university assessments to satisfy English later.
Who should chase it
Students targeting specific UK universities that run GREAT or British Council scholarships for certain countries or subjects.
4) University scholarships that accept MOI, interviews, or internal tests
Why it matters
Many UK universities will waive an external test if you have credible alternative evidence: a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter, successful internal English assessment, prior degree taught fully in English, or substantial professional usage. Universities including Oxford, Warwick, Manchester, and others publish waiver or test-exemption policies for applicants who meet defined criteria.
Those universities run their own scholarship programs — departmental awards, merit scholarships, and international bursaries — which you can win even without IELTS if you meet the alternative English criteria. See Oxford guidance on language test waivers and UK universities’ English policy pages. University of Oxford+1
Practical examples of what counts
• A notarised MOI letter showing your bachelor’s degree was taught and assessed in English.
• A university-conducted online interview where the admissions tutor confirms you meet academic English levels.
• Internal pre-sessional course acceptance that leads to full admission and CAS.
How to use this strategically
• Target university scholarships where the admissions page explicitly accepts MOI or interview evidence.
• Apply early, ask admissions for written confirmation that your MOI or interview will be accepted for CAS purposes, and save that email. A written note from admissions helps your visa case.
5) Specialist and talent scholarships where English test is secondary
Why it matters
Some scholarships focus on talent or project strength. Examples include music and performance scholarships, sport scholarships, entrepreneurship awards, and discipline-specific research grants. For those, the selection panel cares about audition reels, competition records, or project feasibility more than a raw IELTS certificate. You still need to be able to study in English, but panels frequently accept alternative proof or will leave formal English checks to the university stage.
Practical angle
If you have a standout portfolio, certificates of achievement, or demonstrable professional outputs, prioritize these targeted scholarships. They are easier to win than general academic pots because the measurement of excellence is concrete.
6) Micro and external funding that rarely asks for IELTS
Why it matters
Regional trusts, employer-sponsored scholarships, alumni funds, religious or community foundations, and professional bodies often give awards with no IELTS requirements. These funds are smaller, but they add up and are low-competition compared with headline national awards.
Action steps
• Search community and alumni pages in your country.
• Ask your employer about study sponsorship.
• Use small awards to pay for a pre-sessional course, then use the course to secure university admission and a CAS.
How the visa and CAS process affects “no IELTS” scholarships
The crucial technical reality is this: UK Visas and Immigration requires evidence that you meet a B2 English level for degree study. Many universities can confirm that on the CAS if they have assessed your English internally or accepted MOI, or if you are designated a gifted student. The Home Office guidance and the CAS rules explain how universities can vouch for you rather than you presenting a secure English language test (SELT) at visa application time. That is why scholarships can be awarded without IELTS while the actual student visa clearance is handled later by the university’s CAS. GOV.UK Assets+1
The fastest practical checklist to apply for these scholarships in 2025
- Make a short list of 6 targets: 2 government scholarships (Chevening, Commonwealth), 2 university scholarships (one research-heavy, one taught), and 2 niche/talent awards.
- For each target, find the official English evidence policy for the scholarship and the host university. Keep screenshots or saved pages.
- Get a MOI letter from your last institution and a polished portfolio or project write-up.
- Draft a compact explanation of why you do not have IELTS but how you meet English requirements (MOI, work experience, interview). Save it for essays and email queries.
- Email each admissions/scholarship office and ask for written confirmation whether MOI or interview is acceptable for scholarship-to-CAS progression. Store their replies.
- Apply broadly but thoughtfully. Prioritize scholarships that explicitly accept alternative English evidence.
Quick list summary you can copy and use now
• Chevening Scholarships (UK government) — no IELTS at application stage; university-level English checks later. Chevening
• Commonwealth Scholarships (CSC) — scholarship application does not need IELTS; university admission step may. Commonwealth Scholarships UK+1
• GREAT Scholarships and British Council linked awards — scholarship applications often separate from university English checks. Study UK
• University-specific scholarships at institutions that accept MOI or waivers — look at Oxford, Warwick, Manchester, Bristol and others for departmental awards and waiver policies. University of Oxford+1
• Talent and industry awards — music, art, entrepreneurship, sports and industry bursaries commonly give priority to skill over IELTS. (Check the fund’s terms)
• Local trusts, employer scholarships, community foundations — usually low or no IELTS barriers.
Honest warning and skeptic’s lens
Be skeptical of blog lists that say “no IELTS anywhere” without linking to official university or Home Office pages.
The truth is conditional. Lots of scholarships let you apply without IELTS, but only a subset will let you proceed to visa without any English evidence at all. Get written confirmations from admissions that the university will accept MOI, internal tests, or interviews and that they will include the appropriate note on the CAS. The weakest link is the CAS.
Do not assume a scholarship equals visa clearance until the CAS is issued and includes English assessment details. See the Home Office CAS guidance for how that check works. GOV.UK Assets
Final tactical moves (two quick plays you can do today)
- Download and store an official MOI from your previous institution and prepare a 300-word dossier explaining your English use in study and work.
- Pick one scholarship from this list and email the admissions team asking: will you accept MOI or an internal interview in place of IELTS for both admission and CAS? Save their reply.
Want help now? I can draft that 300-word English-explanation, and generate a short email template to send to admissions teams that forces a clear written answer about MOI and CAS. Which scholarship on the list should we target first?
Abdul
