IELTS Score Requirements for Top Scholarships 2026 — Complete Guide

Two of the most common questions in scholarship applications are: “What IELTS score do I need?” and “Do I actually need IELTS at all?”

The answers are different for every scholarship — and getting them wrong can either cause you to submit an application you are not yet eligible for, or cause you to sit an expensive IELTS test you did not need.

This guide gives you the exact IELTS requirements for every major international scholarship, the minimum scores for each one, which programs accept alternatives to IELTS, and — critically — which scholarships do not require IELTS at all if your previous degree was taught in English.

Why IELTS Requirements Vary by Scholarship

Scholarship programs set their own language requirements based on two factors: the host country’s academic standards and the level of English required to succeed in the program.

UK scholarships (Chevening, Commonwealth, Gates Cambridge) set higher requirements because they fund study at UK universities — where seminars, examinations, and thesis writing are conducted entirely in English at a high academic level.

German, Korean, and Japanese government scholarships set lower requirements — or accept alternatives — because many of their English-taught programs operate in a multilingual academic environment, and they specifically aim to fund students from developing countries who may not have had the resources to prepare for IELTS.

IELTS Score Requirements — Complete Table

Detailed Requirements — Scholarship by Scholarship

Chevening — UK

Minimum overall IELTS: 6.5 No individual band below: 5.5

Chevening is strict — the 6.5 overall score is a hard minimum. If any individual band (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) falls below 5.5, the application is automatically disqualified.

Most shortlisted Chevening scholars score 7.0–7.5. If your score is exactly 6.5, your application is eligible but not competitive on language grounds alone. Aim for 7.0+.

Alternatives accepted: TOEFL iBT 79 minimum, PTE Academic 58 minimum.

Score validity: IELTS scores must be from within 2 years of the scholarship start date.

MOI Certificate: NOT accepted for Chevening. Formal English test required.

Commonwealth Scholarship — UK

Minimum overall IELTS: 6.5 (varies by program)

Commonwealth requirements vary by scholarship type and by program. Most programs require 6.5 overall. Some PhD programs at specific universities may require 7.0.

Always check the specific Commonwealth scholarship type and the target university’s admission requirements — the university may require a higher score than the scholarship minimum.

MOI Certificate: NOT accepted for Commonwealth Scholarship.

Gates Cambridge — UK

Minimum overall IELTS: 7.5 No individual band below: 7.0

Gates Cambridge sets the highest English requirement of any scholarship on this list. The 7.5 overall minimum reflects Cambridge’s academic standard — seminars, supervision meetings, and thesis examinations are conducted at a high academic English level.

Most Gates Cambridge scholars score 8.0+. If your score is 7.5, your application is eligible — but you need to be exceptional on all other criteria.

Alternatives accepted: TOEFL iBT 110, PTE Academic 73.

MOI Certificate: NOT accepted.

DAAD — Germany

Minimum overall IELTS: 6.0 (for English-taught programs)

DAAD sets a relatively accessible IELTS requirement because German public universities charge zero tuition, and DAAD’s development mission specifically aims to fund students from countries where IELTS preparation is expensive.

MOI Certificate accepted: ✅ Yes — if your previous degree was entirely English-medium, a Medium of Instruction Certificate from your university can substitute for IELTS.

📋 Use our Free MOI Certificate Generator to prepare your certificate for DAAD.

Erasmus Mundus — EU

Minimum overall IELTS: 6.5 (most programs)

Erasmus Mundus requirements vary by consortium — some programs require 6.5, others 7.0. A small number of programs accept lower scores or alternative documentation.

MOI Certificate: Accepted by some Erasmus consortiums — check the specific program requirements carefully.

Fulbright — USA

Minimum overall IELTS: 6.5

Fulbright typically prefers TOEFL over IELTS — the Fulbright application specifically mentions TOEFL iBT 79+ as the primary language requirement. IELTS is generally accepted as an alternative but TOEFL is the standard.

If you are applying for Fulbright, sit TOEFL rather than IELTS — you will be submitting a score in the format Fulbright committees are most familiar with.

GKS — South Korea

Minimum overall IELTS: 5.5 (for English-taught programs)

GKS has the lowest minimum IELTS requirement of any major government scholarship on this list. The 5.5 minimum reflects NIIED’s commitment to funding students from developing countries who demonstrate academic ability but may not have had access to intensive English preparation.

MOI Certificate accepted: ✅ Yes — GKS officially lists MOI as an accepted English proficiency document for English-medium program applicants.

MEXT Japan

No IELTS required

MEXT Japan does not require IELTS or TOEFL. Language proficiency is assessed through the Embassy-administered written examination and interview in your home country.

MOI Certificate: Accepted for confirming English-medium education background.

This makes MEXT one of the most accessible major government scholarships for students who cannot sit or afford IELTS.

📋 Use our Free MOI Certificate Generator for MEXT English-medium documentation.

Turkiye Burslari — Turkey

No IELTS required

Turkiye Burslari does not require IELTS or any formal English test. Language proficiency is assessed during the interview stage — conducted by Turkish Embassy officials or through the online application process.

Australia Awards

Minimum overall IELTS: 6.5 No individual band below: 6.0

Australia Awards sets clear band minimums — an overall 6.5 with no individual band below 6.0. This is a hard requirement.

MOI Certificate: Some country programs accept English-medium education evidence as a waiver — but this is not guaranteed. Check the specific Australia Awards country program guidelines.

Stipendium Hungaricum — Hungary

Minimum overall IELTS: 5.5 (for English-taught programs)

Stipendium Hungaricum has one of the most accessible IELTS requirements among European scholarship programs — 5.5 overall.

MOI Certificate accepted: ✅ Yes — for applicants from English-medium universities.

What Is an MOI Certificate and How Does It Replace IELTS?

A Medium of Instruction (MOI) Certificate is an official letter from your university confirming that your degree program was conducted entirely in English — all lectures, examinations, coursework, and assessments.

Scholarship programs that accept MOI in place of IELTS do so because completing a degree taught in English is itself evidence of functional English proficiency — particularly for students from countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Ghana where English-medium university education is standard.

Which scholarships accept MOI? DAAD ✅ | GKS Korea ✅ | MEXT Japan ✅ | CSC China ✅ | Turkiye Burslari ✅ | Stipendium Hungaricum ✅ | OKP Netherlands ✅ | Some Erasmus programs ✅

Which scholarships do NOT accept MOI? Chevening ❌ | Gates Cambridge ❌ | Fulbright ❌ | Commonwealth (most programs) ❌ | Australia Awards (most programs) ❌

📋 Use our Free MOI Certificate Generator to create your certificate in the correct format.

How to Improve Your IELTS Score for Scholarships

If you need IELTS 6.5 or above and your current level is below that, here is a realistic preparation strategy:

Reading: Practice timed reading with past IELTS Academic passages. IELTS Reading is not about vocabulary — it is about locating information quickly and accurately under time pressure.

Writing Task 2 (Essay): This is where most candidates lose points. Learn the four main essay types (opinion, discussion, problem-solution, two-part question) and practice one complete essay per day. Use specific evidence — not vague generalities.

Speaking: Record yourself answering Part 2 cue card topics for 2 minutes. Listen back and identify filler words (“um,” “like,” “you know”). Replace them with pauses.

Listening: Transcription practice — listen to a IELTS listening section, pause after each answer, and write what you heard. Then check against the transcript.

📖 Use our Free IELTS & TOEFL Practice Tests — Reading passages, Writing with AI scoring, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Speaking with AI-generated cue cards. All free.

IELTS vs TOEFL — Which Should You Sit for Scholarships?

General rule: If you are applying primarily to UK programs, sit IELTS. If you are applying primarily to US programs, sit TOEFL. If you are applying to both, sit TOEFL — it is accepted by more programs globally.

How Long Are IELTS Scores Valid?

IELTS scores are valid for 2 years from the test date. Most scholarships require your IELTS score to be valid at the time of application — not just at the scholarship start date.

If your IELTS score expires before your scholarship application deadline, you must resit. Plan your test date accordingly.

Free Tools for Your Scholarship Application

• 📖 Free IELTS & TOEFL Practice Tests — Reading, Writing (AI scoring), Vocabulary, Grammar, Speaking
• 📋 Free MOI Certificate Generator — For scholarships that accept MOI instead of IELTS
• 📄 Free SOP Generator — For any scholarship application
• 💌 Free Motivation Letter Generator — For DAAD, Erasmus, Turkiye Burslari
• 📑 Free CV Builder — Academic CV
• 📜 Free Reference Letter Generator — For academic references

FAQ — IELTS for Scholarships

Q: What IELTS score do I need for Chevening?

6.5 overall with no individual band below 5.5. Most competitive applicants score 7.0 or above.

Q: Can I get a scholarship without IELTS?

Yes — MEXT Japan, Turkiye Burslari, GKS Korea (with MOI Certificate), CSC China (with MOI Certificate), and DAAD (with MOI Certificate) are all accessible without a formal IELTS test. Read our Scholarships Without IELTS Guide for the complete list.

Q: What is the minimum IELTS for DAAD?

6.0 overall for English-taught programs. DAAD also accepts an MOI Certificate from English-medium universities as an IELTS substitute.

Q: Does Gates Cambridge accept TOEFL instead of IELTS?

Yes — TOEFL iBT 110 minimum, PTE Academic 73 minimum. IELTS 7.5 is the equivalent standard.

Q: How long does it take to improve IELTS from 6.0 to 7.0?

With consistent daily practice (2–3 hours per day), most students improve by 0.5–1.0 bands in 6–8 weeks. Focus most heavily on Writing Task 2 and Speaking — these are the sections where dedicated practice produces the fastest improvement.

Q: Is IELTS Academic different from IELTS General for scholarships?

Yes — all scholarship programs require IELTS Academic, not IELTS General Training. IELTS General is for immigration purposes. Always sit IELTS Academic for scholarship applications.

Q: Can I use my old IELTS score if it is more than 2 years old?

No — IELTS scores are valid for 2 years. An expired score is not accepted by any scholarship program. If your score has expired, you must resit.

Also Read

• Scholarships Without IELTS 2026 — Full list of IELTS-free options
• How to Get an MOI Certificate — Step-by-step guide
• Chevening Scholarship 2026
• DAAD Scholarship 2026
• Browse All Scholarships