Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS With a Preparatory Year 2026: Your Comprehensive Guide to the Best Opportunities Worldwide

If you dream of studying abroad but feel hesitant because of the IELTS exam, this article is written specifically for you. There are indeed fully funded scholarships around the world that do not require IELTS as a sole or primary condition. Instead, they sometimes allow alternative ways to prove language proficiency, while also offering a preparatory year or a language year before the actual start of your academic program. This gives you a real opportunity to adapt linguistically and academically.

In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss the concept of fully funded scholarships and why many students are searching for scholarships without IELTS. We will explain what a preparatory year or language year is and why it is important for your admission and success during your years of study. We will also explore some of the most important fully funded scholarship programs that combine full financial coverage—including tuition fees, accommodation, monthly stipends, and often travel tickets—with a preparatory or language year in countries such as Turkey, Japan, Romania, Russia, and others, in addition to some universities that offer programs in English with alternatives to IELTS.

Read also: Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship (BDGS)

What Is a Fully Funded Scholarship? And Why “Without IELTS”?

A fully funded scholarship is a scholarship that covers all or most of the costs of studying and living abroad. It usually includes:

• Full or near-full coverage of tuition fees.
• University accommodation or a housing allowance.
• A monthly stipend to cover living expenses.
• Health insurance.
• International airfare at the beginning and end of the study period (in many government programs).

These scholarships are considered a golden opportunity for students who cannot afford the costs of studying in countries such as Turkey, Japan, China, European Union countries, Russia, Malaysia, and some Arab countries.

The IELTS requirement represents a barrier for many students due to:

• The high cost of the exam.
• The difficulty of obtaining a high score in a single attempt.
• The lack of nearby test centers in some countries.

This is why the concept of “fully funded scholarships without IELTS” exists.

These are scholarships that allow you to apply and be accepted without requiring IELTS as a mandatory condition, with alternatives such as:

• A fully funded preparatory language year in the language of the host country.
• Acceptance of a Medium of Instruction letter from your previous university instead of IELTS in some cases.
• Local or internal language tests conducted by the university or embassy.

What Is a Preparatory Year / Language Year?

The preparatory year (Foundation Year / Preparatory Year) is an academic year that comes before the start of your main specialization. Its goals are to:

• Strengthen the language of instruction (Turkish, Japanese, Romanian, Russian, English, etc.).
• Prepare the student academically for major subjects (mathematics, physics, academic skills, etc.).
• Help the student adapt to the education system in the new country.

In many government scholarship programs, the preparatory year is:

• Mandatory and fully funded as part of the scholarship duration (especially if the program is taught in the local language).
• A replacement for the IELTS requirement, as the university or funding body evaluates your level during this year.

Read also: Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarship

Best Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS With a Preparatory / Language Year

1. Türkiye Scholarships – Free Turkish Language Year

The Turkish Government Scholarship is one of the most well-known scholarships worldwide for international students. It offers programs for bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, and research levels, fully funded by the Turkish government.

Funding benefits:

• Full exemption from tuition fees at Turkish universities.
• A monthly stipend that varies by study level.
• Student accommodation or housing support.
• Health insurance.
• International airfare at the beginning and end of the study period for most categories.

Preparatory / language year:

Students accepted into programs taught in Turkish receive a mandatory, fully funded Turkish language year before starting their major, with full access to all scholarship benefits.

Official link

2. Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT) – Intensive Japanese Language Year Before the Major

The MEXT Scholarship is one of the most famous government scholarships in Asia and worldwide. It is offered for bachelor’s, technical diploma, master’s, and PhD students.

Funding usually includes:

• Full exemption from university tuition fees.
• A monthly stipend.
• International airfare to and from Japan.

Mandatory preparatory year:

Bachelor’s students are enrolled in a one-year preparatory program at a designated institution, where they study:

• Japanese language
• Introductory subjects related to their major
• Japanese culture and society

Official link

3. Czech Government Scholarship – Czech Language and Preparatory Year

The Czech government offers scholarships to students from developing and partner countries, covering programs taught in Czech and English.

Preparatory year:

For programs taught in Czech, students receive a mandatory one-year Czech language and preparatory program before starting their major, funded as part of the scholarship.

Funding:

• Coverage of tuition fees for eligible programs.
• Support for the Czech language year.
• Additional benefits depending on the program (accommodation, living allowance, etc.), which must be checked annually.

 official link

4. Saudi University Scholarships for International Students – Preparatory Year and Language Programs

Several Saudi universities offer scholarships for international students, such as King Abdulaziz University (KAU) and others.

Funding at King Abdulaziz University, for example, includes:

• Tuition fee exemption.
• University housing.
• Monthly stipend.
• Health insurance.
• Annual airfare in some scholarship programs (especially external fixed scholarships).

Preparatory year:

Many majors—especially medical and engineering programs—include a preparatory year at the beginning of the program, fully funded as part of the scholarship.

IELTS:

• For Arabic-taught programs (such as Islamic studies and Arabic language): IELTS is not required.
• For English-taught programs: proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent) is usually required, with some flexibility for students whose previous education was in English.

Official link

5. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) – Chinese Language and Preparatory Year

The Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) is one of the most prominent global scholarships, covering study at many public Chinese universities.

Core funding benefits:

• Full or partial exemption from tuition fees.
• Free or subsidized university accommodation.
• A monthly stipend.

Preparatory / language year:

The scholarship covers both the main degree and Chinese language study (preparatory year), as stated in the guidelines of many universities and programs:

• A Chinese language preparatory year is provided for students who will study in Chinese and do not yet master the language.
• In some cases, the preparatory study may extend to two years, depending on the student’s level and the university.

How to benefit as a “no IELTS” scholarship:

If you choose a program taught in Chinese, you can often apply without IELTS, benefit from the fully funded Chinese language year, and then obtain HSK during the preparatory period.

6. Romania Government Scholarship – Romanian Language Year Without IELTS

The Romania Government Scholarship for non-EU students is offered through the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Study in Romania portal.

Core funding benefits:

• Tuition fee coverage at participating Romanian universities.
• A monthly stipend.
• Housing support or exemption, depending on the university.
• Often an exemption from registration fees.

Preparatory / language year:

Students who do not speak Romanian are provided with a preparatory year in the Romanian language before starting their academic program. During this year, students study Romanian language and basic terminology related to their field of study.

Official link

7. Russian Government Scholarship (Quota) – Russian Preparatory Year Without IELTS

The Russian government annually offers thousands of scholarships for international students under what is often called the Russian Government Scholarship or Quota, usually through the “Education in Russia” portal or Rossotrudnichestvo offices.

What does the funding usually include?

• Free study at a selected public university (tuition fee exemption).
• A place in a university dormitory.
• A symbolic monthly stipend, varying by regulations (it may not cover all living costs but is an important support).

Preparatory / language year:

A preparatory year in the Russian language, along with introductory subjects related to the major, is included before the start of the main academic program, as explained in scholarship guidelines.

How to benefit as a “no IELTS” scholarship:

By choosing a program taught in Russian, you enter a fully funded Russian language preparatory year and usually do not need IELTS.

Official link for Russian government scholarships

8. Albukhary International University (AIU) Scholarship – Foundation Year + English Language Program

Albukhary International University (AIU) in Malaysia offers a distinctive program for students from low-income families, combining a foundation year with a bachelor’s degree, through extensive or full scholarships.

Program structure:

• One-year foundation program.
• A three-year bachelor’s degree.
• Total duration: four years, with scholarships covering tuition fully or largely for eligible students.

Funding:

• Tuition coverage for both the foundation year and bachelor’s degree (depending on the scholarship category).
• Scholarships target students from families with a monthly income below USD 300, with age requirements (18–22 years) and social conditions (single).

English preparatory program:

Students without a recognized IELTS/TOEFL certificate may receive conditional admission and be required to enroll in an English Preparatory Programme for up to 12 months to improve their proficiency.

The university offers English language (IELTS) courses for scholarship recipients who did not submit a language test, to help them achieve the required score before starting academic study.

IELTS:

In general, the university requires proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, MUET, etc.). However, some students may start with conditional admission and complete an internal English program, then pass IELTS during the preparatory period.

Why can it be considered a “no IELTS + preparatory year” scholarship?

• Students can apply without having IELTS initially (conditional admission + language program).
• They study a foundation year and an English language program within the university before or alongside entering the academic program, with substantial or full funding if awarded the scholarship.

Official link

How to Find Fully Funded Scholarships Without IELTS With a Preparatory Year Yourself

• Focus on major government scholarships: Turkey, Japan (MEXT), China (CSC), Romania, Russia, Czech Republic, and some Arab countries.
• Use official “Study in …” portals: Study in Japan, Study in Romania, Study in Czechia, Education in Russia, etc.
• Target programs taught in the local language: These often do not require IELTS and include a fully funded language year (Turkish, Japanese, Romanian, Russian, Czech, etc.).
• Always read the official eligibility page carefully: Articles like this provide a general overview, but the final decision depends on what is stated on the official scholarship website.

Read also: Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Scholarship in Qatar 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these scholarships guaranteed for everyone? No. All of them are highly competitive and depend on your academic record, motivation letter, recommendations, activities, nationality, and the number of available seats.

Is it possible to study entirely in English without IELTS? Yes, in some cases through alternatives such as Medium of Instruction letters, internal tests, or preparatory language programs, but you must carefully read the conditions of each program.

Is the language year difficult? Yes, it is often intensive. However, it provides a valuable opportunity to adapt linguistically and culturally before starting your major.