The United Kingdom (UK) has some of the best universities in the world that offer fully-funded scholarships to international students. However, most of these schools demand that international students should provide the IELTS test scores.
There are now universities in the UK that allow international students to study on scholarships without the IELTS requirement.
This article will discuss UK Universities that offer Fully Funded Scholarships to international students without the IELTS requirements.
1.) The University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is not only one of the best universities in the United Kingdom but also in the world. The university is known for offering some of the best scholarships globally, such as the Rhodes Scholarship, the Clarendon Fund, Oxford-Weinfeld and Hoffman Scholarship and leadership program, Oxford graduate scholarships, and others.
The Rhodes Scholarship is awarded to international students who wish to pursue graduate study at the University of Oxford. It covers medical insurance, travel costs, visa, tuition fees, and a living stipend (£17,310 per year).
How to Study at the University of Oxford Without IELTS
- A minimum score of 100 in TOEFL
- A minimum score of 176 in the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English.
- A minimum grade of B in the International Baccalaureate.
Other accepted English proficiency tests can be found on the English language requirements website
2.) The University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is one of the most prestigious universities in Europe known for its academic excellence. It has produced the highest Nobel Prize laureates in the world.
It partners with The Gates Foundation to award the popular Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
Annually, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program offers 80 full scholarships to international students who wish to pursue a master’s or Ph.D. degree at the University of Cambridge. The Scholarship covers tuition fees, a visa, a monthly stipend (£17,848 per year), accommodation, and medical insurance.
How to Study at the University of Cambridge Without IELTS
The university allows international students who do not have IELTS to enroll in their course of choice and a 5-week intensive pre-sessional English course. Students dedicate 20 hours per week to learning, communicating, and presenting topics in the English language to develop their English language skills. Upon successful completion of the course, students are awarded a certificate and can continue to study their desired course.
Other English proficiency test scores accepted in place of IELTS include a minimum score of 193 in the C1 Advanced and/or a score of 200 in the C2 Proficiency is accepted, with no element lower than 185.
3.) The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is a high-ranking university with excellence in research. The University of Edinburgh offers fully funded scholarships to international students to study at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels such as the Glenmore postgraduate scholarship and the University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholarship programs.
How to Study at the University of Edinburgh Without IELTS
The University of Edinburgh offers a pre-sessional 6 months English course for foreign students to improve their English skills. This program is for both undergraduate and postgraduate students before they commence their desired courses at the university. International students can elect to go through this course in situations where they do not have IELTS.
The University of Edinburgh also accepts the following English language test scores:
- A TOEFL-iBT score of 92 or above with 20 in each section
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced (CAE) or C2 Proficiency (CPE) score of 176 with 162 in each component
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components.
Visit the University’s official website for further information
4.) The University of Bristol
The University of Bristol, a member of the Russell Group is one of the most regarded universities globally known for its research excellence and excellent quality of English-taught programs. It offers various fully-funded scholarships such as the University of Bristol Post Research and Teaching PhD Scholarships, and Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, among others.
How to Study at the University of Bristol Without IELTS
At Bristol University, international students from English-speaking countries are generally exempted from submitting English proficiency test scores. Those from the none English-speaking countries are given a conditional offer of admission without submitting IELTS test scores. They can meet the conditions of this offer by studying professional English courses for 4 weeks or 6 weeks depending on their language needs.
For more information, visit the University’s official website.
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5.) The University of Glasgow
Another top-ranking UK university, the University of Glasgow well known for its excellent education and research.
Annually, the university offers the University of Glasgow African and Caribbean Excellence Partners Awards to 10 foreign postgraduate students who intend to study at the University of Glasgow and it covers a full tuition fee waiver.
How to Study at the University of Glasgow Without IELTS
Undergraduate and postgraduate students have the chance to take pre-sessional English courses offered by the University of Glasgow online for 5 weeks. Through this program, students are able to improve their English language skills and meet the English language conditions of their offer.
The below English language test scores are also acceptable by the University of Bristol:
- A minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL ibt test
- Grade A in the Cambridge English Advanced (CAE)
- A minimum score of 68 in the Pearson Test of English (PTE)
For more information visit the University’s official website.
6.) The University of East Anglia
Another top university in the UK is the University of East Anglia which is ranked among the top 200 universities in the world. It is popular for its quality of research, teaching, state-of-the-art facilities, and excellent support services for students.
The University offers the International Development Full Fees Scholarship, one of the scholarship programs at the university. It is offered to students who intend to pursue a master’s degree, and it is available to international students from all over the world. The scholarship covers their full tuition fees.
How to Study at the University of East Anglia Without IELTS
The University of East Anglia also offers pre-sessional English courses to international students who do not have IELTS test scores to improve their English language proficiency skills.
These pre-sessional courses are available on-campus and online. Students can choose to study for 11 weeks, 8 weeks, or 6 weeks depending on their current English language proficiency level.
For further information on the pre-sessional English program and application timelines, visit the university”s official website.
7.) University College London
University College London is one of the foremost public universities in the world. It has produced 29 Nobel Prize laureates.
The University College London offers several scholarships including the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, which is a fully funded scholarship offered to foreign students.
Other scholarships the university awards are UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship, among others.
8.) Imperial College London
Imperial College London has an impressive track record in fields such as medicine, engineering, science, and business. It is one of the top universities in the UK that awards scholarships to Ph.D. students.
The university’s President’s Ph.D. scholarships, provide finance and support to PhD students covering the full tuition fees and a monthly stipend (£22,900 ) annually. It also covers £2,000 per year for other expenses.
How to Study at Imperial College London Without IELTS.
Imperial College through its Center for Academic English offers 6 weeks of intensive and full-time pre-sessional English courses to foreign students to improve their proficiency in English.
Other accepted English requirements are as follows:
- Citizens of English-speaking countries are not required to submit English proficiency test scores.
- A minimum grade of 92 in TOEFL.
- A minimum grade of 62 in the Pearson Test of English.
For further information on English proficiency test scores, visit the university’s official website.
9.) The University of Warwick
The University of Warwick offers fully funded scholarships to foreign students. The Chancellor’s International Scholarship is offered to 42 international Ph.D. students who wish to pursue study at the University of Warwick. The scholarship covers full tuition fees, a monthly payment of £15,609, and research funds worth £5,000.
How to Study at The University of Warwick Without IELTS.
The school offers a pre-sessional English program for international undergraduate and postgraduate students who do not have IELTS proficiency. This is for students who are given conditional admission to study at the University of Warwick.
International students can choose from any of the four pre-sessional English courses taught in 6 weeks or 10 weeks based on their English language levels.
Other English proficiency requirements accepted by the university include:
- Citizens of English-speaking countries do not need to submit English proficiency test scores.
- A minimum score of 72 in TOEFL.
- A minimum score of 125 on the Duolingo English test
Visit the university’s official website for more information
10.) University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham offers fully funded scholarships for postgraduate study and research. The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are offered to postgraduate international students from 47 eligible countries.
It covers full tuition fees, thesis expenses, monthly stipends (£225), health insurance, travel costs, and a travel grant (£200).
How to study at the University of Birmingham without IELTS.
The University of Birmingham offers international students fully funded scholarships to study at the institution without requiring IELTS scores. Students can apply for the university’s pre-sessional English program which will improve their English skills. The duration of the program is 22 weeks (starts in September and ends in March). Students can proceed to study their desired course after completing the program.
The University of Birmingham also accepts the following English test scores:
- A minimum score of 80 in TOEFL IBT.
- A minimum score of 64 in-person Test of English.
- A minimum grade of C in GCE O Level English.
For further information, visit the university’s official website.