If you are an African woman searching for fully funded scholarships without IELTS, you are not alone — and the good news is that more programs than most guides acknowledge will accept alternatives to a formal IELTS or TOEFL score. The bad news is that “without IELTS” means something different in each case: some programs run their own English assessment, some accept a Medium of Instruction certificate from your previous university, some simply never required a formal test at all. This guide covers 9 scholarships for African women without IELTS — each verified against official sources — sorted by what “without IELTS” actually means in practice, so you know exactly what you’re getting into before you apply.
What “Without IELTS” Actually Means Across These Programs
Before the program list, a clarification that saves time: none of these scholarships mean you can ignore English proficiency entirely. What they do mean is that you don’t need a submitted IELTS score specifically. The alternatives fall into three categories:
Category 1 — Own assessment: The program runs its own English test as part of selection (MEXT’s embassy exam is the clearest example).
Category 2 — Medium of Instruction Certificate (MOI/EPC): Your previous university issues an official letter confirming your degree was taught in English. This replaces IELTS at the point of application. See our complete guide on how to request one: What is an English Proficiency Language Certificate
Category 3 — No formal test required: The program does not ask for a language test at application stage. English proficiency is assessed through your application materials, supervisor endorsement, or interview instead (British Council Women in STEM and Mawazo are the strongest examples here).
Understanding which category applies to your target scholarship before applying avoids one of the most common time-wasting mistakes in scholarship applications — assuming “without IELTS” means no English requirement at all.
1. British Council Women in STEM Scholarships
IELTS Requirement: None — explicitly stated in the program’s own documentation
Why No IELTS: English language support is built into the scholarship itself. The British Council specifically designed this to remove the upfront English test barrier for women from developing countries, recognizing that test access and cost are themselves inequalities.
What You Get: Minimum £40,000 covering full tuition, living stipend, return travel, UK visa fees, health coverage, and English language support for a one-year Master’s degree at a UK university
Who It’s For: Women from eligible developing countries pursuing a STEM Master’s in the UK — Egypt has 10 allocated places for the 2026-27 cycle; Nigeria is not on the current cycle’s eligible list
Deadline: 2026-27 cycle closed April 30, 2026 — next cycle expected early 2027
Full guide: British Council Women in STEM Scholarships Africa
2. Mawazo Institute Fellowship
IELTS Requirement: None — English proficiency is assessed through application materials
Why No IELTS: Mawazo is a non-residential, non-degree fellowship — you continue your existing PhD at your current African university. There’s no UK, US, or European institution gatekeeping admission through a test score.
What You Get: 15-month fellowship including research funding grants, virtual leadership and communications training through the MLEx platform, structured mentorship, and access to the Mawazo Voices public policy platform
Who It’s For: African women currently enrolled in a PhD at an accredited African university, in any field — including social sciences, humanities, and law, unlike most other programs on this list
Deadline: July 31, 2026 — now closed. Next cohort expected early-to-mid 2027.
Full guide: Mawazo Institute Fellowship African Women
3. OWSD PhD Fellowship
IELTS Requirement: No formal test required
Why No IELTS: OWSD uses a supervisor endorsement and academic record rather than standardized test scores to assess English proficiency. Your research proposal and supervisor’s letter carry more weight than a test result.
What You Get: Full funding for a PhD at a host institution in another developing country — tuition, monthly stipend, return travel, research expenses, conference funding, and a thesis preparation allowance
Who It’s For: Women from Sub-Saharan African countries (and other Science and Technology-Lagging Countries) pursuing a PhD in natural sciences, engineering, or IT at a host institution in another developing country
Current Status: No 2025 cycle ran due to funding constraints; a third-party listing cites an August 31, 2026 deadline — verify at owsd.net before planning around this
Full guide: OWSD PhD Fellowship African Women
4. L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science (Sub-Saharan Africa Programme)
IELTS Requirement: No formal English test listed in eligibility criteria
Why No IELTS: This is a research grant, not a degree-granting program — you’re already enrolled in your doctoral or postdoctoral work. Research quality and applied development relevance drive selection, not English test scores.
What You Get: €10,000 (doctoral) or €15,000 (postdoctoral) research grant, plus leadership training and membership in the pan-African L’Oréal-UNESCO Women in Science network
Who It’s For: Women currently in at least their second year of a PhD, or who defended their PhD after February 2021 (postdoctoral), conducting research in STEM fields in Sub-Saharan Africa
Deadline: 2026 cycle closed May 15, 2026 — next cycle expected early 2027
Full guide: L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Africa
5. Schlumberger Faculty for the Future (FFTF) Fellowship
IELTS Requirement: No formal test required at application
Why No IELTS: Selection is primarily driven by your research proposal, academic record, host supervisor’s endorsement, and your reintegration plan — not a language test. Your supervisor’s letter from the host institution effectively signals your ability to function in English at the research level.
What You Get: Up to $50,000/year (PhD) or $40,000/year (postdoc) covering actual eligible costs including tuition, living stipend, return travel, health insurance, and books — renewable annually through completion
Who It’s For: Women from developing countries pursuing a PhD or postdoc in STEM at a university abroad. All African countries are eligible; the dual-citizenship-with-a-developed-country restriction is the main exclusion to watch.
Deadline: November 7, 2026 — currently open. This is the only program on this list with a live, open deadline right now.
Full guide: Schlumberger Faculty for the Future Fellowship Africa
6. MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship
IELTS Requirement: None — replaced by the embassy’s own written English and Japanese exam
Why No IELTS: Japan’s MEXT scholarship runs its own two-part written examination through the local embassy as part of First Screening. You sit this exam rather than submitting a pre-existing test score. The exam itself is what determines language eligibility.
What You Get: Full tuition, monthly stipend (¥143,000–145,000/month depending on level), and round-trip airfare for Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD study in Japan
Who It’s For: Applicants from countries with diplomatic relations with Japan, including all major African nations — MEXT runs through each country’s Japanese Embassy, and deadlines vary by country (typically April–July annual window)
Full guide: MEXT Scholarship Without IELTS
7. Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship
IELTS Requirement: Accepted but not mandatory — a Medium of Instruction certificate is accepted by many participating Hungarian universities in place of IELTS
Why No IELTS: Hungary’s scholarship operates through individual universities, each setting their own language requirements. Many accept a certified letter from your previous institution confirming English-medium instruction instead of a formal test score. This varies by program, so confirm your specific course.
What You Get: Full tuition waiver, monthly stipend (approximately HUF 43,700 for Master’s, HUF 140,000 for PhD), dormitory accommodation or housing contribution, for any Hungarian university
Who It’s For: Citizens of 70+ partner countries including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania, Uganda, and more — a real, large Africa footprint
Important: Two separate applications are mandatory — the Stipendium Hungaricum portal AND your home country’s Sending Partner institution. Missing either one is automatic disqualification.
Full guide: Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship
8. Romania Government Scholarship
IELTS Requirement: None for Romanian-taught programs; varies for English-taught programs
Why No IELTS: Romanian Bachelor’s and Master’s programs are taught in Romanian, not English — so English tests aren’t the relevant language assessment here. PhD students choosing English-track programs may need to show proficiency through alternative means. No age limit, and no merit-only selection — financial need is a genuine criterion.
What You Get: Full tuition waiver, monthly stipend (€65 Bachelor’s / €75 Master’s / €85 PhD), plus free dormitory accommodation (subject to availability) — plus a funded Romanian language preparatory year if you don’t already speak it
Who It’s For: Citizens of non-EU countries, including all African nations — the program has no racial, ethnic, or geographic restriction beyond non-EU citizenship
Deadline: Most recent cycle ran February 16 – March 31, 2026 — next cycle expected early 2027
Full guide: Romania Government Scholarship
9. DAAD EPOS Scholarship (Germany)
IELTS Requirement: Varies by individual course — many accept an MOI certificate instead
Why No IELTS: DAAD EPOS is an umbrella covering many separate courses, each with its own requirements. A significant number of participating German universities and courses accept a Medium of Instruction certificate from your prior institution in place of a formal IELTS score — but this isn’t universal, so confirm your specific course before assuming.
What You Get: Full tuition, monthly living stipend (approximately €934/month), health insurance, travel costs, and a thesis preparation grant for Master’s or PhD programs in Germany
Who It’s For: Students from developing countries (all African nations included) in development-relevant fields, with at least two years of professional experience after your Bachelor’s degree
Full guide: DAAD EPOS Scholarship
How to Choose the Right Scholarship for You
Not every scholarship on this list is open to you right now — your career stage, field, and country all determine which ones are actually relevant. Here’s a quick filter:
If you’re pursuing a Master’s degree: → British Council Women in STEM (UK, STEM fields, country restrictions apply) → Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary, any field, 70+ African partner countries) → Romania Government Scholarship (Romania, taught in Romanian, no field restriction) → DAAD EPOS (Germany, development-relevant fields, 2+ years work experience required)
If you’re pursuing a PhD: → OWSD PhD Fellowship (in another developing country, natural sciences/engineering/IT) → FFTF Schlumberger (abroad, STEM, up to $50,000/year, currently open) → MEXT Japan (Japan, any field, embassy exam replaces IELTS) → Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary, any field, higher stipend at PhD level)
If you’re already enrolled in a PhD: → Mawazo Institute Fellowship (any field, non-residential, stays at your current university) → L’Oréal-UNESCO Sub-Saharan Africa (STEM research grant, doctoral or postdoc level)
If your country is not eligible for one of these right now: Check the English Proficiency Certificate guide — a properly prepared MOI letter from your previous institution opens several more options across Europe and Asia that aren’t yet on this list: What is an English Proficiency Language Certificate
Frequently Asked Questions
Can African women really get scholarships without IELTS? Yes — multiple fully verified programs on this list do not require a submitted IELTS score. What they do require varies: some run their own English exam, some accept a Medium of Instruction certificate, some assess English through application materials and supervisor endorsements instead.
Is an MOI certificate the same as IELTS? No, but it serves the same function for many scholarship programs. An MOI certificate is an official letter from your previous university confirming your degree was conducted in English. It doesn’t have a score — it’s a binary confirmation. See our full guide on how to request one: What is an English Proficiency Language Certificate
Which scholarships for African women without IELTS are currently open? As of today, the FFTF Schlumberger Fellowship is the only one on this list with a confirmed live deadline — November 7, 2026. Check each program’s official page for the current status of other cycles.
Do these scholarships cover full costs? It varies significantly. British Council Women in STEM and FFTF are the most comprehensive. L’Oréal-UNESCO and Mawazo are research grants, not full living-cost scholarships. Romania’s stipend (€65-85/month) doesn’t cover full living costs. Always read the coverage details rather than relying on “fully funded” labels alone.
What is the easiest scholarship without IELTS for African women? No scholarship on this list is objectively “easy” — but the most accessible in terms of eligibility breadth are Stipendium Hungaricum (70+ African partner countries, any field, no prior work experience for Master’s), Romania Government Scholarship (all African nations, no age limit, no merit-only selection), and Mawazo Institute Fellowship (all African countries, any field including non-STEM, currently enrolled PhD students).
How to Apply for Scholarships Without IELTS as an African Woman
Step 1: Request Your English Proficiency Certificate
Visit your previous university’s registrar, international office, or Dean of Studies and request an official Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter. Ask them to confirm on official letterhead that your degree program was taught in English. Get at least three copies — you’ll need this for multiple applications: What is an English Proficiency Language Certificate
Step 2: Match Your Career Stage to the Right Programs
Use the “How to Choose” filter above. Applying to programs outside your career stage (e.g., a current PhD student applying for a PhD scholarship that requires not yet having started) wastes your time and disqualifies your application.
Step 3: Confirm Country Eligibility Individually
British Council, OWSD, and Stipendium Hungaricum all have country-specific eligibility that changes by cycle. Confirm for your specific country at the time of application, not based on what a guide published earlier in the year says.
Step 4: Prepare Your Application Documents Early
Most of these programs require a recommendation letter, a personal statement or research proposal, and academic transcripts. Start collecting these at least 6-8 weeks before the deadline — recommendation letters in particular take longer than applicants expect: Recommendation Letter for Scholarship | Personal Statement for Scholarship / SOP Examples
Step 5: Apply to Multiple Programs in the Same Cycle
Different programs have different deadlines and different eligibility criteria. If FFTF (November 7) and Stipendium Hungaricum (November-February window) are both relevant to you this cycle, there’s no reason not to prepare for both simultaneously rather than sequentially.
Step 6: Track Cycle Openings Rather Than Waiting for Announcements
Most of these programs don’t email you when they open. Bookmark the official portal for each program and check it every 4-6 weeks between July and November, which is when the majority of cycles for study starting the following September tend to open.
More Scholarships:
African Women Hub, Scholarships for African Women in UK,