Application Tips

Scholarships Without IELTS or TOEFL: 40+ Routes for African Students (2026)

Universities and scholarships that waive IELTS/TOEFL for African applicants — from MOI letters to Duolingo English Test, with country-by-country lists and template wording for waiver requests.

By Scholarships for Africans EditorialMay 16, 202612 min read

African student researching English-test-free scholarship options on a laptop

IELTS and TOEFL test fees ($200–$255 in most African capitals) often cost more than a month's rent — and a weak score can sink an otherwise strong application. The good news: a meaningful share of scholarships and universities do not require either test if you can prove your English another way.

This guide is the verified list, organised by what you can use instead: a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter, the Duolingo English Test, a university pre-sessional course, or simply nationality-based exemptions.

1. Scholarships that accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter

If your previous degree was taught in English, your university registrar can issue a one-page letter on letterhead confirming this. Most funders below accept it in place of IELTS/TOEFL.

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) — English-taught programmes accept an MOI from African universities.
Türkiye Bursları (YTB) — Accepts MOI for English-taught programmes; Turkish-taught programmes include a free prep year.
Hungarian Stipendium Hungaricum — Accepts MOI from English-medium African universities.
Russian Government Scholarship (Open Doors) — Accepts MOI; many programmes also include a Russian prep year.
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) — Accepts MOI from Commonwealth African universities.
Romanian Government Scholarship — Accepts MOI for English-taught programmes.
Polish NAWA Scholarships — MOI accepted by most Polish universities.
Mexican Government AMEXCID Scholarships — Accepts MOI; Spanish prep year provided.

2. Universities that accept Duolingo English Test ($59, online)

Duolingo English Test is the cheapest and fastest route — taken at home, results in 48 hours. It's accepted by 5,000+ institutions; the scholarship-relevant ones for African applicants include:

USA — Yale, Columbia, Duke, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Boston University, Northeastern, Arizona State and 600+ others.
Canada — University of Toronto, McGill, UBC, Waterloo, McMaster (Duolingo accepted for admissions; check each scholarship separately).
UK — Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham and Queen Mary (note: UKVI still requires a SELT for visa).
Ireland — Trinity College Dublin, UCD, NUI Galway.
Germany — Technical University of Munich, RWTH Aachen, Jacobs University Bremen.
Australia — University of Melbourne, ANU, Monash, UNSW.

3. Country-based exemptions

Most major universities exempt applicants from English-medium African countries automatically. You'll still need to upload your transcript showing English as the language of instruction.

Automatically exempt at most UK/US/Canadian/Australian universities: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Malawi.
Case-by-case (often need MOI letter): Rwanda, Cameroon (Anglophone regions), Mauritius, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini.
Usually not exempt: Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, DRC, Madagascar, Mozambique, Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia.

4. Universities with pre-sessional English (conditional offer route)

If your score falls short, most major universities offer 4–12 week pre-sessional English programmes. Pass the in-house exit test and your conditional offer becomes unconditional — no IELTS needed.

University of Manchester, University of Edinburgh, King's College London, University of Glasgow (UK).
University of Toronto, University of British Columbia (Canada).
Most Group of Eight (Go8) universities in Australia.
Many Dutch research universities (Wageningen, Twente, Eindhoven).

Template: MOI letter wording your registrar can use

Walk this into your university registrar's office. Most have never been asked for it in this format and will gladly use a template.

[University letterhead]

Date: [date]

To Whom It May Concern,

This is to certify that [Full Name], holder of student number [ID], was a registered student in the [Programme name] programme at [University name] from [start year] to [end year].

The medium of instruction, examination and assessment for this programme is English. All coursework, examinations, dissertations and oral defences were conducted entirely in English.

This letter is issued at the student's request for the purpose of further studies abroad.

Sincerely,

[Registrar's name and signature]
Office of the Registrar
[University name]

Funders that still require IELTS or TOEFL — don't waste time applying without one

Chevening — IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, Trinity ISE II or Cambridge English: B2 First.
Fulbright Foreign Student Program — TOEFL iBT (most commissions).
DAAD EPOS — IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 for most programmes.
Commonwealth Scholarships — IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90 (varies by university).
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — Most require IELTS 6.5+ regardless of MOI.
UK Tier-4/Student visa (UKVI) — Requires an approved SELT for some pathways; MOI alone won't satisfy the Home Office.

For full score thresholds and a 6-week free prep plan, see our IELTS vs TOEFL guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter accepted everywhere?

No. MOI letters are routinely accepted in Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Türkiye and most Asian destinations (China, Korea, Malaysia, India). The UK accepts them at some universities but not for Tier-4/Student visa English requirements — UKVI usually still wants a SELT. Always confirm with the specific university's admissions office in writing before relying on one.

Does Duolingo English Test count as IELTS/TOEFL?

It's accepted by 5,000+ institutions including most US universities, many Canadian and UK universities, and a growing list in Europe. But scholarship bodies are stricter than universities: Chevening, Fulbright and DAAD EPOS still require IELTS or TOEFL on official answer-key reporting. Use Duolingo for admissions, not for the scholarship paperwork.

I studied in English at a Francophone university. Does that count?

Only if the institution issues an English-medium attestation on letterhead. A bilingual transcript isn't enough. Francophone applicants from countries like Cameroon, Rwanda or Mauritius should ask their registrar for a signed 'Medium of Instruction' letter naming English specifically — most registrars know the format.

Which African countries are treated as 'English-speaking' by default?

Most universities exempt applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia from English testing — provided your prior degree was taught in English. Egypt, Ethiopia and Rwanda are case-by-case. Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, DRC and other Francophone/Lusophone countries are not exempt by default.

What if I'm rejected for English even after submitting an MOI?

Three options that work: (1) take the Duolingo English Test — same week, $59, results in 48 hours; (2) enrol in the university's own pre-sessional English programme (most run 6–12 week courses with conditional offers); (3) take IELTS Indicator (online, accepted by ~250 institutions as an interim score). Don't pay for full IELTS if you can avoid it — book the test only when no other route works.

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