Top Universities Offering STEM, Social Sciences & IT Scholarships Without IELTS

 

For many international students, the IELTS test can be a barrier when applying abroad. The good news? Several world-class universities in STEM, Social Sciences, IT, and Computer Science offer scholarships where IELTS is either waived or replaced with alternative proof of English proficiency.

This means you can pursue your dream education without the extra hurdle of a costly language exam.

Why Some Universities Waive IELTS

Universities understand that IELTS isn’t always the best way to measure English skills. That’s why many institutions allow:

• Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificates – proving your previous degree was taught in English

• Other English tests – like Duolingo, TOEFL, PTE, or Cambridge English

• Internal assessments – some universities test your English directly

• English-speaking country education background – automatically accepted in many cases

Best Universities With Scholarships That Don’t Require IELTS

Here are some of the top-ranked universities worldwide offering scholarships in STEM, IT, Computer Science, and Social Sciences — without making IELTS mandatory.

University	Country	Fields Available	IELTS Alternative	Scholarships Offered
University of Glasgow	UK	STEM, Engineering, Social Sciences	MOI certificate or alternative proof	International Leadership Scholarships
University of Bristol	UK	IT, CS, Social Sciences, STEM	Accepts MOI or other English evidence	Think Big Scholarships (UG & PG)
University of Warwick	UK	STEM, Computer Science, Social Sciences	IELTS waiver via MOI or internal test	Warwick Chancellor’s Scholarships
University of Sussex	UK	STEM & Social Sciences	MOI or alternative English tests	Chancellor’s International Scholarships
University of East Anglia	UK	Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences	Pre-sessional English or MOI	Development Scholarships
EPFL (Switzerland)	Switzerland	STEM & Computer Science	Prior English-medium education accepted	EPFL Excellence Fellowships
KAIST (Korea)	South Korea	Engineering, CS, IT, STEM	MOI or equivalent English proof	Fully funded Master’s & PhD Scholarships
Hokkaido University	Japan	STEM & Engineering	IELTS not mandatory for some scholarships	President & Government Scholarships
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia	Malaysia	STEM, Social Sciences, IT	MOI or internal English assessment	Malaysian Government Scholarships
Shanghai Jiao Tong University	China	STEM, Computer Science	MOI or English proficiency proof	Chinese Govt. & SJTU Scholarships

Tips to Boost Your Chances

Applying without IELTS can be competitive. Here’s how to stand out:

1. Strong academic profile – High grades, research work, and projects matter more without IELTS.

2. Get an MOI certificate – Request it from your previous university if your degree was taught in English.

3. Consider Duolingo or PTE – Cheaper, faster, and accepted by many top schools.

4. Check visa rules – Sometimes immigration offices require IELTS even if the university doesn’t.

5. Apply early – Scholarships fill up quickly, especially those without IELTS requirements.

Studying abroad in fields like STEM, Social Sciences, IT, and Computer Science is possible without IELTS, thanks to scholarships at leading global universities. By providing alternative proof of English proficiency and showcasing a strong academic record, you can secure admission — and financial support — at some of the world’s best institutions.