IELTS score for scholarships - requirements by scheme
The IELTS score you actually need for Chevening, Commonwealth, DAAD, Erasmus Mundus, Fulbright and Stipendium Hungaricum. Most schemes defer to your university; some set their own floor - here is which is which, verified from each scheme.
What IELTS score do I need for a scholarship?
The key thing most applicants get wrong: most scholarships do not set their own IELTS score - they defer to your host university, which usually asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5-6.0. The exceptions that set a floor themselves are DAAD (6.0), Erasmus Mundus (6.5) and Fulbright (6.5). The table below shows each scheme; tap through for the full breakdown and the official source.
IELTS requirements by scholarship
| Scholarship | Sets its own score? | IELTS requirement | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| CheveningUnited Kingdom | No - university sets it | No own score — meet your UK university's (usually 6.5) | View |
| CommonwealthUnited Kingdom | No - university sets it | No own score — meet your UK university's (usually 6.5) | View |
| DAADGermany | Yes | IELTS 6.0 overall (5.5 each) for English-taught programmes | View |
| Erasmus MundusEuropean Union | Yes | IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0), by programme | View |
| FulbrightUnited States | Yes | IELTS 6.5 overall recommended (TOEFL preferred) | View |
| Stipendium HungaricumHungary | No - university sets it | No single score — set by the university, usually 5.5-6.5 | View |
Each figure is verified from the scheme's own guidance (2026-07-20). Where a scheme defers to the university, the band shown is the level UK/host universities typically require - always confirm on your course's admissions page.
IELTS requirement by scholarship
IELTS for scholarships - common questions
What IELTS score do I need for a scholarship?
It depends on the scheme. Most major scholarships — Chevening, Commonwealth, Stipendium Hungaricum — do not set their own IELTS score; they defer to your host university, which usually requires IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5-6.0. Others set a floor themselves: DAAD requires 6.0 for English-taught programmes, Erasmus Mundus programmes commonly require 6.5, and Fulbright recommends 6.5.
Which scholarships do not require IELTS?
Chevening removed its own English requirement in 2020, and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission does not require IELTS to apply — but in both cases your UK university still needs it (usually 6.5) to give you the offer. Some Stipendium Hungaricum programmes also accept a medium-of-instruction certificate instead of IELTS. No major scholarship lets you skip your university's own English requirement.
Is IELTS 6.5 enough for most scholarships?
For most scholarship-linked master's courses, yes — IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 meets the standard for Chevening, Commonwealth, Erasmus Mundus and Fulbright routes, and comfortably clears DAAD's 6.0 minimum. Competitive and professional courses (Law, Medicine) can require 7.0, so check your specific programme.
How do I check whether my IELTS band is high enough?
Take a free, full-length IELTS Academic practice test on this site to get AI-graded per-section bands, then use the IELTS score calculator to convert your raw answers into overall and section scores. Compare those against the scheme (and university) requirement on each scholarship page.