Universities Offering Scholarships Without IELTS, how true is it? No Canadian scholarship removes the English requirement, but these six universities let you meet it without IELTS. They accept the Duolingo English Test, TOEFL, PTE or CAEL, or an English-language pathway programme, and each one offers entrance scholarships: Concordia, University of Winnipeg, Brandon, Saskatchewan, Victoria and Carleton.
Are you an international student looking to study in Canada on a scholarship without taking IELTS? Here is what that actually means, and which universities make it possible.
What “Without IELTS” Really Means?
Every university below requires proof of English proficiency. “Without IELTS” means you can prove it another way. The routes that appear on these universities’ pages include:
- A different test: Duolingo English Test (DET), TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, CAEL or Cambridge English
- A pathway programme: an English course at the university that, once passed, meets the requirement
- Previous English-medium study: some universities accept earlier education taught in English
The scholarship is awarded when you are admitted, so you must meet the English requirement first.
| University | Accepts instead of IELTS | Pathway option | Scholarship type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia University (Montreal) | DET, TOEFL, PTE, CAEL, Cambridge | English diagnostic and intensive ESL route | Entrance scholarships |
| University of Winnipeg | DET, PTE, CAEL, CanTest, Cambridge | English Language Programme | President’s Scholarship for World Leaders |
| Brandon University | DET and several other routes | EAP Tier 4 | Entrance scholarships |
| University of Saskatchewan | TOEFL, DET, CAEL, PTE | English for Academic Purposes joint admission | Guaranteed entrance and international awards |
| University of Victoria | DET, TOEFL, PTE, CAEL, Cambridge | English Language Centre programmes | Automatic entrance scholarships |
| Carleton University | DET, TOEFL, PTE, CAEL, Cambridge | ESLA programme | Entrance scholarships and an international award |
Concordia University
Concordia University in Montreal accepts CAEL, Cambridge English, the Duolingo English Test, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT for international admission. Students who pass the Advanced 2 level of its intensive English programme with a final grade of 70% meet the English requirement automatically. Required scores vary by programme, so check your faculty.
Concordia University offers valuable Entrance Scholarships to undergraduate candidates every fall. These scholarships are primarily awarded based on academic performance and are not automatically granted to all students who receive admission offers.
Eligibility:
- Entrance Scholarships are available to full-time students beginning their first university-level studies, having completed CEGEP, Canadian high school, college or an equivalent educational pathway.
- Candidates must be admitted to a bachelor’s programme.
- They are not available to visiting students, independent students or those admitted to certificate programmes.
Selection process:
- Faculties decide Entrance Scholarships during the admission processing period, from spring to summer, until all scholarships are allocated.
- Most selections are automatic and based on academic ranking.
- Only selected candidates are notified.
- For Fine Arts programmes that require a portfolio, selection is mainly based on the portfolio.
Disbursement: scholarships are paid to the recipient’s university account after registration is verified, usually in two equal instalments over the Fall and Winter terms.
University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg requires proof of English proficiency, but it isn’t limited to IELTS. It also accepts tests such as the Duolingo English Test, Cambridge, CanTest, CAEL and PTE, and it offers an English Language Programme.
President’s Scholarship for World Leaders: this award goes to international students entering any of the university’s divisions for the first time, and it is worth up to $5,000.
- Undergraduate: 6 awards of CAN $5,000. Graduate: 3 awards of $5,000. Collegiate, PACE and ELP: 3 awards of $3,500 each.
- Eligibility: be an international student entering your first programme at UWinnipeg, hold the equivalent of a Canadian 80% grade average, and complete an admission application by the scholarship deadline.
- Documents: a personal statement, a CV and two reference letters.
- Deadline: scholarship portals list November 1, 2026. Confirm it on UWinnipeg’s own page.
Brandon University
Brandon University has a long list of ways to prove English. There are 12 accepted routes, including the Duolingo English Test, IELTS Academic, Cambridge C2 Proficiency, certain secondary-school English results, a prior degree taught in English, and its own English for Academic Purposes programme. Its listed minimum requirements are a guideline and do not guarantee admission.
Scholarships include Board of Governors Entrance Scholarships, IB Scholarships, AP Scholarships and Deans’ Awards for Undergraduate Research Excellence, plus awards for student-athletes. One third-party source lists the Board of Governors Entrance Scholarship at $2,000 for a high-school average of 95% or more, but amounts change, so check Brandon’s scholarship page.
University of Saskatchewan
USask accepts IELTS Academic, CAEL and the Duolingo English Test among other tests, and applicants who don’t meet the requirement can apply for joint admission to its English for Academic Purposes programme.
Scholarships:
- Guaranteed entrance scholarships: these are based on your admission average.
- International awards: international students entering any direct-entry college are considered for an International Student Scholarship (the International Excellence Award is a one-time $10,000), and applying for admission is how you’re considered. The listing says you must pay the $90 application fee and meet the English requirement by March 1.
University of Victoria
UVic requires all applicants to show English proficiency and accepts tests from recognised organisations (the Duolingo English Test minimum is 120, with no subscore below 110) as well as programmes at its English Language Centre. Tests taken more than two years before your application are not accepted. The ELC preliminary admission route gives you up to 24 months to meet the requirement for full admission.
Scholarships: UVic offers automatic entrance scholarships based on admission average, and international undergraduates must normally be entering first year and meet its academic and English requirements. The same page says entrance scholarships are offered to students coming from Canadian-curriculum schools or Canadian colleges and universities, so check your own eligibility with UVic.
Carleton University
For direct entry, Carleton’s English-language table lists IELTS 6.5 (with at least 6.0 in each part) and a Duolingo English Test overall score of 120 for Fall 2026 entry or later. It also accepts CAEL, PTE Academic and Cambridge tests, and it has a new TOEFL scale from January 2026. Applicants who fall below direct entry can use its English as a Second Language (ESLA) programme.
Scholarships: Carleton offers renewable entrance scholarships for new students with strong admission averages, and the President’s Welcome Award for International Students is an automatic entrance award for international undergraduate applicants.
How to Apply to Universities Offering Scholarships Without IELTS
- Pick a university and course, and check its English-language page for the tests it accepts and the minimum scores.
- Compare the cost and timing of a test like the Duolingo English Test against IELTS. Our Duolingo English Test cost guide explains it.
- Ask the university whether it has a pathway programme if your score is below the direct-entry level.
- Apply for admission before the deadline, because scholarships are tied to admission.
- Keep your results valid, since many universities don’t accept tests older than two years.
Frequently Asked Questions about Universities Offering Scholarships Without IELTS
Can I get a Canadian scholarship without any English test?
Not usually. You must meet the English requirement in some way, such as a different test, a pathway programme or prior English-medium study.Do I need to apply separately for these scholarships?
It depends. Some, like UVic’s and Carleton’s entrance awards, are automatic. Others, like Winnipeg’s President’s Scholarship, need an application.Which test is easiest to take instead of IELTS?
There’s no single answer. Compare the Duolingo English Test, TOEFL and PTE for cost, format and each university’s minimum score.Does passing a pathway programme count?
Often yes. Concordia, Brandon, Saskatchewan, UVic and Carleton all list pathway or English-programme routes.
