Study in Spain Without IELTS on Scholarship 2026-2027 [Fully Funded]

Planning to study in Spain in 2026-2027 but worried about the IELTS requirement? You're not alone - and there's good news. Spain remains one of Europe's top study destinations, known for affordable tuition, strong QS-ranked universities, and a lower cost of living than the UK or Germany. Many Spanish universities and scholarship programs now accept alternatives to IELTS, including a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter, Duolingo English Test scores, or an internal university English assessment - so a missing IELTS score doesn't have to close the door on your application.

This guide breaks down the top fully funded and partially funded Spain scholarships that don't require IELTS, the universities currently offering the waiver, and the exact documents and steps you'll need to apply - whether you're pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD. Keep reading for the full list of scholarships, required documents, and application deadlines below.

Spain Scholarships Overview: No IELTS Required

If you're planning to study in Spain for this academic year, this guide covers everything you need: scholarships that don't require IELTS, universities offering the waiver, and the exact application steps to apply with confidence.

Why Study in Spain?

1. Strong academic reputation - home to several QS-ranked universities, including the University of Barcelona, Complutense University of Madrid, and Pompeu Fabra University
2. Lower cost of living and tuition - public university tuition in Spain is often a fraction of UK or US costs, and cities outside Barcelona and Madrid (like Valencia, Salamanca, and Seville) offer even lower living expenses
3. Wide range of funding options - scholarships for international students are available through the Spanish government, individual universities, and private foundations
4. Flexible English-proficiency requirements - many universities accept alternatives to IELTS, such as a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter, Duolingo English Test scores, or an internal university assessment
5. Student-friendly cities with global communities - Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia in particular host large international student populations, making it easier to settle in
6. EU access advantage - a degree from Spain also opens doors to work and further study across the European Union

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Top Scholarships in Spain

Here are some top scholarships in the Spain that do not require IELTS:

#1 Spanish Government Scholarships (MAEC-AECID)

1. Run by the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), part of Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation
2. Aimed primarily at applicants from Latin America, Africa, and Asia who already hold admission to a master's programme for the relevant academic year at the time of applying
3. Benefits typically include a monthly stipend and health insurance covering the duration of study in Spain
4. Each annual call also tends to include dedicated programmes for European studies, diplomatic training, and artist/researcher residencies, alongside the master's-track scholarships for international applicants
5. The application window generally opens in spring and stays open for a short, fixed number of days once published - so check the current year's dates on the official portal as soon as the call opens rather than relying on a fixed calendar date
6. All applications must be submitted exclusively through the official AECID electronic office (Sede Electrónica) - no other application channel is accepted

Check the Current AECID Scholarship Call

#2 Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJM)

1. Funded by the European Union and delivered by a partnership of at least three higher education institutions from three different countries, at least two of which must be EU Member States or countries associated with the Programme
2. The EU scholarship for individual students typically covers a generous monthly stipend for up to 24 months, along with full tuition, travel, and installation costs - exact amounts are published annually, so check the current figure on the official catalogue
3. Open to students from all over the world - you study at several universities across Europe (and sometimes beyond) rather than one single institution
4. Each master's runs for 1-2 academic years (60, 90, or 120 ECTS credits) and results in either a joint degree or multiple degrees from the participating universities
5. Students apply directly to the institution running their chosen programme, several of which include Spanish universities as consortium partners
6. You can search the full course catalogue at any time for the latest available programmes and their specific deadlines

Search the Official Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Catalogue

#3 UIC Barcelona Scholarships

1. UIC Barcelona's International Excellence Scholarship covers 20% of tuition fees across all years of the degree - not 50% as commonly stated on other scholarship sites
2. Open to international students applying to most UIC Barcelona bachelor's programmes (Business Administration, Law, Architecture, Communication, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Bioengineering, Psychology, and others) - Dentistry and Medicine degrees are excluded from this specific grant
3. To qualify, applicants generally need an average grade equivalent to 8/10 from their first year of upper secondary education, and must pass UIC Barcelona's own entrance exam
4. The grant is renewable each year, provided the student passes all subjects and maintains an average of 7/10
5. Recipients are also expected to contribute 15 hours per year assisting their academic department
6. UIC Barcelona's website does not list an IELTS waiver or interview-based English assessment for this scholarship specifically - applicants should confirm English-language requirements directly with their admissions advisor rather than assume a waiver applies

View Official UIC Barcelona Scholarship Details

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#4 University of Granada Scholarships

1. The University of Granada runs its own Study Grant Fund, which complements national and regional Spanish grants rather than replacing them
2. UGR also maintains a dedicated resource listing external scholarships open to international ("third-country") students - including MAEC-AECID and various country-specific and foundation awards - though each scholarship has its own eligibility rules and application process
3. Available across Bachelor's, Master's, and doctoral-level study, depending on the specific grant or external programme
4. English-proficiency requirements vary by individual degree programme - some English-taught programmes may accept proof of prior study in English instead of IELTS, but this isn't stated as a university-wide policy, so applicants should confirm directly with their chosen faculty or the International Postgraduate School

View Official University of Granada Grants Page

#5 Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) Scholarships

1. UAM offers scholarship and mobility support through several channels rather than a single unified award - including UAM-Banco Santander grants for young researchers and doctoral students, Erasmus+ mobility funding, and listings of external scholarships (such as Fundación ONCE for doctoral students with disabilities)
2. Doctoral and research-focused funding is the most clearly documented category on UAM's official pages; undergraduate and master's-level international scholarship information is less centralized and often depends on the specific faculty or programme
3. English-proficiency requirements - including whether IELTS can be waived with a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter - vary by individual degree programme. UAM's official pages don't state a blanket university-wide waiver policy, so applicants should confirm directly with their chosen faculty's admissions office
4. Most undergraduate programmes at UAM are taught in Spanish, so applicants pursuing an English-taught degree should verify language of instruction and English-proficiency requirements together before assuming an IELTS waiver applies

View Official UAM Doctoral School Grants Page

#6 Barcelona Institute of Economics (IEB) Scholarships

1. IEB is a research centre in economics, operating through the University of Barcelona - not a separate university offering standalone Master's degrees
2. IEB's scholarships fund PhD study in Economics, not Master's programmes - applicants must already hold a Master's degree in Economics to be eligible, as a prerequisite for applying
3. The scholarship covers a yearly stipend (recently around €18,000), full PhD tuition fees, and travel grants for academic conferences
4. Funded positions typically run for 3 years, with a possible one-year extension
5. Recipients research under IEB faculty supervision and take on undergraduate teaching duties in Applied/Public Economics as part of the award
6. These are competitive, limited-quota PhD scholarships, not a broad Bachelor's/Master's tuition-waiver programme

View Official IEB PhD Scholarship Calls

#7 Fundación Carolina Scholarships

1. A public-private Spanish institution that funds graduates, researchers, and professionals from Latin America and other Ibero-American Community countries to pursue postgraduate study in Spain
2. Open to Master's, PhD, and post-doctoral candidates, across all academic fields, with additional mobility and institutional-training programmes available in some cycles
3. Coverage typically includes full or partial tuition, a monthly living stipend, medical insurance, and in some cases return travel costs
4. Applicants must already hold admission (or be in the process of applying) to a graduate or doctoral programme at a Spanish university, alongside a strong academic or professional track record
5. Each annual call is exclusively open to nationals of Ibero-American Community of Nations member countries - this is not a globally open scholarship
6. English-proficiency requirements aren't the focus of this scholarship; most Fundación Carolina-linked programmes are Spanish-medium, so applicants should confirm the language of instruction for their specific chosen programme rather than assume an IELTS waiver applies

View Official Fundación Carolina Scholarships

#8 CEU Universities Scholarships

1. Universidad CEU San Pablo (not to be confused with Central European University, which is a separate institution based in Vienna/Budapest) runs the CEU International Merit Program, a dedicated scholarship track for international applicants
2. Funded through the Fundación CEU San Pablo, a non-profit foundation that has directed scholarship funding to students for over 75 years - among the largest private scholarship investors in Spain
3. Separately, the Matrícula de Honor scholarship covers the entire first year of tuition for students who achieved the top possible grade average in their final year of pre-university (Bachillerato) study immediately before admission - this is a narrower, merit-only track rather than open to all applicants
4. Available across CEU San Pablo's undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
5. English-proficiency requirements, including any IELTS waiver for students with a prior English-taught degree, vary by individual degree programme - applicants should confirm directly with the admissions office for their chosen course rather than assume a blanket waiver applies

View Official CEU San Pablo International Scholarships

Typical Application Windows at a Glance

• MAEC-AECID - Opens in spring; exact dates published annually on AECID's official portal
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters - Most programmes open October–January for the following academic year
• UIC Barcelona International Excellence Scholarship - Rolling, tied to the general admissions timeline; final results announced end of May
• Fundación Carolina - Opens around January, closes March - April, depending on the specific programme
• UGR, UAM, CEU San Pablo scholarships - Vary by faculty and programme; confirm directly with admissions

Since exact dates shift each year, always confirm the current call on the university or scholarship's official page before applying.

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How Spanish Universities Handle English Proficiency (Without Requiring IELTS Specifically)

Spanish universities don't typically ban or exclude IELTS - but they also don't require it exclusively. Most accept any one of several accepted proofs of English proficiency, which means students without an IELTS score aren't excluded either. Common accepted alternatives include:

1. A TOEFL score
2. A CEFR B2-level certificate (or equivalent, like Cambridge FCE/CAE)
3. A Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter confirming your prior degree was taught in English
4. Some universities' own internal English assessment

Always check the specific language-requirements page for your chosen university and programme, since requirements vary by faculty - the list below links directly to each university's official international admissions or language-policy page so you can confirm current requirements yourself.

• University of Barcelona (UB) - Language requirements
• Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) - Language Policy
• Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) - accepts CEFR B2, IELTS 6.0, or TOEFL 87 (per official admissions criteria)
• Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) - Course language requirements

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How to Apply for Scholarships in Spain?

Step 1: Choose a University and Programme

Compare tuition, location, and language of instruction across the universities and programmes covered above. Confirm each programme's specific English-proficiency requirements directly on the university's official page, since these vary by faculty.

Step 2: Track Scholarship Deadlines

Most scholarship calls open 6-12 months before the intake begins, though exact dates shift each year. Bookmark the official pages for each scholarship you're targeting and check them directly rather than relying on third-party deadline trackers, which can lag behind official updates.

Step 3: Prepare Your Documents

Most applications require:

1. Academic transcripts
2. A CV/resume
3. A motivation letter
4. Recommendation letters
5. Proof of English proficiency - an IELTS score, TOEFL score, CEFR certificate, or a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter, depending on what your chosen university accepts

Step 4: Submit Your Applications

Apply directly through each university's admissions portal and the relevant scholarship's own application system - most scholarships require a separate application from university admission itself, so budget time for both.

Step 5: Apply for Your Student Visa

Once accepted, apply for your Spanish student visa through the Spanish consulate or embassy in your home country - this is the only official channel for visa applications.

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Final Tips for Success

1. Apply early. Scholarship competition is high, and many calls close months before the intake begins - track deadlines as soon as they're published rather than waiting.
2. Check accepted English-proficiency alternatives. Some Spanish universities and programmes accept TOEFL, CEFR B2 certificates, Duolingo, or a Medium of Instruction letter alongside or instead of IELTS - confirm exactly which alternatives your chosen programme accepts before assuming one applies.
3. Contact the university directly. Don't rely solely on third-party scholarship sites - email the international admissions office to confirm current English-proficiency policy and application requirements for your specific programme.
4. Explore scholarships beyond Spain-specific programmes. If you're open to studying elsewhere in Europe or UK, broader schemes like DAAD Scholarship (Germany), or Chevening Scholarship (United Kingdom) can be worth comparing alongside Spain's own options.

Conclusion

Spain offers strong scholarship opportunities for international students, and IELTS isn't the only path to proving your English proficiency - most universities accept alternatives like TOEFL, CEFR certificates, or a Medium of Instruction letter instead. By researching each programme's specific requirements early and applying strategically across government, EU, and university-funded options, you can build a realistic funding plan for studying in Spain.