15 UK and Canada Universities Offering Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships Without IELTS (WAEC Accepted) in 2026

      Introduction

I’ve sat across from hundreds of students over the years, and the same worry keeps coming up. “I have great WAEC results, but I can’t afford IELTS right now, does that mean I’m stuck?” No, it doesn’t. That question is actually why I decided to put this guide together.

Here’s what most people don’t realize. A good number of universities in the UK and Canada will accept your WAEC or NECO English result, or a letter confirming your education was taught in English, instead of asking you to sit IELTS at all. If your schooling was in English from primary through university, admissions officers often already have what they need.

Pair that with a fully funded scholarship, and you’re looking at a Master’s degree abroad that doesn’t drain your savings or force you into a test you may not even need. In this guide, I’m walking you through 15 universities across the UK and Canada where this is genuinely possible in 2026, plus the official portals to apply directly.

  Scholarship Overview

Every scholarship on this list comes straight from the university itself, not a third party agency. Most cover full tuition. A handful throw in a living stipend, health cover, and even help with flights. What ties them together is one thing: they all have a route that lets WAEC or NECO stand in for IELTS.

Quick rundown of who made the list.

United Kingdom

1. University of Portsmouth
2. Birmingham City University
3. Coventry University
4. University of Bristol
5. Northumbria University
6. University of Greenwich
7. University of Warwick
8. Loughborough University

Canada 9. University of Alberta 10. University of Saskatchewan 11. Lakehead University 12. Simon Fraser University 13. Université Laval 14. McGill University 15. Concordia University

One thing I always tell applicants: the IELTS waiver rarely applies to every single course at a university. It’s usually tied to the department, sometimes even the individual programme. So don’t assume, go and check the actual course page before you get attached to an idea.

 Scholarship Summary Table

I built this table so you can compare all 15 at a glance before reading the full details below.

University	Host Country	Study Level	Funding Type	Eligible Countries	Deadline
Portsmouth	UK	Master’s	Full to partial tuition	International, including Africa	Varies by intake
Birmingham City	UK	Master’s	Partial to full tuition	International	Varies by intake
Coventry	UK	Master’s	Partial to full tuition	International, strong Nigeria and Ghana intake	Varies by intake
Bristol	UK	Master’s	Full tuition, Think Big scheme	International	Usually spring
Northumbria	UK	Master’s	Partial to full tuition	International	Varies by intake
Greenwich	UK	Master’s	Partial tuition	International	Varies by intake
Warwick	UK	Master’s	Full tuition, Chancellor’s scheme	International	Usually spring
Loughborough	UK	Master’s	Full tuition, African focused	African countries	Usually spring
Alberta	Canada	Master’s	Full tuition plus stipend	International, select African countries	Rolling, check department
Saskatchewan	Canada	Master’s	Full tuition plus stipend	International	Rolling, check department
Lakehead	Canada	Master’s	Partial to full tuition	International	Varies by intake
Simon Fraser	Canada	Master’s	Competitive fellowships	International	Varies by intake
Laval	Canada	Master’s	Full tuition exemption available	International	Varies by intake
McGill	Canada	Master’s	Full tuition, McCall MacBain route	International	Usually autumn
Concordia	Canada	Master’s	Entrance scholarships	International	Varies by intake

A quick word of caution. Deadlines shift almost every year, sometimes by weeks, sometimes by months. Treat this table as your starting compass, not your final answer, and always cross check the live page before you build your timeline around it.

   Scholarship Benefits

The benefits aren’t identical everywhere, but there’s a pattern I see again and again.

Full or partial tuition coverage A monthly or annual stipend, more common with the Canadian awards Health insurance for the length of your programme Research funding and academic mentorship Access to alumni and scholar networks that genuinely help after graduation Occasionally, support toward flights or visa costs

I’ll be honest, the stipend amounts vary wildly. What covers rent comfortably in Saskatoon might barely stretch in London. Read the actual figures on the university’s funding page rather than going by what a blog post tells you, including this one.

 Eligibility Criteria

Most of these scholarships circle around the same core requirements, even if the wording differs slightly from one university to the next.

A completed undergraduate degree, typically a second class upper or its equivalent Academic transcripts that fit the Master’s programme you’re applying for WAEC or NECO English result with a credit pass, usually C6 and above A Statement of Purpose written specifically for that programme, not recycled from another application Two academic or professional references Evidence of leadership or community work, for some of the more competitive awards

That last point trips people up. McGill’s McCall MacBain route, for instance, genuinely weighs what you’ve done outside the classroom. Don’t leave that section of your application blank.

 Available Courses and Fields of Study

These 15 universities open up a wide spread of Master’s programmes. The most commonly funded fields I’ve come across include:

Business and Management Computer Science and Data Analytics Engineering Public Health Education International Relations and Development Studies Environmental Science Law, though this one tends to keep stricter English requirements

Course lists change from one academic year to the next, so before you fall in love with a specific programme, confirm it’s still running and still funded.

 Required Documents

Get these ready early. Nothing derails an application faster than scrambling for a document two days before a deadline.

Academic transcripts and certificates WAEC or NECO result slip English Proficiency Letter from your former school, where the university asks for one A valid international passport Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement Two reference letters An updated CV Proof of funding for any costs the scholarship doesn’t cover, if requested

 English Language Requirements (IELTS, TOEFL, or Waiver)

This is the section most people scroll straight to, so let’s get into it properly.

Portsmouth, Birmingham City, Coventry, Northumbria, and Bristol will generally accept a Letter of English Proficiency or your WAEC result instead of IELTS, as long as your earlier education was conducted in English.

Greenwich runs its own internal test called OIETC, and treats that as sufficient on its own.

Warwick and Loughborough allow alternative proof, but this depends heavily on the department, so what works for one Master’s course might not work for another at the same university.

Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Lakehead accept proof that your prior education was fully delivered in English.

McGill waives IELTS if you completed a degree at an English medium institution for at least four consecutive years.

Concordia admits eligible applicants without asking for IELTS or TOEFL at all.

Here’s the part people forget. Even when a university drops IELTS for admission, your UK visa might still ask for a UKVI approved test. I’ve seen students get admitted, then hit a wall at the visa stage because they assumed one waiver covered both. Confirm this with the international office before you book anything.

       How to Apply (Step by Step Guide)

1. Pick three to five universities from the table that offer your intended programme
2. Request your transcript and an English Proficiency Letter from your old school
3. Pull together your WAEC or NECO result slip
4. Check the current English policy for your exact programme, since it changes between intakes
5. Submit your Master’s application and scholarship application in the same window, since many awards go automatically to admitted students
6. Have a backup plan ready, like the Duolingo English Test, in case the admissions office wants extra proof
7. Send everything in well before the deadline, not on the last day

That final point matters more than people think. Servers slow down, portals crash, and last minute uploads fail more often than anyone expects.

      Application Deadline

There’s no single deadline across these 15 universities, and honestly, that’s what trips up most applicants. UK awards like Bristol’s Think Big scholarship and Warwick’s Chancellor’s scholarship usually close in spring for a September start. Canadian programmes, McGill’s McCall MacBain being a good example, tend to close in autumn for the following academic year.

My general rule for students I’ve worked with: start eight to ten months before your target intake. That gives you room to request references, fix mistakes in your Statement of Purpose, and deal with the inevitable delays that come with gathering documents from Nigeria or Ghana.

       Selection Process

The process looks fairly similar across most of these universities, even though the exact wording on each website differs.

First, the admissions team reviews your transcripts and English proficiency documents. Then your Statement of Purpose and references get assessed against the programme you applied for. From there, some universities invite shortlisted candidates for an interview, or ask for extra documentation. Finally, you’ll usually get an admission decision first, followed by a separate scholarship decision, since the two aren’t always announced together.

Competitive programmes like Warwick’s and McGill’s dig a bit deeper too, looking at leadership and community impact alongside grades.

     Why You Should Apply

I want to be clear about something. A fully funded Master’s without IELTS isn’t some loophole or shortcut. It’s simply a fair route for students who’ve already proven their English ability through years of schooling and a WAEC or NECO certificate that says so on paper.

Applying gives you access to strong academic programmes without the added cost and stress of an extra English exam. On the Canadian side, there’s also the added bonus of a realistic path toward permanent residency after graduation, which matters if that’s part of your long term plan. For a lot of the students I’ve guided, this has been the most practical way to study abroad without taking on years of debt.

DON’T MISS:Top 12 Fully Funded Scholarships Across Europe (2026/2027 Guide)

   Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can WAEC really replace IELTS for a UK or Canadian Master’s degree? Yes, for a good number of universities and programmes, provided your WAEC result shows a credit pass in English Language and your prior education was in English. It varies by institution, so confirm it directly on the official page rather than relying on hearsay.

Do I still need IELTS for my student visa, even if the university waives it for admission? Sometimes, yes. The UK Home Office only accepts certain approved English tests for the Student visa itself, and that’s a separate matter from what the university accepts for admission. Check current guidance before you finalize any travel plans.

Are these scholarships genuinely fully funded? Many cover full tuition, and some throw in a stipend, health insurance, and travel support too. Coverage isn’t identical across the board, so read the funding breakdown on each official portal before you get your hopes up around a specific figure.

How early should I start applying? Eight to ten months before your intended intake, at minimum. Scholarship deadlines almost always land earlier than the general admission deadline for the same programme.

Can I apply to more than one university at the same time? Yes, and honestly, you should. Applying to several universities on this list improves your odds of landing at least one offer.

Official Portal Links

University of Portsmouth: https://www.port.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/scholarships

Birmingham City University: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/international/fees-and-scholarships

Coventry University: https://www.coventry.ac.uk/study-at-coventry/international-students/fees-and-scholarships/

University of Bristol: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/funding/international/

Northumbria University: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/fees-funding/international-funding/

University of Greenwich: https://www.gre.ac.uk/international/scholarships

University of Warwick: https://warwick.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/finance/scholarships/

Loughborough University: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/find-a-course/pg-scholarships/

University of Alberta: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/graduate-studies/funding/index.html

University of Saskatchewan: https://grad.usask.ca/funding/index.php

Lakehead University: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/international/tuition-and-scholarships

Simon Fraser University: https://www.sfu.ca/students/financialaid/graduate.html

Université Laval: https://www.ulaval.ca/en/admissions/tuition-and-scholarships

McGill University: https://www.mcgill.ca/gps/funding

Concordia University: https://www.concordia.ca/students/financial-support.html

      Conclusion

Studying abroad without IELTS isn’t a myth, and it isn’t a shortcut either. It’s a legitimate, often overlooked pathway for students who already have the English ability, just not necessarily the score sheet everyone assumes they need. With solid WAEC or NECO results, a genuinely well written application, and the university list above, a fully funded Master’s in the UK or Canada is closer than you might think.

Take the time to verify every requirement directly on the official portals Above, since scholarship and admission policies get reviewed more often than people expect. Good luck with your applications, and don’t hesitate to start earlier than you think you need to.