IELTS Scholarships 2023 - Grants & Awards, Eligibility, How to Apply?

IELTS Scholarships 2023

An IELTS scholarship has the ability to open more doors for overseas students, both in terms of academics and professional advancement. Every year, over 5 million students from 140 countries take the IELTS Exam. While there are many excellent students who have the capacity to pass the IELTS exam with flying colours, many are unable to do so owing to budgetary constraints.

The IELTS scholarship, also known as the British Council IELTS Award, will allow successful candidates to study at an undergraduate or postgraduate level in an English-taught programme that accepts IELTS as part of its entrance criteria at a German or international institution for higher education.

The British Council IELTS Award is valued at approximately GBP 3,000 to GBP 10,000, depending on the institution chosen by the recipient, and will be used to cover the cost of tuition fees for the individual's chosen programme. The prize will be given directly to the school and will only apply to courses in the 2023-24 academic year (i.e. beginning August 2023).

If the winning candidate's tuition expenses are less than the maximum individual award fund of GBP 10,000, the remaining monies may be used to help other runners-up. The ideal applicant will show a willingness to network within the IELTS community and share their expertise with other IELTS candidates.

Note: Readers must note that British Council no longer conducts the IELTS exam in India. All IELTS tests in India are administrated by IDP.

Eligibility for the IELTS Scholarship (Germany)

The following are the requirements for applying for the IELTS Award Germany 2023 provided by the British Council:

• Have undertaken an IELTS exam at a British Council facility in Germany and obtained an official Test Report Form (TRF) from the British Council in Germany dated anywhere from June 1, 2021, and June 30, 2023.

• Be at least 18 years old or more until July 31, 2023.

• Have received a least overall band score of 6.5, as well as a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 bands in each of the IELTS test's four areas (namely, reading, writing, speaking, and listening).

• Plan to enrol in a full-time bachelor's or master's English-taught programme at a university or other higher education institution in Germany or abroad in the 2023-24 academic year (i.e. beginning August 2023).  The chosen program's tuition costs must be at least GBP 3,000 in order to be considered.

• Be able to postulate an admission letter from the applicable educational organisation at the end of July 31, 2023.

Note: The eligibility requirements mentioned above are for the applicants who have/will receive a TRF from an IELTS test centre inside of Germany. However, no TRF issued by a test centre outside of Germany can be accepted. 

IELTS Recognised Organisations

More than 11,000 organisations in 140 countries accept IELTS. Some of these organisations include:

• Departments of the government and immigration authorities.

• Associations and professional bodies.

• Colleges, universities, and training organisations.

• Multinational corporations and employers.

Note: Global IELTS acceptance is rising all the time, and if the university you intend to attend is not mentioned, we highly advise you to contact the college directly to confirm their most recent entrance criteria.

Related Links:

Key Dates to Apply for IELTS Scholarship

For IELTS scholarships, the following test dates are important: 

• August 2023: Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed online.

• June 30, 2023: Deadline for applications (14:00, German time).

• July 31, 2023 (at the latest): Submitted letters of acceptance from relevant educational institutions.

Note: Please note that the final winner(s) and application recipients will be notified by August 2023.

How to Apply for IELTS Scholarship

You can apply for the IELTS scholarship online by following the steps below: 

Step I: Take the IELTS exam at a British Council licensed facility in Germany and obtain an official Test Report Form (TRF) from the British Council in Germany dated somewhere between June 1, 2021, and June 30, 2023.

Step II: The online application form must be submitted no later than 14:00 (German time) on June 30, 2023. 

Note: This scholarship is no longer valid for Indian students.

IELTS Scholarship Selection Process

Please note the following selection process/ criteria for IELTS scholarship applications:

• Candidates selected for an interview will need to submit evidence to support their application, such as a copy of their IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) and a copy of their identity card.

• There will be five applicants shortlisted based on the information contained in their applications, especially their personal statements.

• A panel of British Council/higher education representatives will review applications to make sure applicants meet the British Council IELTS Award eligibility criteria.

• Interviewers from the British Council/higher education will interview the final shortlisted applicants (online). After a short presentation, they will be called for an interview to determine the final selection.

Disclaimer: The British Council no longer offers scholarships in India.