Dreaming of studying in Australia or New Zealand with a prestigious fully funded scholarship? The Australia Awards 2026 and Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships 2026 are calling—but there’s one hurdle: The English Language Test!
- What if your scores aren’t good enough?
- What if you don’t even have an English test?
BREATHE. RELAX. We’ve got the answers! Let’s break it down, so you can ace the requirements and land that life-changing scholarship!
English Tests You Need to WIN the Australia Awards Scholarship
The Australia Awards Scholarship opens doors to world-class universities. To qualify, you need to prove you can handle an English-speaking academic environment by scoring high in one of these tests (Ref):
- IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (No band lower than 6.0)
- TOEFL iBT: 84 total (At least 21 per section)
- PTE Academic: 58 overall (No communicative skill score below 50).
English Tests Required to Apply for Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship
Ahhh, New Zealand! World-class education, jaw-dropping landscapes, and an education system that welcomes future leaders like YOU. But first… the English requirement!
Accepted Tests & Minimum Scores for Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship:
- IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (No band lower than 6.0)
- TOEFL iBT: 90 total (At least 21 in writing)
- PTE Academic: 58 overall (No communicative skills score below 50).
What If You Don’t Meet the English Language Requirements?
Feeling nervous? Don’t worry! If your English score isn’t high enough (or you don’t have one yet), here’s what you can do:
Retake the test – IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE are offered year-round.
Try another university – Some institutions have lower requirements.
Boost your English skills – Study hard, practice, and go for it again!
Consider another scholarship… (Keep reading for a SECRET backup plan!)
BONUS: No English Test? Apply for the China Government Scholarship!
Here’s a mind-blowing fact: The China Government Scholarships (https://daadscholarship.com/30-chinese-universities-fully-funded-government-scholarship-2025/) offers FULLY FUNDED spots for international students without requiring IELTS or TOEFL in some cases!
How?
Many universities in China accept English-medium education certificates instead of IELTS. If you’ve studied in English before, you may not need a test!
For Chinese-taught programs: You might need HSK Level 4-5 instead.
For English-taught programs: IELTS 6.0+ or TOEFL 80+, but many universities waive it! If you have English language proficiency certificate issued by your last attended university/college.
Why consider this?
✔ Fully funded: Tuition, accommodation, stipend—EVERYTHING paid!
✔ No IELTS? No problem!
✔ World-class education in top Chinese universities!
If you’re worried about English test scores, this is an incredible alternative.