If you have Always spent hours ,searching and, scrolling through scholarship websites, bookmarking links that turn out to be expired, or wondering whether Nigerians are even eligible for that “fully funded” programme everyone is talking about, this guide is built for you. It brings together the most reliable, currently active, fully funded scholarships that is open to Nigerian students in 2026, covering undergraduate, master’s, PhD and professional fellowship opportunities across the UK, the USA, Europe, Asia, Canada, Australia, Africa and right here in Nigeria.
As a scholarship consultant, I update this list every week as new cohorts open, so bookmark this page and check back often instead of relying on outdated blog posts that keep recycling the same 2023 deadlines.
Why Fully Funded Scholarships Matter for Nigerian Students?
Nigeria produces one of the largest pools of internationally competitive scholarship applicants in Africa. Yet the naira’s exchange rate makes self funding a master’s or PhD abroad nearly impossible for most families. A genuinely fully funded scholarship removes that barrier completely. It typically covers:
- Full tuition fees at the host university
- A monthly living stipend
- Flights expenses
- Visa fees and health insurance
- In some cases, a settling in allowance, book allowance, or research grant
Knowing which programmes are real, which ones actually accept Nigerian nationals, and which ones are worth your time is the difference between wasting a year on scattered applications and landing an offer that changes your life.
Quick Tips Before You Start Applying
- Start preparing your documents at least six months before any deadline. IELTS or TOEFL registration alone can take weeks.
- Never pay an agent who promises a “guaranteed” scholarship slot. Every programme on this list is free to apply to directly.
- Apply to more than one scholarship at a time. Most consultants recommend a shortlist of eight to twelve programmes that genuinely match your academic background.
- Always confirm live deadlines on the official portal linked below, since dates shift slightly each year.
- Tailor your personal statement to each scholarship’s mission instead of sending one generic essay everywhere.
Now, here is the full list, organised by region so you can jump straight to where you want to study.
United Kingdom Scholarships for Nigerians
1. Chevening Scholarship; The UK government’s flagship award funds a one year master’s degree at any UK university, along with tuition, a monthly stipend, flights and other allowances. Nigeria is consistently one of the largest applicant pools worldwide, and the application window typically opens in August each year. Apply: https://www.chevening.org
2. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships;Funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, this covers a full master’s degree for candidates from low and middle income Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria. Applications run through Nigeria’s Federal Scholarship Board. Apply: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships
3. Commonwealth PhD Scholarships; The doctoral equivalent of the above, covering up to four years of full time PhD study in the UK, including tuition, stipend and travel costs. Apply: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-developed-countries-and-vulnerable-states
4. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships; Jointly funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and UK universities, this targets development focused master’s courses for candidates who cannot afford to study in the UK otherwise. Apply: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-shared-scholarships
5. Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships; A two year master’s programme for students committed to sustainable development, run by the Association of Commonwealth Universities with two application cycles a year. Apply: https://www.qecscholarship.org
6. GREAT Scholarships; A joint initiative between the UK government and partner UK universities offering tuition discounts and, in several cases, fully funded places for master’s study, aimed at students from selected countries including Nigeria. Apply: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/scholarships-funding/great-scholarships
United States Scholarships for Nigerians
7. Fulbright Foreign Student Program; Administered through the US Embassy in Abuja, this covers a full master’s or PhD programme in the United States, including tuition, living stipend, health insurance and travel. Apply: https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org
8. Schwarzman Scholars; A fully funded one year master’s programme at Tsinghua University in Beijing designed for future global leaders, open to Nigerian graduates and covering tuition, travel, and a personal stipend. Apply: https://www.schwarzmanscholars.org
9. Knight Hennessy Scholars; One of the world’s most generous graduate scholarships, funding any graduate programme at Stanford University for exceptional students from around the globe, Nigeria included. Apply: https://knight-hennessy.stanford.edu
10. MIT Africa Programmes; MIT runs several fully funded fellowship and exchange programmes for African students and educators, including research placements and teaching fellowships hosted through MIT’s Center for International Studies. Apply: https://mit-africa.mit.edu
CHECK OUT:Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholarship 2027 (USA): Fully Funded Guide, Deadlines & How to Apply
11. Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD); A fully funded one year, non degree exchange programme for Nigerian undergraduates to study at a US university, sponsored by the US Department of State and administered by IREX. Apply: https://www.irex.org/project/global-undergraduate-exchange-program-global-ugrad
Germany and Wider Europe Scholarships for Nigerians
12. DAAD Scholarships; Germany’s DAAD funds dozens of master’s and PhD programmes across every field, from public health to engineering, with tuition, stipend, insurance and travel included. Nigerian applicants should search the DAAD scholarship database for programmes matching their field. Apply: https://www.daad.de/en/
13. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degrees; A prestigious EU funded programme where you study across two or more European countries for one integrated master’s degree, with tuition, travel, insurance and a monthly allowance fully covered. Apply: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/individuals/students/erasmus-mundus-joint-masters
14. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (France); Funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, this covers master’s and PhD study at top French institutions, including a generous monthly allowance and travel costs. Apply: https://www.campusfrance.org/en/eiffel-scholarship-program-of-excellence
15. Holland Scholarship; Offered by the Dutch government and participating universities for non EU students beginning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the Netherlands. Apply: https://www.studyinnl.org/finances/holland-scholarship
16. Orange Knowledge Programme; A Dutch government scheme aimed at professionals from developing countries, including Nigeria, funding short courses and master’s degrees that build local capacity. Apply: https://www.nuffic.nl/en/subjects/orange-knowledge-programme
17. Swedish Institute Scholarships; Fully funded master’s scholarships for students from countries with which Sweden maintains long term development cooperation, covering tuition, living costs and travel. Apply: https://si.se/en/apply/scholarships/
18. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships; Aimed at PhD and postdoctoral researchers, this covers tuition, a monthly stipend and health insurance for study at Swiss universities. Apply: https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/home/education/scholarships/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships.html
19. Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships; Fully funded awards covering tuition and a living stipend for one year of master’s or PhD study at an Irish university. Apply: https://hea.ie/policy/access-policy/government-of-ireland-international-education-scholarships/
20. Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary); A Hungarian government scholarship covering full tuition, accommodation and a monthly stipend for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD study, with places specifically allocated to Nigerian applicants. Apply: https://stipendiumhungaricum.hu
21. Italian Government Scholarships; Funded by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for international students pursuing degree or research programmes at Italian universities, covering tuition waivers and a monthly stipend. Apply: https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/en/
22. Czech Government Scholarships; Offered to students from developing countries for master’s and PhD study in the Czech Republic, covering tuition, accommodation and living costs. Apply: https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/foreign_relations/human_rights/transition_promotion_program/scholarships/index.html
Asia Scholarships for Nigerians
23. MEXT Scholarship (Japan); The Japanese government’s Ministry of Education scholarship covers undergraduate, master’s, PhD and research student study in Japan, including full tuition, a monthly stipend and flights, with applications through the Japanese Embassy in Abuja. Apply: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarships/mext/
24. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC); China Scholarship Council funding for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD study at partner Chinese universities, covering tuition, accommodation, a monthly stipend and medical insurance. Apply: https://www.campuschina.org
25. Korean Government Scholarship Program (GKS); South Korea’s fully funded programme for undergraduate and graduate study, including a year of Korean language training, tuition, monthly stipend and settlement allowance. Apply: https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr
26. Turkiye Burslari: Turkey’s national scholarship programme covers tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend, health insurance and a one year Turkish language course for undergraduate through PhD study. Apply: https://www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr
27. TaiwanICDF Scholarship: Fully funded undergraduate and graduate scholarships from Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund, covering tuition, living allowance and airfare for students from partner developing countries. Apply: https://www.icdf.org.tw
28. ICCR Scholarships (India): India’s Council for Cultural Relations funds undergraduate, master’s and PhD study for African students, covering tuition, living stipend and a one time contingency grant. Apply: https://a2ascholarships.iccr.gov.in
Canada Scholarships for Nigerians
29. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships: One of Canada’s most prestigious PhD scholarships, awarding a substantial annual stipend for three years to outstanding doctoral candidates in any field at a Canadian university. Apply: https://vanier.gc.ca
30. Trudeau Foundation Scholarship: A doctoral scholarship for candidates in the humanities and social sciences whose research addresses pressing global issues, offering generous annual funding plus mentorship. Apply: https://www.trudeaufoundation.ca
31. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (University of Toronto): A fully funded undergraduate scholarship covering tuition, books, incidental fees and residence for exceptional international high school students, including Nigerians. Apply: https://future.utoronto.ca/pearson/
32. University of British Columbia International Major Entrance Scholarship: Covers full tuition and living costs for outstanding undergraduate international students admitted to UBC, awarded automatically on application, with no separate form required. Apply: https://you.ubc.ca/financing-your-education/scholarships/
Australia and New Zealand Scholarships for Nigerians
33. Australia Awards Scholarships: Funded by the Australian government, this covers full tuition, living expenses, health cover and airfare for postgraduate study, with a strong focus on candidates who intend to return home and drive development. Apply: https://www.dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards
34. Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships: Fully funded scholarships from the New Zealand government for postgraduate study, covering tuition, a living allowance, travel and insurance, targeted at candidates from developing countries. Apply: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/aid-and-development/new-zealand-scholarships/
Africa and Regional Scholarships for Nigerians
35. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: One of the largest scholarship programmes for African students, covering full tuition, accommodation, mentorship and career support at partner universities across Africa, Canada and beyond. Apply: https://mastercardfdn.org/en/what-we-do/all-programs/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program/
36. Islamic Development Bank Scholarship: Covers master’s and PhD study for students from IsDB member countries, including Nigeria, at approved universities across the world, with full tuition and a monthly stipend. Apply: https://www.isdb.org/isdb-scholarships
37. African Union Scholarships: The African Union periodically funds postgraduate study for African nationals in priority fields such as agriculture, health and engineering, through partnerships with regional universities. Apply: https://au.int
38. Africa Scholarship Programme, Wageningen University: A fully funded master’s scholarship for African professionals studying agriculture, food security or environmental science at one of the world’s top agricultural universities in the Netherlands. Apply: https://www.wur.nl/en/education-programmes/wageningen-university/scholarships/africa-scholarship-programme.htm
39. Said Foundation Scholarships: Supports postgraduate study in the UK for talented students from the Middle East and parts of Africa, covering tuition, living costs and a settling in grant. Apply: https://www.saidfoundation.org
40. Mandela Washington Fellowship (YALI): While not a degree scholarship, this fully funded six week leadership institute in the United States for young African leaders is a stepping stone many Nigerians use before pursuing further funded study. Apply: https://yali.state.gov/mwf/
Global Fellowships and University Backed Scholarships
41. Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Funds any full time postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge for outstanding students outside the UK, covering tuition, a generous stipend, travel and a discretionary funding pot. Apply: https://www.gatescambridge.org
42. Rhodes Scholarship: The world’s oldest international graduate scholarship, funding postgraduate study at the University of Oxford, with a specific Rhodes Scholarship for West Africa that Nigerian candidates can apply to. Apply: https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/the-rhodes-scholarship/
43. Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program Funds master’s study in development related fields at partner universities worldwide for professionals from World Bank member countries, covering tuition, stipend, travel and insurance. Apply: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships
44. United Nations University Scholarships: Covers master’s and PhD study focused on sustainability and global governance at UNU institutes in Japan and other host countries, including tuition, stipend and housing support. Apply: https://unu.edu/education/scholarships
45. Chevening Fellowships: A shorter, professionally focused alternative to the Chevening Scholarship, funding tailored leadership and skills courses at UK institutions for a few weeks to a few months. Apply: https://www.chevening.org/fellowships/
SEE ALSO:LSAT 2026: Complete Guide to Studying Law in US and Canada
Nigeria Based and Bilateral Scholarships
46. PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme: Run by Nigeria’s Petroleum Technology Development Fund, this is the country’s largest home grown fully funded scholarship, covering undergraduate, master’s and PhD study abroad in oil, gas and related engineering fields. Apply: https://ptdf.gov.ng
47. Nigeria LNG Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme: Funded by Nigeria LNG Limited, this covers a fully funded master’s degree at a top UK university for outstanding Nigerian graduates, including tuition, stipend and travel. Apply: https://www.nlng.com
48. Nigerian Law School Scholarship Programme: A domestic scholarship covering law school fees and related costs for indigent but academically outstanding Nigerian law graduates proceeding to the Nigerian Law School. Apply: https://nigerianlawschool.edu.ng
49. Federal Government Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship: Coordinated through Nigeria’s Federal Scholarship Board and Ministry of Education, this places Nigerian students in fully funded degree programmes in partner countries such as Russia, Algeria, Morocco, Serbia and Hungary under intergovernmental agreements. Apply: https://education.gov.ng
50. NNPC and Total Nigeria Scholarship Schemes
;While primarily undergraduate bursaries rather than full ride scholarships, NNPC and TotalEnergies run annual national merit scholarship schemes for Nigerian students that are worth tracking alongside the postgraduate options above. Apply: https://www.nnpcgroup.com
How to Actually Win One of These Scholarships
Making the shortlisted is rarely about being the smartest applicant in the pool. It comes down to preparation and clarity.
- Start your documents early. Transcripts, reference letters and language test results take longer to arrange than most applicants expect.
- Write a focused personal statement. Reviewers can tell within a paragraph whether your essay was written for this specific scholarship or copied from a template.
- Show evidence of leadership and impact, not just good grades. Most fully funded programmes are looking for people who will return home and create change.
- Apply to your three university choices strategically where the scholarship requires it, rather than picking only the most famous names.
- Track deadlines in a spreadsheet. With dozens of live opportunities at any given time, a simple calendar prevents you from missing a cycle by accident.
Common Mistakes Nigerian Applicants Should Avoid
- Waiting until the final week to register for IELTS or TOEFL, which delays your entire application.
- Assuming a scholarship is fully funded without checking whether it only covers tuition and not living costs.
- Paying anyone who claims they can guarantee a scholarship slot. No legitimate programme charges a placement fee.
- Sending the same generic essay to every scholarship instead of tailoring it to each mission and selection criteria.
- Ignoring the NYSC discharge or exemption certificate requirement, which several UK and Commonwealth programmes ask Nigerian graduates to provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these scholarships really free for Nigerians to apply to? Yes. Every scholarship listed here is free to apply for directly through its official portal. If anyone asks you to pay for an application form or a guaranteed slot, that is a scam.
How many scholarships should I apply to at once? Most successful applicants apply to between five and twelve programmes across different deadline windows. Applying to more than one scholarship does not disqualify you from any of them.
Do I need IELTS for all of these? Most scholarships in English speaking countries require IELTS or TOEFL, generally around 6.5 for master’s study and higher for competitive programmes like Chevening and Fulbright. Some non English speaking countries offer a one year language course instead, such as Turkiye Burslari and the Korean GKS.
What GPA or grade do I need? Requirements vary, but a second class upper degree is the safe benchmark for most Commonwealth and UK funded scholarships, while some programmes accept second class lower with strong supporting evidence.
How often is this list updated? This page is reviewed and refreshed weekly to reflect new application windows, closed cycles and newly announced scholarships, so you are always working from current information rather than an outdated list.
CONCLUSION
A fully funded scholarship can change the entire trajectory of your life without costing your family a single naira in tuition. The opportunities above are real, currently active or reopening soon, and open to Nigerian nationals. Pick the ones that match your academic background and career goals, start your documents today, and revisit this page weekly so you never miss an application window again.