Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerian Students

Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerian Students 2027

Fully funded scholarships for Nigerian students are easier to find than most people think, if you know where your passport actually helps. Start at home: Nigeria’s own PTDF pays for study up to PhD level, and Nigeria LNG funds a UK master’s every year. Then the passport keeps working abroad. Nigeria is a Commonwealth member, which opens the Commonwealth Scholarship; Chevening runs a Nigerian competition every year; Fulbright takes Nigerian applicants through the US Embassy in Abuja, and Africa-focused programs like the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program were built with students like you in mind

This page lists 24 fully funded scholarships open to Nigerians at undergraduate, master’s, and PhD level, with what each one pays for and where to apply. After the list, we cover the things that actually trip up Nigerian applicants: which application route to use, what to do about IELTS, and how WAEC results fit in.

See all 24 scholarships at a glance
ScholarshipCountry
PTDF ScholarshipNigeria + abroad
NLNG Postgraduate ScholarshipUK
Commonwealth ScholarshipUK
Chevening ScholarshipUK
Fulbright ScholarshipsUSA
Mastercard Foundation Scholars ProgramSouth Africa
Türkiye Bursları ScholarshipTürkiye
Chinese Government ScholarshipChina
DAAD ScholarshipGermany
MEXT ScholarshipJapan
Lester B. Pearson ScholarshipCanada
Yale University ScholarshipsUSA
Gates Cambridge ScholarshipUK
Stanford University ScholarshipsUSA
ETH Zurich Excellence ScholarshipSwitzerland
Swiss Government Excellence ScholarshipSwitzerland
Imperial College London PhD ScholarshipUK
KAIST Undergraduate ScholarshipSouth Korea
Melbourne Research ScholarshipAustralia
Monash University ScholarshipAustralia
MBZUAI ScholarshipUAE
Simmons Kotzen ScholarshipsUSA
Ton Duc Thang University ScholarshipVietnam
Saudi Government ScholarshipSaudi Arabia

Top Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerian Students

1. PTDF Scholarship

PTDF Scholarship

The PTDF Scholarship is the Nigerian government’s largest fully funded scholarship program, open to Nigerian citizens only. Run by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, it provides fully funded undergraduate, master’s, and PhD studies through two schemes: the In-Country Scholarship Scheme (ISS) at Nigerian public universities, and the Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) at partner universities abroad.

2. NLNG Postgraduate Scholarship

NLNG Scholarship

The NLNG Postgraduate Scholarship funds Nigerian graduates through a fully funded master’s degree in the United Kingdom, with tuition, accommodation, living expenses, flights, and medical insurance all covered. It is run by Nigeria LNG Limited under its Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme (PGSS), and it is one of the most generous awards available to Nigerians anywhere.

3. Commonwealth Scholarship

Commonwealth Scholarships

The Commonwealth Scholarship provides fully funded master’s and PhD programs at UK Universities across a wide range of fields. This scholarship covers university tuition fees, a monthly living allowance of £1,378, economy-class return airfare to the UK, and additional grants and allowances to cover essential expenditures

4. Chevening Scholarship

Chevening Scholarship 2027

Chevening Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students.  This scholarship is only available for master’s studies in any subject. Chevening Scholarship covers university tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, an economy-classreturn airfare to the UK, and additional grants and allowances to cover essential expenditure.

5. Fulbright Scholarships

Fulbright scholarship 2027

Fulbright Scholarships are fully funded scholarships for international students. These scholarships are only offered for master’s and PhD studies. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program covers full tuition fees, a living stipend, full accommodation fees, airfare, and health insurance.

6. Mastercard Foundation Scholarship

Mastercard Foundation Scholarship

The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship is offered for undergraduate and master’s studies. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (MCFSP) targets academically brilliant yet economically disadvantaged young individuals in Africa who will contribute to the transformation of the continent through their knowledge, attitudes, skills, and values, as demonstrated by their leadership.

7. Turkey Burslari Scholarship

Turkey Burslari Scholarship

The Turkey Burslari Scholarship is offered for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD studies. The Türkiye Bursları Scholarship covers a monthly stipend of up to 9,000 TL, tuition fees, a return flight ticket, health insurance, and accommodation.

8. Chinese Government Scholarships

Chinese Government Scholarship

Chinese Government Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship. Undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs are available under this scholarship at more than 280 Chinese Universities. Chinese Government Scholarship covers accommodation, basic health insurance, and a monthly allowance up to 3500 Yuan.

9. DAAD Scholarship Germany

Daad Scholarship 2027

The DAAD Scholarship is fully funded. This scholarship is only available for master’s or PhD studies at the top German Universities. This scholarship covers monthly payments of 992 euros for graduates or 1,400 euros for doctoral candidates.

10. MEXT Scholarship

MEXT Scholarship 2027

MEXT Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is available for undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and training studies. MEXT scholarship will cover tuition fees, accommodation, monthly living allowance, and round-trip airfare travel expenses from your country to Japan.

11. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program is a fully funded scholarship for international students. A total of 37 scholarships are available for undergraduate studies. This scholarship will cover tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years.

12. Yale University Scholarships

Yale University Scholarships

The Yale University Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD. Yale Scholarship can vary from a few hundred dollars to over $70,000 per year; the average Yale need-based scholarship is over $50,000.

13. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for master’s and PhD studies. This scholarship provides a £21,000 stipend per annum, health insurance, academic development funding up to £2,000, and family allowance up to £16,548.

14. Stanford University Scholarships

Stanford University Scholarships

Stanford University Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for Master’s and PhD studies. This scholarship offers full tuition fees, a travel allowance, living allowance, and academic expenses.

15. ETH Zurich Excellence Masters Scholarships

ETH Zurich Scholarship

The ETH Zurich Excellence Masters Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is only offered for master’s studies. This scholarship provides a grant covering living and study expenses (CHF 11,000 per semester) as well as a tuition fee waiver.

16. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for  PhD and postdoctoral studies. This scholarship provides a monthly payment, exemption of tuition fees, health insurance, airfare, and housing allowance.

17. Imperial College London PhD Scholarship

Imperial College London Scholarships

The Imperial College London PhD Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. 50 fully funded scholarships are awarded each year. This scholarship covers full tuition fees, a stipend of £26,500 per annum, and a consumables fund of £2,000 per annum.

18. KAIST Undergraduate Scholarship

KAIST undergraduate scholarship

KAIST University Undergraduate Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship will cover full tuition fees, a monthly allowance of up to 800,000 KRW, one economy round-trip ticket, Korean language training fee, and medical insurance.

19. Melbourne Research Scholarships

Melbourne Research Scholarships

The Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) is a fully funded scholarship for international students. Approximately 600 scholarships are available for master’s and doctoral research studies. This scholarship offers a living allowance of $37,000 per year, full fee offset, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) single membership, a relocation grant, and many other benefits.

20. Monash University Scholarship

Monash University Scholarship

Monash University Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for doctoral research studies. This scholarship covers an annual living allowance of $37,145, a relocation allowance of $2,000, and a research allowance of $1,500 per annum.

21. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence Scholarship

Muhammad Bin Zaid University Scholarships

The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence Scholarship provides fully funded master’s and PhD programs across a wide range of fields. The MBZUAI scholarship offers a 100% tuition fee waiver, a monthly stipend, accommodation, and many more benefits.

22. Simmons University Kotzen Scholarships

Simmons University Scholarships

Simmons University Kotzen Scholarships is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for Undergraduate studies. The scholarship covers full tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board.

23. Ton Duc Thang University Graduate Scholarship

Ton Duc Thang University scholarship

Ton Duc Thang University Graduate Scholarships are fully funded scholarships for international students. These scholarships are only offered for master’s and doctoral studies. This Scholarship covers full tuition fees and full accommodation fees.

24. Saudi Arabia Government Scholarships

Saudi Arabia Government Scholarships

The Saudi Arabian government, under the Ministry of Education (MOE), offers fully funded scholarships to international students in 27 public universities. Saudi government scholarships will cover a monthly living allowance, health insurance, accommodation, tuition, and travel

Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerian Undergraduate Students

Most fully funded awards are for postgraduates, so if you are applying for a bachelor’s degree, start with the ones that actually take undergraduates: MEXT, Yale, the Chinese Government Scholarship, KAIST, Lester B. Pearson, Türkiye Bursları, the Saudi Government Scholarships, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, and, for women, the Simmons Kotzen Scholarships. You will need strong WAEC or NECO results, and MEXT and KAIST also set their own entrance screening.

How These Scholarships Work if You Are Applying from Nigeria

Not every scholarship on this list takes applications the same way, and using the wrong route is the most common reason a strong Nigerian application goes nowhere. There are three routes:

Direct applications

Most university scholarships work this way. Yale, Stanford, ETH Zurich, Gates Cambridge, Lester B. Pearson, and MBZUAI all consider you when you apply for admission, or through a portal on the university’s own website. Nothing about your nationality changes the process.

Applications through a Nigerian authority

Government scholarships with country quotas run through Abuja, not through the host country. Commonwealth nominations go through the Federal Ministry of Education. MEXT applications for Japan go through the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria. Nigeria stopped processing new awards under the old Bilateral Education Agreement in 2025, so for the Chinese Government Scholarship the reliable route is now the university track: you apply directly through a Chinese university that participates in the CSC program. If a scholarship works this way, the deadline that matters is the Nigerian one, which is often months before the host country’s own dates.

Applications through the host country’s embassy in Nigeria

Fulbright runs its Nigerian competition through the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Abuja. Chevening applications go through the central Chevening website, but there is a Nigeria-specific competition with its own timeline each year.

Before you prepare anything, find out which route your scholarship uses. It is usually one line on the official page, and it saves you from sending a beautiful application to an address that will never read it.

Do You Need IELTS as a Nigerian Student?

Sometimes, but less often than you might think. English is Nigeria’s official language, and your education was in English, and plenty of universities take that into account. Many UK universities accept a WAEC or NECO English grade of C6 or better instead of IELTS. Some universities in Canada, the USA, and Australia offer similar waivers for Nigerian applicants, though each one sets its own rules, and government scholarships like Chevening dropped their separate English test requirement years ago.

The honest answer is that it depends on the university more than the scholarship. Check the English requirements page of each university on your list before you book a test. If you do need IELTS, book it early, because test dates in Lagos and Abuja fill up months before scholarship deadlines.

How to Apply, Step by Step

  1. Pick three to five scholarships from this list that match your level and field. One application is a lottery ticket. Five is a plan.
  2. Check the application route for each one using the section above, and note the Nigerian deadline where one exists.
  3. Get your documents in order early: WAEC or NECO results, degree certificates and transcripts, your international passport, and reference letters. Transcripts from Nigerian universities can take weeks to process, so request them first.
  4. Write a statement of purpose for each application rather than reusing one. Our statement of purpose guide covers the structure, and your academic CV and recommendation letters deserve the same care.
  5. Submit before the deadline through the correct channel, then prepare for interviews. Chevening, Commonwealth, and Fulbright all interview shortlisted Nigerian candidates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which scholarship is best for Nigerian students?

There is no single best one, but start with the programs built around Nigerians: PTDF for oil and gas, energy, and management fields, and Commonwealth and Chevening, where Nigeria has a dedicated allocation. Beyond those, it depends on your level: Lester B. Pearson and KAIST for undergraduates, Fulbright and DAAD for postgraduates, Mastercard Foundation if finances are the main barrier, and NLNG if your IELTS is strong enough for its 8.0 requirement.

Can I get a fully funded scholarship with a Third Class or low CGPA?

The scholarships on this list are competitive, and most expect at least a Second Class Upper. With a lower CGPA, your realistic options are a strong master’s application built on work experience, programs that weigh leadership and community impact heavily, or starting with a self-funded or partially funded program and applying for funding later.

Do these scholarships cover my visa costs?

Usually not the visa fee itself. Most cover airfare, tuition, and living costs. Budget separately for visa fees, medical checks, and the police character certificate some countries ask for.

Can I apply for more than one at the same time?

Yes, and you should. None of these scholarships stop you from applying elsewhere. If you get more than one offer, you choose.

When should I start?

About a year before you want to travel. Most deadlines for a September intake fall between August and February of the previous cycle, and Nigerian nomination deadlines often come earlier than the international ones.

More Scholarships for Nigerian Students

If you want to go deeper than this list:

Sadia Munir
Written by

Sadia Munir

Software Engineer & Scholarship Consultant

Software Engineer and Scholarship Consultant at Scholarship Roar, focusing on international student mobility, technical data analysis, and financial accessibility.

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Reviewed by Muhammad Faizan, PhD Researcher · Last verified July 2026