Every one of these programmes is open to Nigerian applicants right now. Don't miss the deadlines.
Every year, Nigerian students leave millions of dollars in scholarship money on the table — not because they are unqualified, but because they do not apply. The information gap between what is available and what Nigerian students actually know about is enormous. This article closes that gap. Below are ten fully funded and highly competitive scholarship programmes that are genuinely open to Nigerian applicants, with details on what each covers, who is eligible, and when to apply.
Chevening is the UK government's flagship scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. It offers a fully funded one-year Master's degree at any UK university (including Oxford and Cambridge) to outstanding leaders from around the world. Coverage includes: full tuition fees, a monthly stipend, accommodation allowance, return flights, and visa fees. Eligibility requires two or more years of work experience and a demonstrable commitment to returning to Nigeria after graduation. Applications typically open in August and close in November for awards beginning the following September.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers fully funded Master's and PhD scholarships for students from Commonwealth countries — including Nigeria — to study at UK universities. Unlike Chevening, Commonwealth Scholarships have a strong emphasis on development impact: applicants must demonstrate how their studies will contribute to the development of Nigeria. Coverage includes tuition, a living allowance, and travel costs.
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program supports academically talented young Africans from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to access quality higher education. Partner universities include the University of Toronto, Cornell University, Sciences Po Paris, Michigan State University, and several African universities. The programme covers tuition, accommodation, books, personal expenses, and travel.
Australia Awards Scholarships are funded by the Australian Government and offer full support for Nigerians to undertake undergraduate, Master's, or PhD study at participating Australian universities. The scholarship covers tuition fees, return airfare, an establishment allowance, and a monthly living stipend. Applications typically open in February and close in April.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers a range of scholarship programmes for Nigerian students to study at German universities at postgraduate level. Programmes are available for both German-taught and English-taught degrees. The DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) programme is specifically designed for students from developing countries and covers tuition, health insurance, travel, and a monthly living allowance.
The Aga Khan Foundation offers need-based scholarships for postgraduate study (Master's and PhD) at high-quality universities worldwide. Awards are structured as 50% grant and 50% loan, and are given to students who have limited other means of financing their studies. Nigerian students in fields such as public health, economics, rural development, and education are particularly encouraged to apply.
The University of Alabama offers one of the most generous automatic merit scholarship programmes in the US for international students. Students with an SAT score of 1400+ may qualify for the Presidential Elite Scholarship, worth up to USD 22,000 per year — effectively covering the majority of tuition costs at one of the US's largest and most well-funded public universities.
The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship is awarded by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs to outstanding international students at the Master's and PhD levels at French higher education institutions. It covers a monthly stipend, travel costs, health insurance, and cultural activities. The programme prioritises engineering, exact sciences, economics, management, law, and political science.
The Holland Scholarship is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and participating Dutch universities. It offers a one-time award of €5,000 to outstanding non-EU students enrolling in a Bachelor's or Master's programme at a participating Dutch institution. While not a full scholarship, it is an accessible and realistic award for high-performing Nigerian applicants to the Netherlands.
The JJ/WBGSP programme is funded by the World Bank and the Government of Japan and provides scholarships for development-related graduate programmes at selected universities worldwide. Nigerian citizens who are employed by a public sector organisation and have at least two years of recent development-related experience are eligible. The scholarship covers full tuition, a monthly living allowance, travel, health insurance, and study materials.
PB Cambridge maintains a continuously updated database of scholarship opportunities for Nigerian students and helps applicants identify which programmes best match their profile. Contact us today to begin your scholarship application strategy.