Every year thousands of Nigerian students win fully funded scholarships to study in the UK, Germany, China, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, the United States, and beyond. Tuition, flights, accommodation, and a monthly stipend, all covered. The opportunities are real, but they are competitive, and the students who win are usually the ones who started early and applied to several at once.
This guide rounds up the strongest scholarships open to Nigerian citizens for the 2026-2027 cycle, what each one covers, roughly when it opens, and how to give yourself the best shot. Dates and figures shift every year, so treat the timings here as a planning guide and confirm the current details on each official page before you apply.
If you are just getting started, our master guide on how to find fully funded scholarships is a good companion to this list.
Before you start: how to actually win one
A few habits separate students who win from students who keep applying:
- Apply to several, not one. Most winners applied to five or more. Applying widely also forces you to sharpen your essays.
- Start months early. Documents, references, transcripts, and notarisation all take longer than you expect.
- Get your essays right. More applications fail on weak essays than on weak grades. Read our guides on the scholarship motivation letter and the statement of purpose.
- Line up strong references early. See how to get a strong reference letter.
- Do not let English tests stop you. Several options here are open to students without IELTS, and many Nigerian applicants qualify for a medium-of-instruction waiver because their degree was taught in English.
A standing warning: real scholarships never charge an application fee, and no agent can sell you a guaranteed seat. Apply only through official portals. If someone asks for money to “secure” your award, it is a scam.
1. Chevening Scholarship (UK)
Chevening is the UK government’s flagship award and one of the most prestigious fully funded master’s scholarships in the world. Nigeria is one of its largest markets, and many Nigerian professionals win it every year.
- Covers: full tuition for a one-year UK master’s, a monthly living stipend, return airfare, an arrival allowance, and other grants.
- Who it suits: working professionals with leadership potential. You need an undergraduate degree and at least two years (around 2,800 hours) of work experience.
- Timing: the cycle opens in early August and closes in early October. For the 2027-2028 intake the deadline is around 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. You apply to Chevening first, then secure a UK university offer later.
- Where: apply on the official Chevening website, and see our Chevening Scholarship listing.
Chevening is decided largely on four essays about leadership, networking, your study choice, and your career plan. Start writing them months before the portal opens.
2. Commonwealth Scholarships (UK)
Funded by the UK government for students from Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, these scholarships fund master’s and PhD study at UK universities, plus distance-learning and shared-scholarship routes.
- Covers: tuition, airfare, and a living stipend for full master’s or doctoral study (varies by scheme).
- Who it suits: strong academic candidates, including those who could not otherwise afford UK study.
- Timing: master’s and PhD applications generally run in the last months of the year for the following academic session.
- How to apply: most routes require nomination through a national nominating agency in Nigeria (commonly the Federal Scholarship Board) or through selected UK universities. Confirm the current route and deadline on the official Commonwealth Scholarship Commission page.
3. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)
China runs one of the largest scholarship programs in the world, and Nigerian students are well represented. It funds bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD study at more than 280 Chinese universities, with a growing catalogue of English-taught programs.
- Covers: full tuition, accommodation or a housing subsidy, medical insurance, and a monthly stipend (roughly CNY 2,500 to 3,500 depending on level).
- Timing: the cycle runs from around December to April, with results in summer. Bachelor’s applicants now also need to sit the new CSCA test, so start early.
- Read next: our full Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) 2027 guide walks through Type A versus Type B, the document checklist, and the common mistakes.
4. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
DAAD funds international students, including many Nigerians, for master’s and PhD study in Germany, a country where public universities charge little or no tuition to begin with.
- Covers: a monthly stipend, health insurance, and travel and study allowances, depending on the specific program.
- Who it suits: graduates and researchers, with strong programs in development, engineering, and public policy that fit many Nigerian applicants.
- Timing: varies by program, but many development-related master’s deadlines fall between the middle and end of the year.
- Read next: our DAAD scholarship complete guide, and browse DAAD opportunities. For the wider picture see our guide to studying in Germany.
5. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Built specifically to support academically talented young Africans, including Nigerians, who face financial barriers, this program partners with universities across Africa and abroad.
- Covers: comprehensive support, typically tuition, accommodation, living costs, books, and often travel, along with mentorship and leadership development.
- Who it suits: students with strong academic records, leadership, and a commitment to giving back to their community.
- Timing and route: you apply through a partner university’s own cycle, so the timeline depends on the institution.
- Where: browse current Mastercard-related opportunities and confirm details on the partner university’s page.
6. Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship
The MEXT scholarship funds undergraduate, master’s, and PhD study in Japan, and Nigerian students can apply through the Japanese embassy (embassy recommendation) or through a university (university recommendation).
- Covers: full tuition, a monthly stipend, and airfare to and from Japan.
- Timing: the embassy route usually opens in the first half of the year for enrollment the following year, so plan well ahead.
- Where: see our MEXT scholarship listing and our guide to studying in Japan.
7. Turkiye Burslari (Turkey)
Turkiye Burslari is Turkey’s generous, fully funded government scholarship, and it is very popular across Africa. It funds bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD study, and famously does not require IELTS or TOEFL for many programs.
- Covers: full tuition, a monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, flights, and a Turkish language year.
- Timing: the main application window typically runs in the first quarter of the year.
- Read next: our Turkiye Burslari application guide and the Turkiye Burslari listing.
8. Korean Government Scholarship (GKS)
The Global Korea Scholarship, still widely known as KGSP, funds undergraduate and graduate study in South Korea and includes a funded Korean language year, which makes it accessible even if you do not yet speak Korean.
- Covers: tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, a settlement allowance, medical insurance, and language training.
- Timing: the undergraduate and graduate cycles usually open in the first half of the year through the Korean embassy or partner universities.
- Read next: our guide to studying in South Korea, and for a top-tier institution see the KAIST scholarship listing.
9. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (United States)
The US Fulbright program funds master’s and PhD study for international students, including Nigerians, and is administered in Nigeria through the US Mission.
- Covers: tuition, a living stipend, airfare, and health coverage for graduate study at a US university.
- Who it suits: strong graduates with clear academic and leadership goals.
- Timing: applications generally open in the first half of the year for study starting the following year. Confirm the current cycle with the US Mission in Nigeria.
10. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (Europe)
Erasmus Mundus funds prestigious joint master’s programs where you study in two or more European countries under a single scholarship. Nigerian students are eligible, and it is one of the most respected awards in Europe.
- Covers: tuition, a monthly living allowance, travel, and installation costs.
- Timing: most programs have deadlines between around October and January for study starting the following autumn.
- Where: apply through the official Erasmus Mundus catalogue for the specific joint master’s that fits your field.
11. GREAT Scholarships and Aga Khan Foundation
Two more worth putting on your list:
- GREAT Scholarships, run by the British Council with UK universities, offer partial to substantial awards for students from eligible countries including Nigeria. They pair well with a Chevening application.
- The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship provides need-based assistance (part grant, part loan) for postgraduate study, aimed at outstanding students from developing countries. See the Aga Khan Foundation listing.
How to choose which ones to apply for
You do not have to pick just one. A sensible Nigerian applicant might, in a single year, apply for Chevening and Commonwealth for the UK, the CSC for China, DAAD for Germany, and Turkiye Burslari for Turkey, all of which have different deadlines spread across the calendar. Line them up on a timeline, write a strong core set of essays you can adapt, and submit early.
If your grades are not perfect, do not count yourself out. Many of these weigh your whole profile, your leadership, and your goals, not just your CGPA. Our guide on winning a scholarship with a low GPA shows how to position a mixed transcript.
Frequently asked questions
Which scholarships can Nigerian students apply for without IELTS? Turkiye Burslari, the Chinese Government Scholarship for many programs, and MEXT often do not require IELTS, and many others accept a medium-of-instruction certificate if your degree was taught in English. See our guide to studying abroad without IELTS.
Are these scholarships really fully funded? Chevening, Turkiye Burslari, MEXT, GKS, and most Type A CSC awards are fully funded, covering tuition, living costs, and usually flights. Some others, such as certain DAAD and Commonwealth routes, vary by program, so always check what a specific award includes.
When should I start applying? Begin at least six to nine months before the deadlines that interest you. Chevening and Commonwealth run in the second half of the year, while CSC, Turkiye Burslari, MEXT, GKS, and Fulbright mostly run in the first half. Map them all out early.
Do I need work experience? For Chevening, yes, at least two years. Most academic scholarships, including CSC, MEXT, DAAD, Turkiye Burslari, and GKS, do not require work experience and are open to recent graduates.
Is it too late if I already graduated? No. Many of these are aimed at graduates and working professionals. See our guide on studying abroad after graduation to plan your route back into study.
Pick three or four from this list, put their deadlines on a calendar, and start your essays now. When you are ready to browse everything currently open, see our full list of fully funded scholarships.
