Finding scholarships is a full-time job — which is why most students miss them. I've spent 3 years tracking every scholarship open to Nigerian students, and this is my most comprehensive list yet. These are real, verified opportunities with active applications as of December 2024.
How to Use This List
Scholarships are sorted from nearest deadline to furthest. Don't skip past the ones that seem out of reach — apply anyway. Scholarship committees often report that many awards go unclaimed simply because students assumed they wouldn't qualify.
International Scholarships (Studying Abroad)
- Chevening Scholarship (UK) — Full funding, MSc level. Deadline: November 2025. Nigerians win consistently.
- Commonwealth Scholarship (UK/Canada/Australia) — For postgraduate study. Open now.
- DAAD Scholarship (Germany) — Undergraduate and postgraduate. Germany is tuition-free even without the scholarship.
- MasterCard Foundation Scholars (Various) — For undergraduate study at partner universities across Africa.
- AAUW International Fellowship (USA) — For women pursuing full-time graduate study in the US.
- Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (France) — For Master's and PhD students. Covers tuition, accommodation and living costs.
Nigerian Government & Local Scholarships
- Federal Government Scholarship Board (FGSB) — Open to undergraduates in Nigerian federal universities.
- PTDF Overseas Scholarship — For Oil & Gas students. Full funding for MSc abroad.
- Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Scholarship — For students from Niger Delta states.
- Dangote Foundation STEM Scholarship — ₦500,000 per year for STEM undergraduates. Deadline: March 2025.
- MTN Foundation Scholarship — ₦200,000 per year for science and engineering students.
- NLNG Nigeria Prize for Science — For researchers and graduate students in science.
How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay
Most scholarship applications are lost in the essay, not the grades. The committee reads hundreds of generic essays. What makes one stand out is specificity. Instead of 'I want to help my community,' say 'I want to build a solar-powered water purification system for the 3,000 residents of Agboville who currently walk 4km for clean water.'
Every scholarship committee is looking for the same thing: evidence that you will use this money to do something that matters. Give them that evidence. Be specific. Be bold. Be yourself.