Welcome to ScholarCareHub.com.ng, Here on this page, we share the latest information about the Best Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerian Students to Study Abroad, Including 2026/2027 guide, and other important things you need to know.
Studying abroad can provide Nigerian students with access to international universities, specialised training, research opportunities and professional networks. However, tuition fees, accommodation, living expenses, flights and other costs can make international education difficult to afford.
Fully funded scholarships can reduce this financial burden by covering some or most of the major costs associated with an approved programme.
But there is an important point many scholarship articles leave out: "fully funded" does not mean every scholarship pays every possible expense. Each programme has its own rules about tuition, living costs, flights, insurance, visa expenses, dependants and other allowances.
This guide focuses on major scholarship programmes that Nigerian students may be eligible for and explains what they generally cover, who they are designed for, how their application cycles work and what to check before applying.
Scholarship deadlines and requirements can change, so always confirm the latest information on the official scholarship website before submitting an application.
What Does a Fully Funded Scholarship Mean?
A fully funded scholarship generally provides substantial financial support for the major costs of an approved course of study.
Depending on the programme, this may include:
- Full or approved tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Accommodation or accommodation support
- Travel or airfare
- Health or medical insurance
- Visa-related support
- Study or research allowances
- Language preparation where applicable
However, coverage differs from one scholarship to another.
For example, a programme may pay tuition and provide a monthly stipend without paying every expense associated with bringing family members abroad.
That is why Nigerian students should always read the official scholarship terms instead of assuming that every scholarship labelled "fully funded" provides identical benefits.
Fully Funded Scholarships Nigerian Students Should Know About
Rather than ranking scholarships from number one to number ten, the programmes below are grouped according to their study destination and application structure.
1. Chevening Scholarship – United Kingdom
The Chevening Scholarship is a UK Government scholarship for emerging leaders who want to study a one-year taught master's degree in the United Kingdom.
Nigeria is one of the participating countries, and the current 2027/2028 application cycle is open at the time of this update.
Current 2027/2028 application status
Applications opened on August 4, 2026, and the deadline is October 6, 2026, at 11:00 UTC.
For a Nigerian applicant, that deadline falls at 12:00 noon Nigerian time.
What Chevening covers
Chevening's standard award includes:
- Tuition fees
- Economy return travel
- Arrival allowance
- Visa application cost
- Departure allowance
- A contribution toward TB testing where required
- Travel top-up allowance
- Monthly living allowance
The programme is for a one-year taught master's degree rather than undergraduate or doctoral study.
Who should consider Chevening?
Chevening is particularly relevant to applicants who can demonstrate:
- Leadership potential
- Relevant professional or voluntary experience
- A clear career direction
- A strong reason for studying a particular master's programme
- A plan for using their experience after returning home
Applicants must satisfy Chevening's eligibility rules, including the required amount of post-undergraduate work experience.
Important application tip
Do not wait until the final day to submit your application. Chevening's application system can become busy close to the deadline, and submitted applications cannot simply be edited afterward.
2. Commonwealth Master's Scholarship – United Kingdom
The Commonwealth Master's Scholarship is another major UK-funded opportunity available to eligible Nigerian applicants.
Nigeria is listed among the eligible countries for the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship.
The programme supports full-time taught master's study in the UK and is designed around development-related objectives.
Current 2027/2028 status
Applications for the 2027/2028 academic year are currently open.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's deadline is:
20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST.
However, applicants using a national nominating agency must also meet that agency's requirements and deadline.
For Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education has published a separate 2027/2028 Commonwealth nomination notice.
Nigerian nomination requirements
The current Nigerian notice states that applicants for the master's route should have:
- At least a Second Class Upper first degree
- Admission into at least two UK institutions
- Evidence of NYSC
- Required academic and supporting documents
The Nigerian nomination exercise closes on October 20, 2026.
What the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship covers
The CSC currently lists benefits including:
- Approved airfare to and from the UK
- Full approved tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Study travel grant
- Certain additional allowances in specific circumstances
The current CSC page lists the monthly stipend at £1,712, or £2,000 for scholars studying at universities in the London metropolitan area, although rates can change.
Important distinction
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education may have separate parts of the application and nomination process.
Therefore, Nigerian applicants should not assume that submitting one form automatically completes every requirement.
3. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters – Europe
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programme gives students the opportunity to study master's programmes delivered by international university partnerships.
Many participating programmes offer full scholarships to selected students from around the world.
One of the distinctive features is mobility: students may study at several universities in different countries as part of the same master's programme.
What the scholarship can cover
Erasmus Mundus scholarships can contribute to:
- Participation costs
- Travel
- Visa expenses
- Living allowance
The exact programme structure depends on the particular Erasmus Mundus master's programme.
Who can apply?
Applicants generally need a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification, or be in the final year of their bachelor's programme and graduate before the master's begins.
However, individual programmes have their own academic, language and other requirements.
When do applications open?
There is no single deadline for every Erasmus Mundus programme.
The official Erasmus+ guidance says that applications for many programmes are usually submitted between October and January for courses beginning in the following academic year.
How to apply
This is important:
You do not apply to one central Erasmus Mundus scholarship portal for every programme.
Instead:
- Search the official Erasmus Mundus catalogue.
- Select programmes related to your academic background.
- Visit the individual programme website.
- Read its admission and scholarship requirements.
- Prepare the required documents.
- Apply directly to the programme.
This makes Erasmus Mundus particularly useful for Nigerian students who are willing to consider several European study destinations rather than focusing on one country.
4. DAAD Scholarships – Germany
Germany has numerous scholarship opportunities for international students through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
It is important, however, not to treat "DAAD Scholarship" as one single scholarship with one universal eligibility requirement.
DAAD operates different programmes for different academic levels, fields and applicant groups.
DAAD EPOS
One particularly important programme for professionals from developing countries is the Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) programme.
EPOS supports selected postgraduate courses in Germany and is aimed at qualified graduates from eligible developing and emerging countries.
What EPOS can provide
The current DAAD information lists support such as:
- Monthly scholarship payments
- Health, accident and personal liability insurance
- Travel allowance
- Possible additional benefits such as rent support in qualifying situations
The current database lists a monthly payment of €992 for graduates, while doctoral candidates receive a higher rate under the current terms.
A major eligibility requirement
EPOS is not simply a scholarship for any Nigerian graduate who wants to study in Germany.
The current programme information generally requires applicants to have:
- A relevant bachelor's degree
- Strong academic performance
- At least two years of professional experience
- A development-related motivation
- Appropriate language skills for the selected programme
Individual EPOS courses can have additional requirements.
How Nigerian applicants should search
Use the official DAAD scholarship database rather than relying on one generic list of "DAAD scholarships."
Search by:
- Country
- Academic level
- Subject
- Programme
- Application deadline
This is especially important because DAAD deadlines differ from one programme to another.
5. MEXT Scholarship – Japan
The Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship provides several scholarship categories for international students.
Depending on the category, opportunities can include:
- Undergraduate study
- Research students
- Teacher training
- Japanese studies
- College of technology
- Specialised training
- Other approved categories
Applications may be handled through Japanese embassy recommendation or university recommendation, depending on the scholarship category.
What MEXT can provide
The official Study in Japan information lists:
- Tuition exemption
- Monthly scholarship payments
- Round-trip airfare under applicable recommendation routes
- Preparatory Japanese-language education for certain categories
The amount and duration depend on the scholarship category and current guidelines.
Important update for Nigerian applicants
The Embassy of Japan in Nigeria's 2027 MEXT embassy-recommendation application for research, undergraduate, college of technology and specialised training college students has already closed.
The Nigerian deadline for that 2027 embassy route was June 8, 2026.
That does not mean MEXT has disappeared. University-recommendation opportunities and future application cycles operate separately, and applicants should monitor the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria and the official Study in Japan website for new announcements.
Who should consider MEXT?
MEXT can be relevant to Nigerian students at different educational levels, but the requirements are category-specific.
Do not apply using an old MEXT guideline because age limits, documents, examination requirements and available categories can change.
6. Türkiye Scholarships – Türkiye
Türkiye Scholarships is the Turkish Government's major scholarship programme for international students.
It provides opportunities at different levels, including:
- Associate degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Master's degree
- PhD
What the full-time scholarship can provide
The official programme information lists support including:
- University and programme placement
- Monthly stipend
- Tuition fee coverage
- Accommodation
- One-year Turkish language course
- Health insurance
- Flight ticket support
Application period
Türkiye Scholarships normally operates an annual application period. The programme's official information lists January 10 to February 20 as the regular application period for its full-time scholarship programmes.
Because dates can change for a particular cycle, Nigerian applicants should confirm the next opening directly on the official Türkiye Scholarships website.
Why preparation matters
Applicants should not wait until the application window opens before preparing.
You can begin by:
- Identifying suitable courses
- Checking academic requirements
- Preparing academic documents
- Writing your motivation statement
- Preparing recommendation letters where required
- Researching Turkish universities and programmes
7. Australia Awards Scholarships – Australia
The Australia Awards Scholarships are funded by the Australian Government and provide long-term study opportunities for eligible applicants from participating developing countries.
Nigeria is included among the eligible African countries.
What Australia Awards can provide
Depending on the applicable country and award conditions, Australia Awards can provide substantial support for:
- Tuition fees
- Return air travel
- Establishment allowance
- Living expenses
- Overseas Student Health Cover
- Introductory Academic Program
- Other approved study-related support
The exact entitlements are governed by the current Australia Awards policy and the applicant's country profile.
Current status for Nigerians
For study commencing in 2027, the Africa application round opened on February 1, 2026 and closed on April 30, 2026.
Therefore, Nigerian applicants cannot treat the 2027 round as currently open.
The useful strategy is to monitor the official Australia Awards Africa information for the next application cycle rather than relying on an old deadline.
Important warning
Australia Awards is not a scholarship where every applicant from every country has exactly the same requirements.
Country-specific eligibility rules, priority fields, English-language requirements and document requirements apply.
Other Scholarship Opportunities Nigerian Students Should Watch
The programmes above are not the only ways to obtain international funding.
Swedish Institute Scholarships
The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals has included Nigeria among its eligible countries, and Nigerian students have received awards in previous/current scholarship cohorts.
However, eligibility is programme-specific and the annual call can change.
Students interested in Sweden should check the Swedish Institute's current scholarship call and the individual master's programmes before applying.
Do not copy requirements from an old Swedish Institute scholarship article because eligible countries, eligible master's programmes and application dates can change.
Nigerian Federal Government Scholarship Opportunities
Nigerian students should also monitor the Federal Ministry of Education's Department of Scholarship Awards, formerly the Federal Scholarship Board.
The department administers or coordinates several scholarship and fellowship programmes, including:
- Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarships
- Commonwealth scholarship and fellowship processes
- Nigerian scholarship programmes
- Other international scholarship opportunities
The Federal Ministry of Education has also published country-specific scholarship announcements for opportunities such as Morocco, Serbia and other destinations.
However, not every international scholarship advertised through the Ministry is fully funded.
For example, some country-specific offers may cover tuition and provide a stipend while leaving applicants responsible for airfare, accommodation, feeding or other costs.
Therefore, Nigerian students should read the funding section of every official announcement carefully.
How to Choose the Right Scholarship
Do not choose a scholarship simply because its name is popular.
Start with your own circumstances.
If you are seeking a master's degree
Look closely at:
- Chevening
- Commonwealth Master's Scholarships
- Erasmus Mundus
- DAAD postgraduate programmes
- Türkiye Scholarships
- Australia Awards where eligible
- Swedish Institute opportunities where eligible
If you want undergraduate funding
Look more closely at programmes such as:
- MEXT
- Türkiye Scholarships
- Selected government-to-government scholarship offers
- University-specific international scholarships
The eligibility rules for undergraduate scholarships are often very different from postgraduate programmes.
If you are a working professional
Programmes such as Chevening and selected DAAD opportunities may place considerable importance on professional experience, leadership or development-related goals.
Documents Nigerian Students Should Start Preparing
A strong scholarship application begins before the application portal opens.
Depending on the programme, you may need:
- International passport or acceptable identification
- University certificates
- Academic transcripts
- WAEC or equivalent secondary-school results
- Curriculum vitae
- Personal statement
- Study plan
- Research proposal
- Recommendation letters
- Proof of employment or work experience
- NYSC discharge or exemption certificate
- English-language test result where required
- Admission or conditional offer
- Passport photographs
- Proof of professional qualifications where applicable
Do not collect every document blindly.
First read the official requirements for the scholarship you are targeting.
How Nigerian Students Can Improve Their Scholarship Applications
1. Start before the deadline
Do not begin your application a few days before closing.
Give yourself enough time to:
- Research programmes
- Contact referees
- Obtain transcripts
- Write essays
- Proofread documents
- Apply for university admission where required
2. Choose a course that makes sense for your background
A scholarship application becomes harder to explain when your proposed programme has little connection to your previous education, professional experience or future goals.
Your chosen course should have a clear reason behind it.
3. Research the university separately
Getting a scholarship and getting admission can involve different processes.
Some programmes require admission before or alongside scholarship consideration.
Others allow you to apply for the scholarship while university admission is still being processed.
Never assume that the rules are the same for every scholarship.
4. Write specific essays
Avoid statements such as:
"I have always dreamed of studying abroad."
That sentence alone does not explain why you are a suitable candidate.
Instead, explain:
- What problem you want to address
- What experience shaped your interest
- Why the selected programme is relevant
- What skills you expect to gain
- How you plan to use those skills after graduation
5. Use real evidence
If you claim to have leadership experience, explain what you actually did.
If you mention community service, describe your role and what resulted from the activity.
Specific evidence is more useful than a long list of impressive-sounding adjectives.
6. Follow every instruction
A strong essay cannot rescue an application that fails a mandatory eligibility requirement.
Before submitting, check:
- Age requirement
- Academic qualification
- Nationality
- Work experience
- Course eligibility
- Language requirements
- Required documents
- Reference requirements
- Application deadline
Critical Scholarship Mistakes Nigerian Applicants Should Avoid
Applying for a scholarship you are not eligible for
Read the eligibility criteria before spending time on the application.
Assuming every scholarship is fully funded
Check exactly what the award pays for.
Using an old deadline
Scholarship dates change every year.
Paying someone to "guarantee" selection
Legitimate scholarship selection is not something an agent can guarantee.
Using fake documents
Providing false academic or employment information can result in rejection and potentially other consequences.
Copying another person's essay
Your personal statement should reflect your own experience and goals.
Ignoring university admission requirements
A scholarship may not automatically give you admission to a university.
Waiting until the deadline
Technical problems, missing documents and referee delays can turn a good application into an incomplete one.
Applying through an unofficial website
Always start from the scholarship provider's official website.
How to Identify Scholarship Scams
Nigerian students should be especially careful when scholarship information is circulated through WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram or unofficial websites.
Be cautious if someone claims:
- "Pay ₦50,000 and I will guarantee the scholarship."
- "Send your OTP so I can complete your application."
- "You have already won; pay a processing fee."
- "The official portal is closed, but we have a special link."
- "Everyone who applies through us will be selected."
A genuine scholarship may have legitimate fees associated with other parts of international study, such as university applications, document services or tests, but a third party cannot guarantee that a scholarship provider will select you.
Use the official scholarship website as your primary source.
Read Also:
A Practical Scholarship Application Timeline
If you want to study abroad in a future academic year, you can use this general preparation structure.
9–12 months before study
- Research countries and programmes
- Identify scholarships
- Check eligibility
- Prepare your CV
- Contact potential referees
6–9 months before study
- Request transcripts
- Prepare language-test plans if necessary
- Draft personal statements
- Research universities
- Begin admission applications
3–6 months before deadlines
- Complete scholarship essays
- Obtain references
- Review all requirements
- Upload supporting documents
Before submission
Check everything again.
Make sure:
- Your name is consistent across documents
- Dates are correct
- Files open properly
- Required documents are attached
- References have been submitted where required
- The correct programme has been selected
- You have submitted before the deadline
Fully Funded Does Not Mean Guaranteed
One of the biggest mistakes applicants make is confusing eligibility with selection.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a scholarship.
Many international scholarships receive applications from qualified candidates and have limited places.
Selection may consider factors such as:
- Academic background
- Professional experience
- Leadership
- Development impact
- Study plan
- Research proposal
- References
- Personal statement
- Course relevance
- Country or programme priorities
Therefore, the goal should not simply be to meet the minimum requirements.
Your application should clearly demonstrate why your proposed study matters and what you intend to do with the opportunity.
Disclaimer
The scholarship names, eligibility information, funding descriptions and application dates in this article are provided for educational and informational purposes. Scholarship benefits, award values, eligible countries, participating universities, application deadlines and selection requirements can change from one academic year or application cycle to another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Nigerian students get fully funded scholarships abroad?
Yes. Nigerian citizens are eligible for several major international scholarship programmes, although eligibility varies by scholarship, academic level, programme and application cycle.
Which countries offer fully funded scholarships to Nigerians?
Opportunities can be found in countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Türkiye, Australia and several European countries through programmes such as Erasmus Mundus.
Can an undergraduate student from Nigeria apply for a fully funded scholarship?
Yes. Some programmes accept undergraduate applicants, including certain MEXT and Türkiye Scholarships categories. However, many famous scholarships such as Chevening and Commonwealth Master's Scholarships are for postgraduate study.
Do I need IELTS for every scholarship?
No. English-language requirements vary.
A scholarship provider may not require IELTS as part of its scholarship application while the university still requires proof of English proficiency.
Applicants should therefore check both the scholarship requirements and the university's admission requirements.
Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
Generally, you can apply for multiple scholarships when their rules allow it. However, read each programme's conditions carefully, especially rules concerning simultaneous awards or other sources of funding.
Do I need admission before applying for a scholarship?
It depends on the programme.
Some scholarships require an admission offer, while others allow you to apply for funding before receiving a final university offer.
Always follow the specific scholarship's instructions.
Are fully funded scholarships easy to get?
No scholarship should be described as easy to get.
Even when you meet the eligibility requirements, selection can be competitive and the number of awards is limited.
When should Nigerian students start applying?
Start preparing months before the deadline. Some scholarship cycles open nearly a year before the academic programme begins.
For example, the current Chevening 2027/2028 application cycle opened in August 2026, while many Erasmus Mundus applications are normally submitted between October and January.
Final Thoughts
Studying abroad can be expensive, but financial limitations do not necessarily mean that international education is impossible.
For Nigerian students, scholarships such as Chevening, Commonwealth Master's Scholarships, Erasmus Mundus, DAAD programmes, MEXT, Türkiye Scholarships and Australia Awards can provide significant financial support when the applicant meets the relevant requirements.
The most important step is not simply finding a scholarship with the words "fully funded" in its description.
You need to understand:
- Who can apply
- What level of study is supported
- What the scholarship actually pays for
- Whether university admission is required
- When applications open and close
- Which documents are required
- Whether Nigeria is eligible for the current cycle
- Whether the application is made directly or through a nominating agency
Most importantly, always verify the latest information from the official scholarship provider before submitting an application.
Scholarship opportunities change from year to year, and a programme that is open today may have different requirements or deadlines in the next cycle.
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