Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerians in 2026: Complete List

A fully funded scholarship means exactly what it says: tuition, accommodation, living allowance, flights, and visa costs — all covered. You focus on your studies; the scholarship covers everything else.

For Nigerian students, fully funded scholarships represent one of the most powerful opportunities available. They are competitive, yes — but thousands of Nigerians have won them, and the application process is learnable.

This guide covers the most credible, well-funded, and Nigerian-accessible fully funded scholarships in 2026, with honest information about eligibility, timelines, and how competitive each one is.

1. Chevening Scholarship (UK)

Funder: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Level: Masters (one year) Destination: Any UK university Covers: Full tuition, living allowance, flights, visa, arrival allowance Deadline: Typically November each year (for the following October intake)

Chevening is the UK government's flagship international scholarship and one of the most prestigious awards a Nigerian professional can receive. It funds outstanding individuals with leadership potential to study any Masters programme at any UK university.

Nigerian competitiveness: Nigeria consistently produces one of the largest cohorts of Chevening scholars globally. The scholarship explicitly values leadership experience, community involvement, and professional achievement — not just academic grades.

Key eligibility requirements:

Nigerian citizenship
Bachelor's degree with at least a Second Class Upper (2:1) equivalent
Minimum 2 years of work experience (full-time, paid)
Return to Nigeria for minimum 2 years after completing the scholarship
Must apply to three different UK universities before submitting the Chevening application

Full guide: How to Apply for Chevening as a Nigerian

Official website: chevening.org

2. Commonwealth Scholarship (UK)

Funder: UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Level: Masters and PhD Destination: UK universities Covers: Full tuition, living allowance, flights, thesis grant (PhD), family allowance Deadline: Varies by host university; typically December–January

The Commonwealth Scholarship targets students from lower and middle-income Commonwealth countries — Nigeria qualifies. Unlike Chevening, it is administered through universities rather than the Foreign Office, which means you apply through your target UK university.

Two main types:

Commonwealth Masters Scholarship — for full-time Masters
Commonwealth PhD Scholarship — for doctoral research

What makes it different from Chevening: More academically focused; research and academic excellence weigh more heavily than professional leadership. Strong for those with first-class degrees pursuing research careers.

Official website: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk

3. DAAD Scholarship (Germany)

Funder: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Level: Masters and PhD Destination: German universities (instruction mostly in English) Covers: Monthly stipend, health insurance, travel allowance, tuition (at public universities, usually free) Deadline: Varies by programme; typically October–November

Germany has made a deliberate push to attract African postgraduate students, and Nigerian applicants have had strong success with DAAD. Many German university Masters programmes are taught entirely in English, making language no longer a barrier.

Key programmes for Nigerians:

Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) — specifically for students from developing countries
DAAD/PTDF Joint Scholarship — in partnership with the Nigerian Petroleum Technology Development Fund, for petroleum-related fields
Helmut-Schmidt Programme — for public policy and governance

Official website: daad.de

4. MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program

Funder: MasterCard Foundation Level: Undergraduate and Masters Destination: Partner universities in Africa and internationally Covers: Full tuition, accommodation, meals, transport, stipend Deadline: Varies by partner university

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program funds academically talented young Africans who demonstrate financial need and commitment to giving back to their communities. Nigerian students have won through partner institutions including University of Toronto, Sciences Po, Cornell University, Arizona State University, and several African universities.

What makes it unique: Strong emphasis on social impact and leadership. Scholars are expected to return to Africa and contribute to development.

Official website: mastercardfdn.org/scholars

5. Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarship

Funder: Nigerian federal government (PTDF) Level: Masters and PhD Destination: UK, France, Germany, Japan (and local universities for undergraduate) Covers: Full tuition, living allowance, flights, health insurance, book allowance Deadline: Annually, typically Q1 each year

PTDF is a Nigerian government scholarship specifically for students in petroleum, engineering, geology, and related fields. It is one of the most reliable fully funded options for Nigerian STEM graduates because the funder is a Nigerian government agency — meaning the scholarship is specifically designed for Nigerians.

Overseas scholarship destinations: The UK, France, Germany, and Japan are the main destinations. Partner universities include Imperial College London, University of Aberdeen, and others.

Official website: ptdf.gov.ng

6. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)

Funder: US Department of State Level: Masters and PhD Destination: US universities Covers: Full tuition, living stipend, health insurance, flights Deadline: Typically March–May each year (for the following academic year)

The Fulbright is the US government's flagship international scholarship and one of the most recognised academic awards globally. Nigerian applications are submitted through the US Embassy in Abuja.

What Fulbright looks for: Academic excellence, leadership qualities, ambassadorial qualities (you represent Nigeria in the US), and a clear plan to return and contribute to Nigeria after graduation.

Nigerian track record: Nigeria has an active Fulbright alumni community. The US Embassy Nigeria (usembassy.gov/nigeria) manages applications.

Official website: foreign.fulbrightonline.org

7. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship

Funder: Aga Khan Foundation Level: Masters only Destination: Universities in select countries (UK, Canada, USA, France, Portugal, Japan, etc.) Covers: 50% grant + 50% loan (loan repayable after graduation) Deadline: March 31 each year

The Aga Khan scholarship is partially a grant and partially an interest-free loan — making it technically not fully funded, but included here because the total support package covers tuition and living fully, with a manageable repayment component.

Eligibility: Open to students from developing countries including Nigeria. Strong emphasis on financial need alongside academic merit.

Official website: akdn.org/akf

8. Australian Awards Scholarship

Funder: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Level: Masters and PhD Destination: Australian universities Covers: Full tuition, living allowance, travel, establishment allowance, health cover Deadline: Typically April–May each year

Australian Awards target mid-career professionals from developing countries — Nigeria included. The programme looks for candidates who can demonstrate how studying in Australia will help them contribute to Nigeria's development upon return.

Official website: dfat.gov.au/australianawards

How to Maximise Your Chances

Most Nigerian applicants for competitive scholarships are eliminated at the essay stage — not the academic stage. Here are the patterns that separate successful applicants:

1. Start building your narrative early Chevening, Fulbright, and MasterCard all require essays about your leadership, community impact, and career goals. These cannot be written authentically in a week. Start reflecting on your story 6–12 months before applying.

2. Connect your past to your future The strongest applications show a clear line: your background → your chosen course → your post-scholarship impact in Nigeria. Vague "I want to contribute to development" statements do not work. Specific is better: "I will use my MSc in public health policy to join the NCDC's disease surveillance division."

3. Get strong references early Every major scholarship requires references from professors or employers. Your referees should know you personally and be able to speak specifically about your capabilities. A reference that says "she was a good student" adds little; one that describes a specific project and achievement adds a lot.

4. Apply to multiple scholarships in the same cycle Application timelines often overlap. Apply to Chevening AND Commonwealth AND DAAD AND PTDF in the same year if you are eligible for all of them. Rejection from one does not disqualify you from others.

Our Detailed Guides

For the most competitive scholarships, we have written step-by-step application guides:

Also see our full Scholarships database for more opportunities updated regularly.

Sources & References

Chevening Scholarships — chevening.org (UK government international scholarship programme)
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission — cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk (UK Commonwealth scholarship guidelines)
DAAD Germany — daad.de (German Academic Exchange Service scholarship programmes)
MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program — mastercardfdn.org (scholarship for African students)
PTDF Nigeria — ptdf.gov.ng (Nigerian government STEM scholarship)
Fulbright Program — foreign.fulbrightonline.org (US government international scholarship)
Australian Awards — dfat.gov.au (Australian government development scholarship)