Scholarships for Nigerian Undergraduate Students in 2026

Undergraduate scholarships for Nigerians are harder to find than postgraduate ones — most major international funders (Chevening, Commonwealth, Fulbright) focus on graduate-level study. But significant funding opportunities exist for undergraduate Nigerians, both locally and internationally.

This guide covers the most credible active scholarship opportunities for Nigerian undergraduate students in 2026 — from domestic government awards to international university scholarships.

Nigerian Government Undergraduate Scholarships

1. Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Scholarship Board

Funder: Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), Federal Ministry of Education Level: Undergraduate (and postgraduate) For: Nigerian citizens studying at Nigerian federal universities Covers: Tuition, accommodation, book allowance, and monthly stipend

The Federal Scholarship Board administers several scholarship programmes for Nigerians, including the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship — which funds undergraduate and postgraduate students to study in partner countries including China, Russia, Hungary, Morocco, and others under bilateral agreements.

The BEA Scholarship:

Open to Nigerians who have completed O-Level with 5 credits including English and Mathematics
No tuition fees (partner government covers)
Monthly stipend and accommodation provided in the destination country
Language training often included

How to apply: Monitor the FSB website and official Nigerian newspapers for annual calls. Applications are typically submitted online through the FSB portal.

Official website: fsb.gov.ng

2. State Government Scholarships

Most Nigerian state governments operate scholarship programmes for indigenes studying at Nigerian universities or abroad. Quality and regularity vary enormously by state:

Lagos State Scholarship Board — regular awards for Lagos indigenes
Rivers State Scholarship Board — petroleum-focused awards
Edo State Scholarship Board — active programme
Oyo State Scholarship Board — available for indigenes

How to find yours: Search "[Your State] Scholarship Board" or contact your state's Ministry of Education. Many state awards go unclaimed because indigenes simply don't know about them or miss the announcement periods.

3. PTDF Undergraduate Scholarship (Domestic)

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) funds undergraduate students in Nigerian universities studying petroleum-related courses — petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, geology, geophysics.

Covers: Tuition, stipend, and other allowances at participating Nigerian federal universities.

Official website: ptdf.gov.ng

International Scholarships with Undergraduate Tracks

4. MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program (Undergraduate Track)

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program funds academically talented young Africans with financial need at selected partner universities. Undergraduate funding is available through partner African universities including:

University of Ghana
Ashesi University (Ghana)
African Leadership University (Rwanda/Mauritius)
USIU-Africa (Kenya)

Nigerian students can apply to study at these partner institutions. The scholarship covers full tuition, accommodation, meals, and a stipend.

What it looks for: Strong academic performance, financial need, and demonstrated commitment to contributing to African development.

Official website: mastercardfdn.org/scholars

5. Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship (Undergraduate at Partner Institutions)

The Aga Khan Foundation supports students at some of its associated institutions — including the Aga Khan University in Pakistan (Faculty of Health Sciences) and AKU East Africa. Nigerian students studying health sciences can explore this route.

Official website: akdn.org/akf

6. University-Specific Scholarships for International Undergraduates

Many international universities offer merit scholarships for Nigerian students as part of their international student recruitment. These are not "international scholarships" in the traditional sense — they are university-awarded fee reductions or full awards.

UK universities:

University of Bristol — Think Big Scholarships (up to full tuition)
University of Edinburgh — Global Scholarships
University of Leeds — International Excellence Scholarships
University of Sheffield — various international merit awards

US universities:

Some need-blind US liberal arts colleges accept international students and meet full financial need — Amherst College, Dartmouth, Yale, Harvard, MIT (for exceptional Nigerian applicants)
These are among the hardest to enter academically, but the financial aid is genuine

Canadian universities:

University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, and several others offer entrance scholarships to international students

How to find these: Search "[University Name] international undergraduate scholarship" on each university's website. Requirements vary.

Private Sector Scholarships in Nigeria

7. MTN Nigeria Foundation Scholarship

The MTN Foundation awards scholarships annually to Nigerian undergraduate students studying STEM courses at Nigerian universities. The scholarship targets academically excellent students with financial need.

Covers: Tuition and stipend Official website: mtn.ng/foundation

8. Dangote Foundation Scholarship

The Aliko Dangote Foundation has funded scholarships for Nigerian students studying at Nigerian universities and abroad. Award availability varies year to year — monitor their website and announcements.

Official website: dangote.com/dangote-foundation

9. Shell Nigeria Scholarship

Shell Nigeria (SPDC) awards scholarships to Nigerian undergraduate students studying engineering, sciences, and related courses at Nigerian universities, particularly in oil-producing states.

Official website: shell.com.ng

10. TotalEnergies Nigeria Scholarship

TotalEnergies offers annual scholarships to Nigerian engineering and geosciences undergraduates at federal universities, with preference given to students from oil-producing states.

Tips for Nigerian Undergraduate Scholarship Applicants

1. Apply to multiple opportunities simultaneously Many scholarships open and close within 4–8 weeks. Track multiple ones at once. Use a spreadsheet: scholarship name, deadline, requirements, application status.

2. Meet the academic requirements first Most scholarships require a minimum CGPA (typically 3.5/5.0 or 4.0/5.0 in the Nigerian system, or a First Class/Upper Second equivalent). Your academic results are the baseline — everything else is secondary.

3. Document your financial need clearly Many scholarships specifically target students with financial need. Be prepared to provide evidence: parents' income, employer letters, tax returns. Understating need when it exists is a mistake — the information is used for award allocation, not judgment.

4. Watch official channels, not third parties Scholarship scams targeting Nigerians are common. Legitimate scholarships do not charge application fees, do not promise admission without a proper application process, and do not ask for payment before award. Always verify on the official funder website.

5. Start building your profile from Year 1 The best undergraduate scholarship applicants are not created in their final year — they build a record of achievement throughout their degree. Join student associations, lead projects, get involved in community work, and document everything.

Sources & References

Federal Scholarship Board Nigeria — fsb.gov.ng (BEA scholarships and Nigerian government undergraduate funding)
Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) — ptdf.gov.ng (PTDF undergraduate awards)
MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program — mastercardfdn.org (undergraduate scholarship at partner African universities)
MTN Nigeria Foundation — mtn.ng (undergraduate STEM scholarship)
Dangote Foundation — dangote.com (Nigerian undergraduate scholarship programme)