Studying abroad from Nigeria without a scholarship is a financial stretch most families can't make. Tuition alone ranges from ₦14M/year (Germany) to ₦55M/year (US). Add living costs, flights, visa fees, and health insurance — the numbers are overwhelming.
But here's what most Nigerian students don't realize: there are scholarships that cover everything — tuition, monthly living allowance, return flights, health insurance, and even research grants. These aren't myths. Thousands of Nigerian students win them every year.
We researched the 10 most accessible fully-funded scholarships for Nigerian students, verified deadlines and eligibility for the 2026/2027 cycle, and ranked them by coverage and competitiveness. If you're serious about studying abroad, start here.
The 10 Best Fully-Funded Scholarships
🇩🇪 1. DAAD Scholarships — Germany
Coverage
Tuition waiver + monthly stipend (€934 Masters / €1,300 PhD) + health insurance + travel allowance + study allowance
Deadline
October – November annually (for following year intake)
Eligibility
Nigerian graduates with excellent academic record (minimum 2:1 or equivalent). Must have completed degree within last 6 years. Relevant work experience preferred.
Duration
12–24 months (Masters) / up to 42 months (PhD)
→ Apply on DAAD website
DAAD is Germany's largest funding organisation. They fund over 100,000 students globally per year. The monthly stipend alone (€934) covers rent and living costs in most German cities. Since German public universities already have free tuition, DAAD essentially pays you to study.
🇬🇧 2. Chevening Scholarships — UK
Coverage
Full tuition (any UK university) + monthly living allowance (£1,347/month in London, £1,133 elsewhere) + return flights + excess baggage + settling-in allowance
Deadline
August – November annually (for following September intake)
Eligibility
Nigerian citizens with minimum 2:1 degree. At least 2 years work experience. IELTS 6.5+ (no band below 5.5). Must return to Nigeria for 2 years after completion.
Duration
1 year (Masters programmes only)
→ Apply on Chevening website
Chevening is the UK government's flagship scholarship and one of the most prestigious globally. Nigeria consistently has one of the highest numbers of Chevening scholars worldwide. The 1-year Masters format means you're fully funded for the entire programme — no second-year costs.
🇬🇧 3. Commonwealth Scholarships — UK
Coverage
Full tuition + monthly stipend (£1,347 London, £1,133 elsewhere) + return flights + warm clothing allowance + thesis grant (PhD) + study travel grant
Deadline
December annually (for following October intake)
Eligibility
Nigerian citizens with strong first degree (minimum 2:1). Nominated through National Scholarship Body (Federal Scholarship Board of Nigeria). Cannot have already studied in the UK.
Duration
1 year (Masters) / up to 36 months (PhD)
→ Apply via Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
Commonwealth Scholarships are funded by the UK government for citizens of Commonwealth countries — and Nigeria is one of the largest beneficiary nations. The PhD funding is particularly strong: up to 3 years of full support plus a thesis writing-up grant. The key difference from Chevening is the nomination route — you apply through Nigeria's Federal Scholarship Board.
🇺🇸 4. Fulbright Foreign Student Program — US
Coverage
Full tuition + monthly living stipend + round-trip airfare + health insurance + book/settling-in allowance. University placement arranged by Fulbright.
Deadline
February – April annually (varies by country; check with US Embassy Abuja)
Eligibility
Nigerian citizens with minimum 2:1 degree. TOEFL or IELTS required. Leadership experience and community impact valued. Must return to Nigeria for 2 years post-completion.
Duration
1–2 years (Masters) / up to 5 years (PhD)
→ Apply through US Embassy Nigeria
Fulbright is the US government's premier scholarship — arguably the most prestigious exchange programme in the world. What makes it unique: Fulbright places you at a US university (you don't choose). This means you could end up at Harvard, MIT, Stanford, or any top school. Nigerian Fulbright alumni include professors, ministers, and CEOs across the country.
🇦🇺 5. Australia Awards Scholarships
Coverage
Full tuition + return airfare + Contribution to Living Expenses (CLE ~AUD $3,500/month) + Overseas Student Health Cover + introductory academic programme
Deadline
April – June annually (for intake the following February)
Eligibility
Nigerian citizens with minimum 2:1 degree. At least 2 years work experience in a relevant field. Must meet English language requirements. Priority given to development-related fields.
Duration
1–2 years (Masters) / up to 4 years (PhD)
→ Apply on Australia Awards website
Australia Awards target developing countries with a focus on sustainable development outcomes. The living allowance (~AUD $3,500/month) is one of the most generous of any scholarship. They also cover an introductory academic programme to help you adjust before your degree starts — a huge advantage for first-time international students.
🇹🇷 6. Turkish Government Scholarships (Turkiye Burslari)
Coverage
Full tuition + monthly stipend (800 TRY BSc / 1,100 TRY MSc / 1,600 TRY PhD) + accommodation + health insurance + one-time flight ticket + 1 year Turkish language course
Deadline
January – February annually
Eligibility
Nigerian citizens. Bachelors: minimum 70% GPA. Masters: minimum 75%. PhD: minimum 75%. No Turkish language required — 1 year Turkish course included. Age limits: 21 (BSc), 30 (MSc), 35 (PhD).
Duration
4–6 years (BSc + language year) / 2–3 years (Masters) / 3–4 years (PhD)
→ Apply on Turkiye Burslari website
This is the most accessible scholarship on this list. It accepts undergraduates (most scholarships are Masters-only), has lower GPA requirements, and doesn't require an English test. The included 1-year Turkish language programme means you arrive with zero Turkish and graduate fluent. Nigeria is one of the top applicant countries — and one of the top recipients.
🇯🇵 7. MEXT Scholarship — Japan
Coverage
Full tuition + monthly allowance (¥143,000–¥148,000, ~$960–$1,000/month) + round-trip airfare + no entrance exam fees. Japanese language training included if needed.
Deadline
April – May annually (Embassy route through Japanese Embassy Abuja)
Eligibility
Nigerian citizens under 35. Must hold or expect a degree. GPA 2.30/3.00 or higher. No Japanese language requirement for English-taught programmes. Embassy recommendation route or university recommendation route.
Duration
5 years (BSc + prep) / 2–3 years (Masters) / 3 years (PhD)
→ Apply through Japanese Embassy Nigeria
MEXT is one of the most comprehensive scholarships available. The monthly stipend alone covers a comfortable life in most Japanese cities. Japanese language training is included for free — even if your programme is in English, you'll get optional language classes. The Embassy route (applied through the Japanese Embassy in Abuja) is the most common pathway for Nigerian students.
🇰🇷 8. Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP)
Coverage
Full tuition + monthly allowance (KRW 1,000,000, ~$750/month) + round-trip airfare + health insurance + settlement allowance + Korean language training (1 year)
Deadline
February – March (Embassy track) or varies by university (University track)
Eligibility
Nigerian citizens. Bachelors: under 25, minimum GPA 80%. Masters/PhD: CGPA 2.64/4.0 or 2.80/4.5 or 3.23/5.0. No Korean language required — 1 year language training included.
Duration
5 years (BSc + language) / 3 years (Masters + language) / 4 years (PhD + language)
→ Apply on Study in Korea website
South Korea is an underrated destination for Nigerian students. KGSP is fully funded with generous terms — similar to the Turkish scholarship in that it includes language training and accepts undergraduates. The tech industry exposure (Samsung, LG, Hyundai headquarters) makes it especially valuable for STEM students.
🌍 9. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship
Coverage
Tuition + living expenses provided as 50% grant / 50% interest-free loan (loan repayable after graduation over 5 years). Need-based — full grant possible for exceptional financial need.
Eligibility
Nigerian citizens with excellent academic record. Must have secured admission to a Masters programme. Preference for development-related fields. Demonstrated financial need required.
Duration
1–2 years (Masters programmes)
→ Apply on Aga Khan Foundation website
Aga Khan is unique on this list: it's a half-grant, half-loan model. The loan portion is interest-free and repayable over 5 years after you graduate and start earning. For students who can't access fully-funded options, this is an excellent bridge — you get the education without the crushing debt. In cases of exceptional need, the grant portion can be increased.
🌍 10. OFID Scholarship Award
Coverage
Full tuition + monthly living allowance + travel costs + health insurance + book/materials allowance
Deadline
May – June annually
Eligibility
Citizens of developing countries including Nigeria. Must have admission to a Masters programme at an accredited institution. Age limit: under 32. Minimum GPA: 2:1 equivalent. Priority: energy, environment, economics, development studies.
Duration
1–2 years (Masters programmes)
→ Apply on OFID website
OFID (the OPEC Fund) specifically supports students from developing countries, and Nigeria — as an OPEC member — is well-represented. The scholarship favours development-oriented fields: energy, environment, economics, public health. If your Masters focus aligns with sustainable development, this is a strong fit.
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Scholarship Comparison Table
| Country |
Scholarship |
Coverage Level |
Deadline Period |
| 🇩🇪 Germany |
DAAD |
Full (tuition + stipend + travel + insurance) |
Oct – Nov |
| 🇬🇧 UK |
Chevening |
Full (tuition + living + flights + settling-in) |
Aug – Nov |
| 🇬🇧 UK |
Commonwealth |
Full (tuition + stipend + flights + thesis grant) |
Dec |
| 🇺🇸 US |
Fulbright |
Full (tuition + stipend + flights + insurance) |
Feb – Apr |
| 🇦🇺 Australia |
Australia Awards |
Full (tuition + AUD $3,500/mo + flights + OSHC) |
Apr – Jun |
| 🇹🇷 Turkiye |
Turkiye Burslari |
Full (tuition + stipend + housing + language year) |
Jan – Feb |
| 🇯🇵 Japan |
MEXT |
Full (tuition + ~$1,000/mo + flights + language) |
Apr – May |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea |
KGSP |
Full (tuition + KRW 1M/mo + flights + language) |
Feb – Mar |
| 🌍 Global |
Aga Khan |
Partial (50% grant / 50% interest-free loan) |
Mar |
| 🌍 Global |
OFID |
Full (tuition + living + travel + insurance) |
May – Jun |
Already know your target country?
Use our Cost Calculator to see the real cost of studying in your chosen country — then compare what each scholarship covers against those costs. Or check our cost breakdown by country for detailed numbers on tuition, living, and hidden fees.
How to Apply: 5 Tips That Actually Matter
Start 12–18 months early
Most scholarship deadlines fall 10–14 months before your programme starts. You need time to gather transcripts, sit IELTS/TOEFL, get references, and write essays. If you're targeting October 2027 intake, start preparing now.
Tailor every application individually
Scholarship committees can tell when you copy-paste. Each programme has different values — Chevening cares about leadership and networking, DAAD cares about academic relevance to development, Fulbright cares about cultural exchange. Read the criteria. Match your story to each one.
Get IELTS/TOEFL done early
Don't let language tests become your bottleneck. Book your test 3–4 months before the earliest deadline. Most scholarships accept IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 80+. If your score is borderline, you have time to retake. Waiting until the last month means one bad test day kills your application.
Apply to multiple scholarships simultaneously
Don't bet everything on one application. Apply to 3–5 scholarships that match your profile. Chevening and Commonwealth are both UK-focused but have different selection criteria. DAAD and Fulbright serve different regions. Diversify your applications like you'd diversify an investment portfolio.
Choose referees who know you personally
A generic "this student was in my class" reference letter won't help. Pick referees who can speak to specific achievements, character traits, and your potential impact. Brief them on the scholarship's values. Give them your CV and personal statement draft. Make it easy for them to write a strong letter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best fully-funded scholarships for Nigerian students in 2026?
The top fully-funded scholarships for Nigerian students include DAAD (Germany), Chevening (UK), Commonwealth Scholarships (UK), Fulbright (US), Australia Awards, Turkish Government Scholarships, MEXT (Japan), Korean Government Scholarship (KGSP), Aga Khan Foundation, and OFID. Each covers tuition and living costs, with most also covering travel and health insurance.
Can Nigerian students get fully-funded scholarships to study abroad?
Yes. Nigerian students are eligible for dozens of fully-funded international scholarships. Programs like DAAD, Chevening, Fulbright, and Commonwealth Scholarships specifically accept Nigerian applicants and cover tuition, living allowance, flights, and health insurance. Thousands of Nigerian students win these scholarships every year.
When should I start applying for scholarships to study abroad from Nigeria?
Start 12–18 months before your intended start date. Most fully-funded scholarships open applications between June and October for the following academic year. Chevening opens in August, DAAD in October, Fulbright in February–April, and Commonwealth in December. Prepare your documents (transcripts, references, English test scores) well in advance.
What CGPA do I need for fully-funded scholarships?
Most fully-funded scholarships require a minimum of Second Class Upper (2:1) or a CGPA of 3.5/5.0. However, some programs like the Turkish Government Scholarship accept students with lower grades (3.0/5.0 equivalent). Strong personal statements, leadership experience, and community involvement can compensate for a slightly lower CGPA.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL for these scholarships?
Most scholarships to English-speaking countries (UK, US, Australia) require IELTS (minimum 6.5) or TOEFL (minimum 80). Some programmes like the Turkish Government Scholarship and MEXT (Japan) do not require English proficiency tests for admission, as they provide language training. Chevening requires minimum IELTS 6.5 with no band below 5.5.
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