Scholarships for Nigerian students
Scholarships, bursaries, student loans and fellowships for Nigerian students. Check each provider’s current requirements.
Last updated: Friday 11 September 2026- Where a closing date has been published, it is shown, and the item comes off once that date has passed.
- A missing closing date means the date is not confirmed here, not that the scheme is open.
- Always confirm on the official page before you pay anything or send documents.
Funding with a closing date
Apply before the date shown.
Chevening 2027/28 applications open 4 August 2026
Closes 6 October 2026Chevening pays for a one-year Master's in the UK. Applications open on 4 August 2026 at 11am UTC and close on 6 October 2026 at 11am UTC. That is the hard close – the system shuts. Start the form early, because it asks for three course choices and two years of references.
Chevening timelineUK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeOfficial source
Nigerian schemes and student funding
Government, corporate and loan schemes for students studying in Nigeria.
PTDF scholarship: know the rules before the next call opens
No closing date givenThe PTDF 2026/2027 overseas scholarship closed on 5 June 2026, so this cycle is finished. For the undergraduate scheme you must be in 200 level, hold a CGPA of at least 2.4 out of 5.0, and have five credits including English and Mathematics. Meet those now so you are ready when the next call opens.
PTDF scholarship guidelinesPetroleum Technology Development FundOfficial source
MTN Foundation Scholarship: ₦300,000 a year until you graduate
No closing date givenMTN Foundation is running its 2026 scholarship. It pays ₦300,000 a year until graduation and takes 400 students across three schemes. Read the eligibility on the MTN page and apply directly there. MTN never charges an application fee.
MTN Foundation scholarshipsMTN NigeriaOfficial source
How to start your NELFUND student loan application
No closing date givenThe Nigerian Education Loan Fund covers tuition for students in government universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. There are three steps: confirm you are Nigerian, verify your school details, then verify with JAMB. The whole thing takes 15 to 30 minutes. The loan carries no interest and there is no closing date, so you can apply at any point in your programme.
NELFUND application portalNigerian Education Loan FundOfficial source
NELFUND loan: what it covers and when you repay
No closing date givenThe loan pays your institutional fees and gives an upkeep allowance. It carries no interest, but it is a loan and you do repay it. Repayment starts two years after you finish NYSC. Once you are earning, 10 per cent of your monthly salary is deducted at source until it is cleared. Read the terms before you sign.
NELFUND terms and conditionsNigerian Education Loan FundOfficial source
What Chevening asks for: 2,800 hours and 3 course choices
No closing date givenYou need a degree good enough for a UK Master's, and at least 2,800 hours of work experience – that is roughly two years full time, and internships and volunteering count. You choose three different courses and you must return to Nigeria for two years after the scholarship. Read the full eligibility page before you start.
Chevening eligibilityUK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeOfficial source
PTDF overseas scholarship: what you need to qualify
No closing date givenPTDF sends Nigerians for Master's and PhD study in the UK, Germany, France and Malaysia. The 2026 round closed on 27 February, so this is for the next one. Read the scheme notice now so you have your degree certificate, transcript and NYSC discharge ready when it reopens.
PTDF overseas schemePetroleum Technology Development FundOfficial source
TETFund will pay for your Masters or PhD if you lecture
No closing date givenTETFund's academic staff training scheme pays for Master's and PhD study for lecturers in federal and state tertiary institutions. Your institution nominates you – you do not apply directly to TETFund. Read the guidelines and take them to your school's TETFund desk officer.
TETFund intervention guidelinesTertiary Education Trust FundOfficial source
Chevron confirms the Agbami scholarship is still running
No closing date givenChevron's Nigeria page confirms it runs the Agbami Medical and Engineering Professionals scholarship and that more than 16,000 students have benefited. There is no application link on that page at the moment, so watch it for the next opening rather than trusting any other site claiming to take applications.
Chevron NigeriaChevron Nigeria LimitedOfficial source
Federal scholarship grants raised by 50 per cent
No closing date givenThe Federal Scholarship Board has increased its award amounts. Undergraduate grants rise from ₦300,000 to ₦450,000. Master's grants rise from ₦400,000 to ₦600,000. PhD grants rise from ₦500,000 to ₦750,000. Watch the Federal Ministry of Education page for when the next call opens.
Federal Scholarship BoardFederal Scholarships BoardOfficial source
PTDF publishes 2026/2027 scholarship award list
No closing date givenPTDF has published the list of candidates awarded UK split-site and Germany, France and Malaysia strategic partnership scholarships for Master's and PhD study. If you applied in the last round, check your name on the official list rather than on social media.
PTDF award listPetroleum Technology Development FundOfficial source
Study abroad, fellowships and research funding
Funded study outside Nigeria. Check the eligibility rules before you spend time on an application.
2027 Minnesota State University Scholarship in USA | Fully Funded
No closing date givenA fully funded Masters degree opportunity is available for home and international students at the Minnesota State University (MSU) in the United States. The Minnesota State University Scholarship offers a graduate opportunity that covers tuition and provides a living stipend of $30,300 per year for selected candidates.
Read on Scholarship RegionScholarship Region
Want the ones that actually fit you?
OLIVE is our free student app. It filters funding against your level, your course and where you want to study, and tells you when a new one opens. There is no payment and no trial.
Open OLIVE, freeRead next: the Federal Scholarship Grant, the amounts and how to apply, or the NELFUND tuition refund you may be owed. See also JAMB and admission updates, and more on the DDE blog.