What if you can travel out to a different country, attend school, even get some stipends all for free?
Would you want it?
I’m sure you would. I mean the opportunities, better living conditions and free money. It’s what Nigerians would call awoof.
This so called awoof is possible and not just possible, but very possible. A lot of Nigerians have dreams of studying abroad but are deprived by the money to even get a visa talk less pay for the heavy tuition fees. I am here to tell you that there are scholarship opportunities that’ll only require you take some aptitude test and when you pass, you are in. Most of the times, the eligibility criteria for this scholarship are just your academic excellence, your leadership qualities, your interest, your financial status or even a combination of all.
Getting a fully funded scholarship abroad as a Nigerian rest a lot on how informed you are. And that information is what you will get here.
I will take you through some of the Top funded scholarship. Just stay with me.
- Chevening Scholarships:
This is a prestigious scholarship funded by the UK government to help develop global leaders by taking a one-year master’s program in any subject at any UK university. Awesome yeah?
Let’s see some of the Benefits you can get from it.
- Full coverage of Tuition fee
- Monthly stipends for living expenses
- Road trip airfare to the UK
- There is also additional grant for extra and important expenditure like thesis binding and visa fees.
But then of course, there are some criteria you must meet. Which are:
- You must have two years of work experience. This includes internship and volunteering
- You must have a strong academic background. That is must have graduated with good grades from a university or polytechnic
- You must have demonstrated some leadership potential one way or another.
- A commitment to returning to your country to contribute to your country’s development is required.
Application Period: Between August and November Each year
Below is the official website to help you continue the application if it interests you.
Official website: https://www.chevening.org/
- Commonwealth Scholarships
The scholarship is for developing common wealth countries like Nigeria, to help citizens of these countries, pursue Masters and PHD programs in the UK. It is offered by the common wealth scholarship commission. This scholarship is aimed at development.
The Major Benefits you get are
- Full tuition fee
- Airfare to and fro the UK
- Monthly stipends as living allowances
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be citizen of a common wealth country. That is of course for Nigerians.
- Must hold a degree of at least a second upper division from a university
- You must have a master degree if you want to do your PHD
- You must be unable to afford to study in the UK without the scholarship
Application Period: Starts in November and closes in December.
Application process: You can apply via the nominating agency in Nigeria of via the Commonwealth online website by submitting the right documents like your transcript and passport.
Official website: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
- MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program
This one offers academically sound Africans the opportunity to get access to world class education in various universities across Africa, North America and Europe. These institutions serve as partners to the foundation. The scholarship is fully funded.
The Benefits the scholarship offers are
- Completely paid tuition fee
- Internship opportunities
- Mentorship and career counselling
- Leadership development programs
To be qualified for the scholarship, you need to
- Be academically sound and financially unsound
- You must have a commitment of giving back to the community
- You must have demonstrated some leadership potential.
- You must of course be from one for the eligible countries. Nigeria is one.
Application Period: It depends on the institution hosting.
How to apply: You must go through the guidelines offered by a partnership university
Below is the website to feed you with more information.
Official website: https://mastercardfdn.org/all/scholars/
- Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
This program offers opportunities to students from developing countries like Nigeria to study masters at selected universities worldwide. Sponsored by the world bank and Japan, this scholarship aims at helping people afford high standard of education. Be a part of this then
What are the Benefits?
- Payment of Full tuition fee
- Monthly stipends
- Airfare allowance to allow for to and fro movement to country where the country is situated.
- Healthcare insurance. To help take care of you in the period of your study.
- Travel allowance
But you must meet some eligibility Criteria:
- Of course, be a citizen of one of the developing countries under the world bank.
- Have a bachelor’s degree, three years prior to the application.
- A three years work experience in community development.
Application Period: Opens march and closes in may.
Application process: You must apply to one of the master’s programs then submit a scholarship application to their portal, with all the required documents
Below is the official website for more information
Official website: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program
This was created by the united state to create mutual understanding between the people of the united state and other countries. It’s offers are for graduates, artists, to conduct research and study in the US. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The Benefits are:
- Payment of Full tuition fee
- Monthly stipends
- Round airfare allowance
- Health insurance
- Books and supplies allowance
- Computer allowance
The Eligibility criteria are
- Must have an undergraduate degree and has demonstrated a high level of excellence
- Strong leadership qualities
- Proficient in English.
Application Period: it usually opens in February and close in may.
Application process: Those who apply, need to submit academic and professional references, a curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, TOEFL score report, and a strong study or research proposal.
Below is the official website to help navigate and get more information.
Official website: https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org
- Australia Awards Scholarships
This one is funded by the Australian government to help citizens of partner countries like Nigeria get access to better education. It grants access to full under graduate studies and post graduate studies.
The Benefits you enjoy are
- Payment of full tuition fees
- Monthly stipends
- Establishment allowance: it is paid once to contribute to your accommodation, text books and study materials.
- Return Air fare – paid once to and fro Australia
- Oversee student health cover: More like an health insurance.
- Field work fee only available for research student for one return economy class airfare either to their country or citizenship or within Australia.
It’s eligibility Criteria
- You must be a Nigerian citizen
- Must be at least, 25 years old.
- Must have five years of relevant work experience
- Must be proficient in English
- Strong academic background. That is a proper high school result for the undergraduate’s program and a very good bachelor’s degree result for the postgraduate program
Application Period: Opens in February and closes in April
Application process: You just have to submit an application to their official website with all the required documents.
Check out more on the website below.
Official website: https://www.dfat.gov.au/people-to-people/australia-awards/australia-awards-scholarships
- University of Michigan-Dearborn Undergraduate Scholarship in USA
This scholarship is for international qualified and interested student to study in the US. This scholarship is for undergraduates and it’s aimed at granting affordability and easy access to quality education.
Benefits
- They offer an annual scholarship of $12,500
- It total $50,000 for a period of 4 years.
Eligibility Criteria: In this University, scholarship is awarded based in several criteria such as academic excellence, personal talent, interest, leadership qualities or financial needs or even a combination of all this.
- Be an international student with a valid visa
- Have a GPA of 3.0 and meet the countries specific requirements
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at UM – Dearborn to renew the scholarship
To apply, students should be ready to submit
- High school official academic documents
- Scores of any of the following language proficiency test
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL IBT – 80
- TOEFL CBT – 213
- TOEFL PBT – 550
Application Period: Runs from March to November.
Application Process: The applicants are required to apply for admission via the online application portal of the university.
Official website: https://umdearborn.edu/admissions-aid/undergraduate
- Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
This scholarship is championed by the Swiss government through the federal commission for scholarship for foreign students. They offer this scholarship to international student even Nigerians for post graduate studies.
The Benefits are
- Payment of Full Tuition fee
- Monthly stipends
- Housing allowance
- Health insurance
- Airfare allowance
Eligibility Criteria: This scholarship is specifically for master students. So,
- You must have a master’s degree or equivalent
- Must be under 35 years of age at the time of application
- You will have to provide a research proposal or admission letter from a Swiss university
Application Period: Often opens in August and closes December
Application process: Applicant are to submit their applications to the Swiss representative in their country of origin, Nigeria. Which is in this case, Nigeria.
Official website: https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/home/education/scholarships-and-grants/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships.html
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS)
This scholarship is for those with doctoral degree. Sponsored by the Canadian government, it is aimed at retaining doctoral degree holders. Not just those with doctoral degree, but those who demonstrate leadership skills and high level of scholarly achievement.
The benefits are
- $50,000 per year for three years.
Its Eligibility Criteria are:
- You have to be nominated by a Canadian institution that has a vanier CGS quota
- If you are pursuing a doctorate degree.
- Must have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership qualities
Application Period: it most times opens in July and closes in December
Application process: The nomination by a Canadian institution is sacrosanct. After which you submit application online.
Below is the official website for further studies
Official website: https://vanier.gc.ca/en/home-accueil.html
- New Zealand Scholarships for International Students
This is hosted by the New Zealand government to help Nigerian and citizens from other countries pursue better education in New Zealand. It is for undergraduates and post graduates’ study into New Zealand university and institute of technology.
The benefits present are:
- Payment for full tuition fee
- Living allowance of about NZD $531 per week.
- Establishment allowance of about NZD $3,000 paid once to help you with set up.
- Round trip airfare
- Medical and travel insurance also present
- You can travel home during your scholarship, one or two times, depending on the duration of your scholarship
- There is research and thesis allowance for most postgraduate students
For the eligibility,
- You must be 18 and above as at the time of the application
- You must be a Nigerian
- Must be committed to returning to the country after your studies
- Proficient in English
- Must have a strong academic background
- They give priority to applicants who want to study courses related to sustainable development, climate change and inclusive economy growth
Application Period: Most times, it opens in march and closes in April.
Application process: The completion of an eligibility test is required to be done on their portal. And then, when you pass you can then proceed with the submission of documents on their portal.
Below is the website for further information
I have a friend who applied for different scholarship opportunities to study his masters. What later happened? After writing all the aptitude test and submitting several applications, he actually did get admitted into several in fact that he has to choose one of all. People get into this position because of how much effort they put into getting it. He is studying now abroad and living the life.
What he did.
- He applied on time
- He read the eligibility criteria carefully
- He has a strong personal statement and recommendation letter
- He was able to demonstrate a clear vision on how his education will have an impact on the society.
We have successfully explored a few scholarships you can apply into as a Nigerian who wants to school abroad. Getting yourself into this prestigious school, requires your consistent effort as getting into these schools now sometimes poses to be difficult. Meet up with the criteria and see yourself excel. You can google out other scholarships as there are hundreds of them. But the ones we mentioned here are the very common ones that Nigerians have benefited from. It’s your time, go get it!
