Scholarships for Nigerian Students 2027: Fully Funded Study Abroad Guide
Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Top urgent deadlines | Chevening: Oct 6, 2026 · Commonwealth Master’s: Oct 20, 2026 |
| Best fully funded programs | Chevening, Commonwealth, Australia Awards, Mastercard Foundation, DAAD, Türkiye Bursları |
| Government options | PTDF (oil & gas, expected Jan 2027) — BEA foreign awards SUSPENDED |
| Official portals | scholarship.education.gov.ng · scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng |
| Warning | Never pay anyone to “secure” a scholarship — see scam section |
Nigerians are among the most competitive applicants for global scholarships — and the 2027 cycle is now wide open. Two of the biggest UK programs have verified deadlines inside the next ten weeks (Chevening closes October 6, Commonwealth Master’s closes October 20), and the national oil-and-gas fund PTDF is expected to reopen for 2027 in January.
This guide covers every major route for Nigerian students in the 2027 cycle: international government scholarships, the national PTDF scheme, what happened to the BEA program, and the private-sector options worth watching.
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⚠️ First: The BEA Scholarship Is Suspended
The Federal Government suspended new awards under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship in April–May 2025 and has repeatedly confirmed — most recently in May 2026 — that the suspension remains in force. The BEA line appearing in the 2026 budget is a procedural carry-over, not a reinstatement.
Practical meaning: any agent, “consultant” or portal promising you a 2027 BEA federal scholarship is running a scam. Current BEA beneficiaries continue to receive support; new awards are not being processed. Use the official Federal Ministry of Education portal (scholarship.education.gov.ng) and be extremely sceptical of anything else claiming to be a federal award.
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1. Chevening Scholarships (UK) — Deadline October 6, 2026
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Level | One-year Master’s (any subject) |
| Coverage | Full tuition, monthly stipend, return flights, visa costs |
| Deadline | October 6, 2026, 11:00 UTC (12:00 noon Nigerian time) |
| Eligibility | Nigerian citizenship, ≥2 years full-time work experience, return commitment (2 years) |
Chevening Nigeria opened on August 4, 2026 at chevening.org/apply — select Nigeria as your country. You need an undergraduate degree, two references, and you must apply to three different eligible UK university courses (an unconditional offer from at least one is required later in the timeline). The portal locks at 11:00 UTC on October 6; no late submissions are accepted.
Key facts for Nigerians: the British High Commission in Abuja manages the process; partner awards (e.g., Chevening with UK universities) frequently go unfilled and are an easier entry point. See our full Chevening guide.
2. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships (UK) — Opens September 8, Closes October 20, 2026
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Level | One-year Master’s (2:1 minimum) |
| Coverage | Full tuition, monthly stipend (£1,378; £1,690 London), airfare, allowances |
| Window | Opens September 8, 2026 → closes October 20, 2026, 16:00 BST |
| Route | Via Nigerian nominating agency — NOT direct to CSC |
Verified on cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk: the 2027/28 Commonwealth Master’s round opens Tuesday, September 8, 2026 and closes October 20, 2026. You apply through Nigeria’s national nominating agency (the Federal Ministry of Education), which sets its own earlier deadline — treat mid-September as your real cut-off. Outcomes arrive by July 2027 for study starting September/October 2027.
3. PTDF Overseas Scholarships (UK, Germany, France, Malaysia) — Expected January 2027
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund’s Overseas MSc and PhD scheme is Nigeria’s flagship technical scholarship:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Level | MSc & PhD in oil-and-gas-relevant fields |
| Coverage | Tuition, bench fees, accommodation, living allowance, flights, health insurance |
| 2026 round | Closed February 27, 2026 (application portal: scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng) |
| 2027 round | Expected to open ~January 2027 — follow the portal |
| Requirements | 2.1 (or 2.2 + industry experience) for MSc; NYSC completed; 5 O’Level credits; NIN verified |
Note: UK PhDs in 2026 were split-site only — research split between CPESK (Kaduna) and partners (Robert Gordon, Strathclyde, Portsmouth). PTDF/DAAD PhD applicants in Germany must secure a supervisor before final interviews. Multiple applications = automatic disqualification.
4. DAAD (Germany) — Nigeria Eligible
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| EPOS | Development-related Master’s; ~€992/month + insurance + travel; Nigeria eligible |
| Helmut Schmidt | Public-policy Master’s, fully funded |
| Deadlines | October–November 2026 for Winter 2027 entry (programme-specific) |
DAAD is the single largest funder of Nigerian postgraduate study in Germany, and German public universities remain effectively tuition-free (€150–350/semester fees). See our DAAD guide.
5. Australia Awards — Africa
Fully funded Master’s/PhD at Australian universities for African professionals. The Africa round for the 2027 intake closed April 30, 2026; watch for the 2028 round opening in early 2027. See our Australia Awards guide.
6. Fully Funded Programs Open to Nigerians (Cross-Links)
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program — US Master’s/PhD; Nigeria applies via the US Embassy; opens ~spring.
- Türkiye Bursları — UG/Master’s/PhD in Turkey; fully funded incl. flights & stipend; annual window ~Feb–Mar.
- Stipendium Hungaricum — Hungary; no IELTS required; Jan 2027 window.
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — UG/Master’s at partner universities (incl. many African partners).
- Mandela Washington Fellowship (YALI) — 6-week US leadership program for young African leaders; Nigeria eligible; opens mid-September 2026.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s — multi-country degrees, fully funded.
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarships — UK one-year Master’s co-funded by universities; opens ~Nov 2026.
7. Private-Sector & Local Scholarships (Watch Annually)
Nigerian companies announce scholarships each year: NNPC/PTDF-linked awards, NLNG, MTN, Agbami, Seplat, Jim Ovia Foundation, and university-specific schemes. They are usually announced between November and March and are competitive at undergraduate level. Always verify via the company’s official channels — Nigerian scholarship fraud is widespread.
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Eligibility Checklist (✅/❌)
✅ Most Programs Require:
- Nigerian citizenship + NIN verification (for federal schemes)
- Completed NYSC (for most Nigerian-based applications)
- 2:1 or better for MSc (Commonwealth, Chevening need 2:1/upper-second)
- 2+ years work experience (Chevening)
- English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL — Chevening covers the test; Commonwealth requires proof)
❌ Watch Out For:
- BEA — suspended; any “2027 BEA” offer is a scam
- PTDF — candidates previously funded at the same/lower level are ineligible; late or multiple applications are disqualified
- Chevening — applying to fewer than 3 UK courses makes you ineligible
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Insider Tips
1. Treat nominating-agency deadlines as your real deadline
For Commonwealth Master’s, the Federal Ministry of Education’s internal deadline is often weeks before CSC’s October 20 close. Work backwards from the agency date.
2. Chevening: apply to 3 different universities and start references now
Your two referees need time. Pick three genuinely different courses — the selection panel rewards coherent, UK-specific course choices.
3. PTDF: align everything to oil & gas
PTDF funds only programmes relevant to its mandate. If your MSc isn’t energy/oil-and-gas adjacent, don’t apply — you’ll be disqualified at screening.
4. Never pay for scholarship “processing”
Federal, PTDF and international scholarships are free to apply. Anyone charging “processing fees,” “lucky-dip fees” or “registration fees” for a federal scholarship is defrauding you. Report to the EFCC.
5. Stack applications across cycles
Chevening and Commonwealth close in October; DAAD EPOS in Oct–Nov; Türkiye Bursları, Stipendium Hungaricum, GKS and Fulbright open later. Apply to 4–6 programs across the year rather than betting on one.
6. Get your documents notarized early
Transcripts, NYSC discharge, WAEC/NECO PINs (for online verification) and Local Government letters are required across schemes. Prepare one master folder now.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BEA scholarship back?
No. The Federal Government confirmed in 2026 that the suspension of new BEA foreign awards remains in force; current beneficiaries keep their support. Beware of scams claiming otherwise.
What is the most competitive scholarship for Nigerians?
Chevening — roughly 3,000+ Nigerian applications for ~30–50 awards annually. Commonwealth and PTDF are also extremely competitive; DAAD EPOS and Türkiye Bursları have better acceptance rates relative to applicant numbers.
Can I apply to Chevening if I have less than 2 years’ experience?
No — a minimum of 2 years full-time work experience (2800+ hours) by the application deadline is a hard requirement.
Do I need IELTS for Commonwealth Master’s?
Yes, English proficiency is required — but you can apply before taking the test, and many nominating agencies allow you to secure the score before nomination.
When does PTDF open for 2027?
The 2026 round closed February 27, 2026; the 2027 call is expected around January 2027. Watch scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng.
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Timeline Table
| Date | Program | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 4 – Oct 6, 2026 | Chevening Nigeria | APPLY NOW |
| Sep 8 – Oct 20, 2026 | Commonwealth Master’s (via FMoE) | Prepare; agency deadline earlier |
| Oct–Nov 2026 | DAAD EPOS / Helmut Schmidt | Programme deadlines |
| ~Nov 2026 | Commonwealth Shared opens | University deadlines Oct–Dec |
| Jan 2027 (expected) | PTDF Overseas 2027 | Watch portal |
| Feb–Mar 2027 | Türkiye Bursları, Stipendium Hungaricum | Windows open |
| Early 2027 | Australia Awards (2028 intake) | Watch for call |
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Your Action Plan
1. This week: Start Chevening application (deadline Oct 6) — draft your four essays, brief your referees.
2. By September 8: Commonwealth Master’s portal opens — submit to your nominating agency immediately.
3. October: Submit DAAD EPOS applications; shortlist Türkiye Bursları/Stipendium Hungaricum documents.
4. January 2027: PTDF 2027 call — apply in week one, not the final week.
5. Ongoing: Monitor scholarship.education.gov.ng and company portals; report any paid “guarantee” schemes.
Share this with a Nigerian student who needs to see the October deadlines.
Related guides: Chevening 2027 · Commonwealth Shared 2027-28 · DAAD Germany · Mastercard Foundation · Mandela Washington (YALI)