Nigeria Undergraduate Scholarships 2026/2027: Full List

Scholarships Nigerian Undergraduates Can Apply For in 2026/2027

Tuition, hostel fees, textbooks, transport — university costs add up fast, and a good scholarship can genuinely change what your session looks like financially. Here's an organized breakdown of real, currently active scholarship opportunities for Nigerian undergraduates, grouped by type, so you can quickly find ones you actually qualify for.

> Most foundation and NGO scholarships open between February and June each year — if you're reading this outside that window, bookmark this page and set a reminder, since many of these run annually on a similar schedule.

National & Government Scholarships

Federal Government Scholarship — Open to Nigerian students in public universities across a broad range of courses. Check the Federal Scholarship Board's official channels for the current cycle's application window.

State Government Scholarships — Many states run their own merit-based or need-based schemes for indigenes. For example, state governments periodically open Merit-Based Local Scholarships for students from their state studying in recognized Nigerian tertiary institutions — check your own state's Ministry of Education or scholarship board directly, since availability and criteria vary significantly by state and year.

Corporate & Foundation Scholarships

Jim Ovia Foundation Scholarship — Covers full tuition plus a ₦250,000 yearly allowance. Open to students across all fields of study — one of the more generous corporate-backed options available.

MTN Foundation Scholarship — One of the most competitive and well-known scholarships in Nigeria, with several hundred students selected annually across the country.

The Bridge Scholarship — Provides ₦250,000 per year for students in public universities.

FATE Scholar Programme — Specifically targets 100-level students in public universities studying STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), covering tuition plus additional support.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (Pan-Atlantic University) — Provides full scholarships to exceptional young Africans facing financial or socio-economic barriers to education. Applications typically open in the second quarter of the year.

Course-Specific Scholarships

Nigerian Law School Scholarships — Several schemes specifically support law graduates preparing for Law School, where fees can be a major barrier even after completing a law degree.

Female-Focused STEM Scholarships — A number of schemes (including NWAG — Nigerian Women Association of Georgia) specifically support female undergraduates in fields like Architecture, Building, Engineering, and other STEM courses, aimed at improving gender representation in these fields.

University Anniversary & Institutional Scholarships

Some universities run their own tuition-discount scholarship programmes tied to institutional milestones or ongoing commitments — these can offer meaningful tuition reductions (in some cases 10–50%) for incoming students, particularly in high-demand fields like Nursing, Engineering, and Public Health. Check directly with your specific university's scholarship or financial aid office, since these are institution-specific and not centrally advertised.

How to Actually Improve Your Chances

Based on patterns across most of these schemes:

1. Apply early — most scholarships open between February and June and can close before the "official" deadline if funding runs out or slots fill 2. Keep your documents ready in advance — admission letter, school ID, transcript/CGPA, passport photograph, indigene certificate (for state-specific ones), and WAEC/NECO results 3. Maintain a strong CGPA — many corporate and foundation scholarships use roughly 3.5/5.0 as an informal benchmark, though this varies by scheme 4. Submit clean, complete applications — students who apply early with fully complete documentation consistently have better odds than those chasing only the most popular, oversubscribed schemes 5. Don't overlook less-publicized options — smaller foundation and state-specific scholarships often have far less competition than the well-known national ones

A Word of Caution

Always apply through official channels only — a scholarship's own verified website, or your university's financial aid office. Be skeptical of any "scholarship" that asks for an upfront payment to "process" your application; legitimate scholarships do not require you to pay to be considered.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do most Nigerian undergraduate scholarships open? Most foundation and NGO scholarships open between February and June each year, though government and institutional schemes can open at different times. Apply as early as possible within a scheme's window.

What CGPA do I need for a scholarship? It varies by scholarship, but many corporate and foundation-backed options use around 3.5/5.0 as an informal benchmark for competitiveness. Some need-based or state schemes weigh financial circumstances more heavily than CGPA alone.

Are there scholarships specifically for female students? Yes — several schemes, including NWAG, specifically support female undergraduates, particularly in STEM fields where representation has historically been lower.

Do I have to pay to apply for a scholarship? No legitimate scholarship requires an upfront payment to be considered. Treat any request for payment to "process" or "guarantee" your scholarship application as a red flag.

Can I combine a scholarship with other financial aid? This depends entirely on the specific scholarship's terms — some allow it, others don't. Always check the individual scheme's conditions directly rather than assuming.

While You Wait on Your Scholarship Application, Save on Textbooks and Supplies

Whether or not your scholarship comes through, you can already save on the everyday costs of university life — find affordable textbooks, past questions, and supplies from verified student sellers on ShopCart.ng.

Browse study materials on ShopCart →