Top 10 Best Scholarships for Nigerian Students to Study in the UK
Studying in the UK is a dream for many Nigerian students, but the cost of tuition and living expenses can be a significant hurdle. Fortunately, several scholarship opportunities are available to help Nigerian students achieve their academic goals. Here’s a detailed look at the top 10 scholarships for Nigerian students in the UK.
1. Commonwealth Scholarship
The UK government funds the Commonwealth scholarship and supports talented students with leadership potential. This is the best scholarship for Nigerian students. It covers tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses for Master’s and PhD programs.
- Eligibility: Open to Nigerian students pursuing postgraduate degrees.
- Benefits: Includes thesis grants, study-related travel grants, and airfare for mid-term visits.
- Duration: Master’s (2 years), PhD (4 years).
2. Chevening Scholarship
The prestigious chevening scholarship is awarded to individuals with leadership potential and strong academic backgrounds. It covers tuition fees, living expenses, airfare, and other costs.
- Eligibility: Nigerian students pursuing Master’s degrees.
- Benefits: Fully funded scholarship for Nigerian undergraduate students covering all major expenses.
- Focus: Encourages scholars to contribute to Nigeria’s development after graduation.
3. Kent Future Student Scholarship
Offered by the University of Kent, this scholarship provides a £5,000 discount on tuition fees for Nigerian students enrolling in undergraduate or postgraduate taught programs.
- Eligibility: Must hold an offer from the University of Kent and pay the tuition deposit by the deadline.
- Benefits: Can be combined with other scholarship opportunities.
4. GREAT Scholarship Nigeria
In partnership with the British Council, this scholarship offers £10,000 towards tuition fees for postgraduate taught degrees at participating UK universities. This is the best scholarship for Nigerian students. to study in the UK.
- Eligibility: Nigerian nationals with a conditional or unconditional offer for a master’s program.
- Focus Areas: Engineering, law, business, art and design, biosciences, IT, etc.
- Deadline: Varies by university; typically April-May.
5. University of Stirling Postgraduate Nigeria Scholarship
This scholarship provides £4,000 to Nigerian students pursuing full-time postgraduate degrees at the University of Stirling.
- Eligibility: Must have an offer for an eligible course and be classified as an overseas student.
- Benefits: Cannot be combined with other Stirling scholarships or awards.
6. Southampton GREAT Scholarships
The University of Southampton offers two £10,000 scholarships for Nigerian students applying to one-year taught Master’s programs in Arts and Humanities or Education.
- Eligibility: Must meet English language requirements and act as an ambassador for UK higher education.
- Deadline: April 30th annually.
7. Euraxess UK Scholarships
These scholarships support research-focused programs and are ideal for Nigerian students pursuing postgraduate studies in STEM fields.
- Eligibility: Open to researchers from developing countries.
- Benefits: Covers research costs and living expenses.
8. Royal Society Grants
For Nigerian students interested in research-based programs, Royal Society Grants provide funding for scientific research projects in collaboration with UK institutions.
- Eligibility: Postgraduate researchers in STEM fields.
- Benefits: Covers research costs and travel grants.
9. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
Designed specifically for students from developing Commonwealth countries like Nigeria, these scholarships cover full tuition fees and living expenses.
- Eligibility: Students pursuing Master’s programs related to development priorities.
- Focus Areas: Health sciences, sustainable development, technology innovation.
10. University-Specific Scholarships
Many UK universities offer scholarships tailored to international students from Nigeria. Examples include:
- University of Oxford’s Clarendon Fund
- University of Cambridge’s Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- University of Manchester’s Global Futures Scholarship
- Erasmus mundus scholarship
- PTDF scholarship
- DAAD scholarship
- Fulbright scholarship
- Federal scholarship board
- Borno state scholarship
These fully funded scholarships in UK vary in eligibility criteria but typically cover tuition fees partially or fully.
Conclusion
These UK scholarships for Nigerian students provide excellent opportunities for those seeking higher education in the UK. From fully funded scholarship for Nigerian undergraduate students like chevening scholarship and commonwealth scholarship to university-specific awards, there are plenty of scholarship opportunities in UK for various academic levels and fields of study. Be sure to check the official websites of each scholarship for specific application deadlines and requirements.