The best PhD scholarships for Nigerians to study in the UK

PhD funding in the UK alleviates one of the top obstacles for students from developing countries seeking a degree here: money.

Now, the good news is the UK plans to recruit at least 600,000 international students per year by 2030.

To do this, it will provide more accessible information to interested applicants, make it easier for international students to get jobs here, and provide more scholarships as well as financial aid.

For promising Nigerian PhD candidates, this means they can once again look towards the UK as a study abroad destination.

This follows the significant decline in Nigerian students’ interest in studying abroad — mostly due to the depreciation of the Nigerian naira and the rising cost of pursuing their studies abroad. This decline was most noticeable at the end of 2023 and through the first months of 2024.

That said, here are some of the top options for PhD funding in the UK — some even specific to promising Nigerian PhD candidates:

Where Nigerians can find PhD funding in the UK

Several prestigious organisations offer PhD funding in the UK. Source: AFP

Commonwealth Scholarships

Every year, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission gives Nigerian students a chance to apply for PhD funding under different categories.

This includes the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for least-developed countries and fragile states, the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships for low- and middle-income countries, and the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships.

Most of these scholarships are fully funded. This means that aside from your tuition fees, you will also receive your airfare to and from the UK and a living allowance to support you while you are here.

All Commonwealth Scholarships are offered under six development themes:

1. Science and technology for development
2. Strengthening health systems and capacity
3. Promoting global prosperity
4. Strengthening global peace, security and governance
5. Strengthening resilience and response to crises
6. Access, inclusion and opportunity

There is no restriction on what you can study, but the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission prioritises applicants whose studies are most relevant to their development criteria.

Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the oldest and most prestigious scholarship programmes in the world. It recognises outstanding young leaders tackling global challenges and promoting international understanding and peace.

Here, this merit-based scholarship offers a fully funded, full-time, postgraduate award which enables talented young people from Nigeria to study at the University of Oxford. As of 2024, the university offers three Rhodes Scholarships for West Africa each year.

The Rhodes Scholarship is for two years in the first instance. However, up to three years of fees and stipend are available to Scholars who choose to undertake a DPhil (PhD) at Oxford.

For the 2023/24 academic year, the stipend is 19,092 pounds (US$24,771) per annum — 1,591 pounds (US$2,064) per month — from which scholars pay all living expenses, including accommodation.

Some of the PhD funding in the UK targets specific subject areas, like The Colt Foundation’s emphasis on environmental and occupational health. Source: AFP

The Colt Foundation PhD Fellowships

For those interested in producing high-quality research in environmental and occupational health, the Colt Foundation is a place to start looking for your funding needs.

Every year, the Foundation awards up to four fellowships for students to pursue their research in occupational or environmental health at a UK university. The fellowships will last for three years, covering the full tuition fees for UK students, while applicants from other countries are required to make up the difference from other sources.

However, all successful applicants will receive up to 5,000 pounds (US$6,486) per year towards research expenses, which must be satisfactorily justified. A stipend of 24,732 pounds (US$32,081) was also provided in 2024/25, and it rises each year according to UK inflation.

Past projects that have been worked on with help from the Foundation include neurological disease in a cohort of dockyard workers, the structural chemistry of compounds which cause occupational asthma and dermatitis, and molecular mechanisms involved in fibre-induced DNA damage.

 

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Imperial College London’s President’s PhD scholarships

There’s probably no better place to pursue any study or research than at a top-ranked institution. In Imperial College London’s case, you’d be joining the world’s second-best university, according to the QS World University Rankings 2025.

Here, immerse yourself and contribute to world-leading research performance without breaking the bank through the university’s President’s PhD scholarships.

50 scholarships are up for grabs. To support you through 3.5 years of study, the scholarship covers your full tuition fees, a stipend of 25,224 pounds (US$32,720) per year to help with living costs, and a consumables fund of 2,000 pounds (US$2,594) per year for the first three years of study.

Successful applicants also get to enjoy a programme of bespoke opportunities and events delivered by the Graduate School, as well as access the full range of support available to postgraduates at Imperial.

 

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Swansea University’s Research Scholarships

100% of students surveyed would recommend Swansea University, reports Uni Compare 2025. And with its range of scholarships available for PhD students, it’s a great place to consider pursuing your research.

First and foremost is the Swansea University International Postgraduate Research Excellence Scholarship (SUIPRES), which is a competitive scholarship scheme awarded to those who demonstrate excellence in academic achievement.

It covers the difference between the international and home tuition fees, allowing Nigerian students to pay the same fees as their UK peers.

Then, there are fully funded scholarships covered by both the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Wales Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) and Swansea University. This includes pathways in economics, business management, education, and more.
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University of Glasgow’s Scholarships

“Our doors are open to the brightest minds, regardless of background, who wish to study at university,” writes the University of Glasgow. If that isn’t an invitation to pursue your PhD research here among some of the world’s best, we don’t know what is.

Whether you seek to enrol in the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Science and Engineering, the College of Social Sciences, or any others, there’s a PhD scholarship for you at Glasgow.

There are even more programme-specific scholarships, such as the Edwin Morgan Scholarship for Research in Scottish Literature, for those interested in diving into the breadth and depth of Scottish literature.

Otherwise, if you have a passion for nuclear physics, particle physics (experiment and theory), gravitational waves, astronomy and astrophysics, check out the School of Physics & Astronomy’s Science & Technologies Facilities Council Doctoral Training Account instead.

Disclaimer: This article was last updated on November 8, 2024.