5 scholarships for Nigerian students to study abroad

Reports suggest a growing demand for Nigerian students to study abroad. Despite the pandemic, nearly 100,000 Nigerian students were enrolled to abroad in 2020. 

The US, Malaysia, Canada and the UK are among their top destinations, and many are reportedly increasingly considering a wider array of destinations too.

If you’re one of the many Nigerian students also looking to study abroad for your undergraduate or master’s degree, here are some scholarships worth considering — either for this year’s application or next year — to make your study abroad dream come true.

Bilateral Education Agreement Scholarships

Nigerian students can apply for the Federal Government Scholarship Awards for the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA). Scholarships for both undergraduate and master’s and PhD programmes are available. 

• Undergraduate studies tenable in Russia, Morocco, Hungary and Egypt
• Postgraduate studies tenable in Russia (for those whose first degrees were obtained from Russia), China, Hungary, Serbia, Romania

The fields of study at the undergraduate level cover 14 study subject areas which include engineering, geology and law. Master’s or PhD programmes are available in all fields. Deadline falls on Jan. 31, 2022. If you can’t meet the current deadline, be sure to bookmark this scholarship for next year! Visit their website for details.

Reach Oxford Scholarship

The University of Oxford in the UK is said to be the world’s oldest English-speaking university in the world. Nigerian students can apply for the Reach Oxford Scholarship, which covers course fees, a grant for living costs and one return air fare per year. For 2022 entry applicants who apply by the Feb. 9, 2022 scholarship deadline, the selection process will be undertaken in March 2022.

Only two to three awards are available a year. It serves as a great opportunity to study at one of the UK’s most elite institutions. Get more details here.

Global Korea Summer Scholarship 

The Global Korea Summer Scholarship provides Nigerian students with in-depth academic training along with a chance to experience Korean culture. For five weeks, scholars under this programme will develop leadership skills to contribute to the development of global society.

Designated universities under the National Institute for International Education will choose scholarship recipients. This scholarship covers a roundtrip air ticket, room and board during the programme, as well as insurance. Results for graduate students are released in June in the year of planned studies in Korea. More details can be found here.

Entrance Scholarship for African Students Studying in English

Canada’s University of Ottawa is looking to promote its diversity with the Scholarship for African Students Studying in English. This is an automatic offer — no application is needed for students enrolled full-time in the university’s undergraduate programmes offered in English or with the French Immersion option in selected programmes under the Faculty of Social sciences and Faculty Science. The renewable award is worth CAD$12,500 a year. More information can be found here.

Geneviève McMillan-Reba Stewart Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

This scholarship is for students from sub-Saharan countries who will pursue an undergraduate degree at Sciences Po in France. Applicants stand a chance to have their full tuition fees covered and an additional grant may be awarded to cover living expenses.

Candidates have to apply to study at the undergraduate Europe Africa programme at Sciences Po and submit their applications online. International admissions are open on a rolling basis from the start of the admissions period to the end of April 2021. Full details are disclosed here.