Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerian Students 2026

Nigerian students have more fully funded options than almost any other nationality, from the federal government's BEA scheme to the Mastercard Foundation's global programme. Here are the strongest for 2026.

1. Nigerian Federal Government Scholarship (BEA). The Bilateral Education Agreement award sends Nigerian students abroad for undergraduate and postgraduate study with full funding.

2. MasterCard Foundation Scholarship Program. Funds undergraduate and graduate study at partner universities, covering tuition, accommodation and living costs for academically strong students with a record of community leadership.

3. NNPC National Scholarship Award. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation's award for engineering, science and related disciplines, open to Nigerian students in tertiary institutions.

4. Postgraduate Nigeria Scholarship at the University of Stirling. A dedicated postgraduate award for Nigerian students in Scotland.

5. Nigeria Excellence Scholarship at Southampton. A tuition award for high-achieving Nigerian students at the University of Southampton.

6. Nigeria $5,000 Regional Scholarship at Macquarie. A regional scholarship for Nigerian students at Macquarie University in Australia.

7. Hon Ping Entrance Scholarship at HKU. An entrance scholarship for Nigerian students at the University of Hong Kong.

8. PGT International Scholarship for Nigerian Applicants. A postgraduate tuition award for Nigerian applicants at UK partner institutions.

The BEA scheme runs through the federal government, so watch official announcements rather than third-party listings. The Mastercard Foundation award is the most competitive and needs a strong application months ahead. For every award, confirm the deadline and eligibility on the official provider page before applying.