How to Get a Fully Funded Scholarship Abroad as a Nigerian

Blog Post

How to Get a Fully Funded Scholarship Abroad as a Nigerian

Written by Esther EberePublished on October 13rd, 2022

Many reasons push Nigerians to seek quality education outside. For one, the past few years have seen Universities in the country suffer countless strikes. And in addition, the economy is failing. Unfortunately, the failing economy means there are no guarantees of securing well-paying jobs after tertiary education.

For these reasons, many Nigerians are hunting for how to get a fully funded scholarship abroad.

If you’re like these Nigerians, this article will walk you through tips on how to get a fully funded scholarship abroad. We’ll also cover institutions that are currently offering scholarships to international candidates. 

Read on!

4 Tips to Get Fully Funded Scholarship Abroad

How to Get a Fully Funded Scholarship Abroad as a Nigerian

1. Choose a Suitable Course in an Appropriate Country

Not all countries are appropriate for running degree programs. For example, a degree in Medicine in Canada takes only three to five years, while in India, this could last for six or seven years. Therefore, it’s best to study Medicine in Canada, the Uk, the USA, and Germany than in India. 

On the other hand, Finland, New Zealand, and Hungary are best for studying agriculture. While a degree in Fashion design is best obtained in France and South Africa. 

When you apply for a degree in these countries, you get access to explore learning opportunities at a world-class standard. Plus, their time to graduation is short compared to other countries. 

2. Prepare Your Documents Early

Early preparation is essential when looking to get a fully funded scholarship abroad. Why? Because application deadlines close early.

Once you figure out what to study and the appropriate country to choose, you should prepare the relevant documents immediately. If, however, you’re unsure of where to start, here are some essential documents to keep close; 

  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose. Alternatively, you can go for a personal statement, essay, or motivation letter.
  • Previous educational degrees like school leaving certificates, transcripts, or first degree
  • Language certificates like TOEFL or IELTS
  • And extra exams like the GRE or GMAT. These are important, especially if you’re applying for a graduate business program. 

In addition to preparing these documents, ensure to make hard copies. Hard copies will always come in handy when you miss any documents or need to resubmit. But that aside, preparing your documents early helps you create an outstanding letter.

3. Choose a Scholarship Program

Various countries offer scholarships to international students. However, these scholarship programs differ depending on factors such as grade, household income, country of origin, and field of study. Here are some scholarship programs to consider as a Nigerian student:

UK Scholarships

The Chevening Scholarship, sponsored by the British Government, is the most popular UK scholarship for international students. It was established in 1983 but runs in regions such as Asia and Africa. And since its inception, many Nigerians have leveraged it to further their education abroad. 

But Chevening Scholarship isn’t the only Uk scholarship.  Claredon Scholarship, Oxford Grace Lake Scholarship, and the University of Strathclyde Faculty of Science Masters Scholarship are other UK scholarships for international students.

Chinese Government Scholarship

The Chinese Scholarship Council sponsors this scholarship for international students to pursue degrees in Medicine and other courses. The scholarship is also suitable for students looking to study the Chinese language. 

Germany DAAD Scholarship

The German Academic Exchange Service offers international students scholarship opportunities to study various graduate and postgraduate degrees. Students are also awarded research grants and allowed to research in Germany’s universities and non-university research institutions. In addition, they get funded internships when they apply for specific programs. 

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for international students pursuing postgraduate degrees. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel, maintenance allowance, family allowance, fieldwork, and even a visa. To qualify for the scholarship, students must apply for only subjects available at the University of Cambridge.

These are ideal scholarships you can apply for as a Nigerian student. Remember to do your due diligence by researching each of them and ensuring they offer your preferred program. 

4. Pay Attention to Deadlines

It can be hurtful to prepare for scholarships and miss the application deadlines. And in most cases, when this happens, applicants are subjected to waiting an extra year to reapply. In addition, they risk losing their financial aid opportunities.

But deadlines are avoidable. When you learn about the deadline of a particular scholarship, create your own. Ensure to set your deadline earlier than the stipulated time for the application. Finally, mark the deadlines on your calendar, set a reminder, or find an accountability partner to help you. 

In Conclusion

Getting a fully funded scholarship abroad is possible. But first, you must follow the tips discussed in this article to make that happen. Remember to prepare your documents early, choose a scholarship program, and keep to deadlines. Doing this will help you get a fully funded scholarship at your preferred institution. 




Download the Pay4Me App

Our custom QR code will take you to your app store to download our awesome native apps.

App StoreGoogle Play
Preview of the Pay4Me App interface showing key features
Join our newsletter

Get the latest news, releases, and more.

Articles

Address

Nigeria: 5th Floor, Brassar's' place, 69 Admiralty way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos Island

United States: 9751 West Chinden Boulevard, Suite 100, Garden City, ID 83714

Pay4Me is a financial technology company making it easier for international students to pay their tuition and fees abroad. We offer our products and services in partnership with licensed money transmitters, financial technology companies (fintechs), and banking partners in their respective jurisdictions. All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product, and service names used on this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands do not necessarily imply endorsement.

Virtual card services are provided through partnerships with duly licensed banking and financial technology partners, operating under licenses from Visa and Mastercard. All trademarks, intellectual property rights, and associated brand elements of Visa and Mastercard are the exclusive property of their respective trademark holders.

Study abroad loan services in Nigeria are offered in compliance with applicable state money lending regulations, under a valid State Money Lenders License, through our wholly owned subsidiary, Monivest Technologies Limited. Our in-house loan products and other study abroad loan products are facilitated through partnerships with licensed banks, fintechs, and financial technology companies, ensuring secure, accessible, and reliable lending solutions.

Savings and investment services in Nigeria are provided through our wholly owned subsidiary, Monivest Cooperative Multipurpose Society Limited, which is duly licensed and registered under the cooperative society laws of Lagos State, with registration number 19619. This entity operates in full compliance with Nigerian cooperative regulations, offering safe and legally regulated opportunities.

Pay4Me, Inc. is registered with FinCEN in the United States as a Money Services Business with MSB Registration Number: 31000231163752. Pay4Me, Inc. holds a pre-approved Money Services Business (MSB) registration with FINTRAC in Canada. Pay4Me also maintains a Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) registration with the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria.

Disclaimer: Pay4Me, including its subsidiaries, is not a provider of legal, tax, immigration, or financial advisory services. These value added services are intended for general use and should not be construed as professional advice. Before using our value added services, please carefully review our Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, Fee and Refund Agreement. Nothing on our website constitutes legal, tax, or financial advice. For personalized guidance, we recommend consulting a licensed attorney, tax professional, or financial advisor.

Please note that certain Pay4Me App features or services may be restricted or unavailable in some jurisdictions due to local regulations and/or licensing requirements.

© 2020 - 2025 Pay4Me, Inc.