Every year, thousands of Nigerians miss out on fully funded Masters scholarships that could have transformed their careers and lives — not because they were unqualified, but because they did not know these opportunities existed, missed the application window, or submitted weak applications. This guide changes that. Here is a comprehensive overview of the most prestigious, most accessible fully funded Masters scholarship programmes open to Nigerian students in 2026/2027 — with honest deadlines, what each programme actually covers, and the specific strategies that consistently produce winning applications.
ScholarshipRoar’s 2026 Nigeria scholarship database notes that “more than 2,000 fully funded scholarships are available at world top universities for Nigerian students — providing average monthly stipends of $1,000 along with tuition fees, accommodation, health insurance, and travel allowance.” The money exists. The question is whether your application is ready to claim it.
What “Fully Funded” Actually Means
Before diving into specific programmes, it is worth clarifying what a genuinely fully funded scholarship covers — because different programmes define it differently:
| Component | Covered by Fully Funded Scholarship? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees | ✅ Always | The core of any scholarship — all tuition costs paid directly to university |
| Monthly living stipend | ✅ Most programmes | Ranges from £1,000–£1,500/month (UK); €850–€1,200 (Germany); $1,000+ (USA) |
| Return flights (home to study country) | ✅ Most major programmes | Chevening, Commonwealth, Mastercard Foundation all cover return travel |
| Health insurance | ✅ Most programmes | Typically full medical coverage for the study period |
| Visa fees | Varies | Chevening covers visa; some programmes do not |
| Arrival/departure allowance | Varies | Chevening includes arrival and homeward departure allowances |
| Research/field travel | Some programmes | Commonwealth includes a research travel grant |
| Books and materials | Rarely | Most stipends are expected to cover incidentals including books |
Top Fully Funded Masters Scholarships for Nigerians 2026/2027
1. Chevening Scholarship — UK Government’s Flagship Programme
Destination: United Kingdom (any UK university) | Level: Master’s (1 year) | Funder: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) | Application window 2026/27: August–October 2025 (now closed for this cycle) | Next cycle (2027/28): Expected August–October 2026 | Official site: chevening.org
Chevening is the UK government’s most prestigious international scholarship — and Nigeria is one of the countries with the largest Chevening alumni networks. Legit.ng’s education team covered the 2026/27 application window, confirming it opened on August 5, 2025 and closed on October 7, 2025. For the next cycle (2027/28), applications are expected to open August 2026 and close around October 2026 — mark your calendar now.
What Chevening covers: Full university tuition fees, monthly living allowance (approximately £1,500), return flights to the UK, arrival allowance, homeward departure Allowance, and one visa application cost. Migration Visa Portal’s 2026 scholarship guide confirms this comprehensive coverage.
Eligibility: Nigerian citizen; undergraduate degree equivalent to UK upper second-class honours (2:1); minimum 2 years of full-time work experience (this is critical — fresh graduates rarely qualify); commitment to return to Nigeria for at least 2 years after the scholarship; no previous UK government-funded scholarship; cannot have studied in the UK previously on another UK government scholarship.
What makes a winning Chevening application: Leadership potential above all else. Chevening explicitly seeks “future leaders” — not just academic stars. MigrationVisaPortal’s detailed 2026 guide is direct: “If you’ve shown leadership in your workplace, community, or any organization, emphasize that strongly.” Demonstrate concrete leadership achievements with measurable impact. Show a clear career plan and explain specifically why studying in the UK is essential to that plan. Generic essays about “wanting to contribute to Nigeria” are rejected. Specificity — which university, which course, which professors, which future role — wins.
2. Commonwealth Shared Scholarship — Best for Development-Focused Students
Destination: United Kingdom | Level: Master’s (1–2 years) | Funder: UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) | Key distinction: Specifically for students from lower and middle-income Commonwealth countries | Official site: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is one of three Masters programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Radarr Africa’s scholarship guide confirms what it covers: “tuition fees, a living allowance, travel, and research grants.” Critically, it is specifically designed for students “who could not otherwise afford to study in the United Kingdom” — making it more accessible to candidates from less privileged economic backgrounds than Chevening (which expects work experience from established professionals).
Key requirement: A commitment to return home immediately after studies. The scholarship is explicitly about bringing skills back to developing countries. Applications are typically submitted via the CSC online portal. The unconditional university offer deadline is typically early July (for the following academic year), so you need to apply to and receive an offer from a UK university first. ScholarshipAir’s 2026 catalogue lists Commonwealth as one of the most significant Master’s opportunities for nigerians.
3. Gates Cambridge Scholarship — For Exceptional Academic Talent
Destination: University of Cambridge, UK | Level: Master’s and PhD | Funder: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation ($210 million endowment) | Stipend: £17,500 per annum | Application deadline (2027 entry): Typically early January 2027 | Official site: gates.cam.ac.uk
Gates Cambridge is one of the most competitive and prestigious scholarships in the world — and it is exclusively for postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge. ScholarshipRoar’s 2026 guide confirms the comprehensive coverage: stipend of £17,500 per year, health insurance, and academic development funding. MigrationVisaPortal’s 2026 scholarship guide describes the selection criteria: “intellectual ability, leadership potential, and a commitment to improving the lives of others.” Unlike Chevening (which requires work experience), Gates Cambridge “actively seeks exceptional recent graduates with outstanding academic records and social commitment — your potential matters more than your professional track record.”
The process: you must first apply to and receive an offer from Cambridge for a specific postgraduate programme. The Gates Cambridge scholarship application runs concurrently. The competition is fierce — a small number of international awards are made globally each year. For Nigerian candidates, a first-class undergraduate degree, a specific and compelling research proposal, and demonstrable commitment to using the education for wider social benefit are essential.
4. DAAD Scholarship — Germany’s Top Fully Funded Programme
Destination: Germany (top German universities) | Level: Masters and PhD | Funder: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) | Stipend: €850/month for Master’s graduates; €1,200/month for doctoral candidates | Official site: daad.de | Application: Multiple deadlines throughout the year depending on programme
DAAD is described by South Africa Portal’s 2026 Africa scholarship guide as offering “one of the most generous fully funded scholarship programs for Africans.” ScholarshipRoar confirms: “DAAD Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship — only available for Masters or PhD studies at top German universities — covering monthly payments of €850 for graduates or €1,200 for doctoral candidates.” Germany’s study system is additionally attractive because many Masters programmes at German public universities are taught in English and charge very low or no tuition fees — meaning the DAAD stipend goes almost entirely toward living costs rather than tuition.
DAAD offers multiple specific fellowship programmes relevant to Nigerians including Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) for candidates from developing countries, In-Country/In-Region scholarships, and subject-specific programmes. Deadlines vary significantly by programme — check daad.de for specific Nigerian-relevant programmes and their current deadlines.
5. Fulbright Foreign Student Program — For Study in the USA
Destination: United States of America | Level: Masters and PhD | Funder: US Government (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs) | Coverage: Full tuition, living stipend, full accommodation, airfare, health insurance | Official site (Nigeria): US Embassy Nigeria + fulbrightprogram.org | Typical application deadline: February–April (for the following academic year)
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is the US government’s flagship international exchange scholarship — one of the most recognised academic awards in the world. ScholarshipRoar confirms the comprehensive coverage: “Fulbright Foreign Student Program covers full tuition fee, a living stipend, full accommodation fee, airfare and health insurance.” Applications for Nigerian students are processed through the US Embassy in Nigeria and typically use a local deadline of February–April for study beginning the following September. Nigerian Fulbright alumni span government, academia, civil society, and the private sector — the network effect is significant.
The selection process in Nigeria includes an initial application screening, a written examination, and an interview. Academic excellence alone is not sufficient — Fulbright looks for future leaders who will strengthen US-Nigeria relations and contribute to their field and country. It is one of the few scholarships that values candidates from diverse Nigerian states, not just Lagos and Abuja.
6. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — Africa’s Most Impactful Scholarship
Destinations: Multiple partner universities including University of Cambridge (UK), American University of Beirut, and multiple African universities | Level: Masters and undergraduate | Funder: Mastercard Foundation | Focus: Climate resilience, sustainability, Africa development | Official site: mastercardfdn.org/scholars
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is one of the most significant scholarship programmes specifically targeting African students. ScholarshipAir’s 2026 listing confirms its mission: the programme “aims to prepare young people to be agents of change in their communities, countries, and regions.” ScholarshipAir lists a Mastercard Foundation programme at the University of Cambridge specifically “designed to provide African students with fully-funded opportunities to complete their master’s training, grow their leadership potential, and contribute to climate resilience and sustainability efforts across Africa.” Applications are institution-specific — check each partner university’s website for their Mastercard Foundation scholarship application process and deadlines.
7. MEXT Scholarship — Japanese Government’s Fully Funded Programme
Destination: Japan | Level: Undergraduate, Masters, PhD, Training | Funder: Japanese Government (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology — Monbukagakusho) | Coverage: Full tuition, monthly living allowance, round-trip airfare | GPA requirement: 2.3/3.0 or above | Application: Via Japanese Embassy in Nigeria
Japan’s MEXT (Monbukagakusho) scholarship is one of the most comprehensive government scholarships available to Nigerian students — covering everything including round-trip airfare, which not all programmes include. Radarr Africa’s study abroad guide confirms the comprehensive package: “full tuition, a monthly allowance, and round-trip airfare.” The scholarship covers a wide range of fields across Japanese universities. GPA of 2.3/3.0 or above is the minimum academic requirement. Applications go through the Japanese Embassy in Nigeria — contact the embassy directly for current year deadlines as they typically open earlier in the calendar year.
8. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) — For Study in China
Destination: China (across Chinese universities) | Level: Undergraduate, Masters, PhD | Funder: Chinese Government | Coverage: Tuition waiver, accommodation, monthly stipend, medical insurance | Typical Nigerian Embassy deadline: Around September 30 (e.g., September 30, 2025 for 2026/2027 entry)
The Chinese Government Scholarship (administered through the China Scholarship Council — CSC) is one of the most generous scholarship programmes for Nigerian students seeking to study in Asia. Radarr Africa’s guide confirms the comprehensive coverage: “tuition waiver, accommodation, a monthly stipend, and medical insurance.” Applications in Nigeria are primarily submitted through the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in Nigeria, with the main deadline typically around September 30 for the following academic year. University-direct applications (applied directly to Chinese universities rather than through the embassy) can have earlier deadlines. China’s rapidly expanding university system and its significant investment in African education make this a genuinely excellent option for Nigerian postgraduates.
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