Masters Scholarships for Nigerians

Master’s scholarships for Nigerians are the most numerous international scholarships available — Chevening, Commonwealth, DAAD, Erasmus Mundus, and others — plus Nigerian programmes from PTDF and NLNG. This guide names the established master’s programmes, explains how they select, and tells you how to verify each one for the current cycle — because amounts, deadlines, and eligibility change every year, and no amount or deadline is asserted anywhere in this article, deliberately.

Established master’s programmes

• Chevening Scholarships — UK government, for master’s study in the UK, for future leaders.
• Commonwealth Scholarships — for master’s study in the UK, for Commonwealth citizens including Nigerians.
• DAAD Scholarships — German government, for master’s study in Germany.
• Erasmus Mundus — European Union joint master’s programmes, with scholarships.
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme — for African students, at partner universities.
• PTDF Scholarships — for oil, gas, and related fields, in Nigeria and abroad.
• NLNG Scholarships — for Nigerian students, in Nigeria and abroad.
• University scholarships — many universities abroad offer merit scholarships to international master’s students; check each university’s funding page.

How master’s scholarships select

• Academic record — degree class and transcripts. Most programmes require a strong first degree (commonly second-class upper or better, as the programme states).
• Leadership and impact — Chevening and similar programmes weigh leadership, work experience, and future impact, not grades alone.
• Study plan — a clear, credible study plan and (where required) a research proposal. Vague plans lose.
• References — academic and professional references, as the programme states. Choose referees who know your work, not just your name.
• Language proof — where required (see the without-IELTS guide for waivers and alternatives).

How to apply, in order

1. Shortlist by field, destination, and eligibility (degree class, work experience, leadership).
2. Check the official programme page for the current cycle — amounts, deadlines, eligibility, coverage.
3. Prepare documents early — degree certificate, transcripts, references, study plan, language proof where required.
4. Apply through the official portal only.
5. Apply to multiple programmes in parallel — master’s scholarships are competitive; a single application is not a strategy.

Related Guides & Next Steps

• How University Admission Works in Nigeria
• Scholarships for Nigerian Students in 2026/2027
• PhD Scholarships for Nigerians
• Scholarships to Study Abroad for Nigerians
• Undergraduate Scholarships for Nigerian Students

Frequently asked questions

What degree class do I need for a master’s scholarship? Most programmes require a strong first degree (commonly second-class upper or better, as the programme states). Check each programme’s eligibility for the current cycle.

Do I need work experience for a master’s scholarship? Some programmes (notably Chevening) require or weigh work experience and leadership; others weigh academic record alone. Check each programme’s criteria.

Can I apply for a master’s scholarship before finishing my degree? Some programmes accept final-year students, others require the completed degree. Check each programme’s eligibility for the current cycle.

Is a master’s scholarship fully funded? Some are fully funded (tuition, living, travel); others are partial. Check the programme’s coverage list before applying.

How do I avoid master’s scholarship scams? Apply through official portals only, never pay an application fee to a personal account, never trust a guaranteed award, and verify every programme on its official page.

Sources and last update

• Scholarship programmes named here are established programmes as reported; amounts, deadlines, and eligibility change every cycle — the official programme page for the current cycle governs, and no amount or deadline is asserted anywhere in this article, deliberately.
• Scholarship-vs-loan distinction from the NELFUND cluster guides (Batches 6–10): a scholarship is not repaid; NELFUND is a loan, repayable from 2 years after NYSC at 10% of income.
• Scam patterns from the fake-agents guide (Batch 12): application fees, guaranteed awards, and payment to personal accounts are red flags.
• No admission, award, or visa outcome is promised anywhere in this article.

Last updated: 24 October 2026. Guide — review every 3–6 months and on every scholarship-cycle update.