5 Best International Scholarships for Nigerian Students 2024

Are you a Nigerian student who dreams of studying abroad? Here are 5 best international scholarships for Nigerian students you should apply for.

Many Nigerian students try to expand their horizons and gain valuable skills and experiences by studying in a foreign land.

However, studying abroad can be very expensive and challenging, especially for students from developing countries like Nigeria.

That is why you need to look for scholarships that can help you fund your education and reduce your financial burden.

However, there are many scholarships available for Nigerian students who want to study abroad, but not all of them are easy to get or suitable for your needs.

You need to do your research and find the best scholarships that match your academic goals, interests, and qualifications.

To help you with that, we have compiled a list of five of the best international scholarships for Nigerian students that you can apply for from 2024 to 2025.

These scholarships cover various fields of study, levels of education, and destinations.

They also offer generous benefits, such as full or partial tuition fees, living expenses, travel costs, and more.

Let’s read about them and you can apply for them below.

Table of Contents

Best International Scholarships for Nigerian Students

Here is a list of the five best international scholarships for Nigerian students

1. Bilateral Education Agreement Scholarships

The Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarships are offered by the Federal Government of Nigeria to Nigerian students who want to study abroad for undergraduate or postgraduate programs.

The scholarships are tenable in selected countries, such as Russia, Morocco, Hungary, Egypt, China, Serbia, Romania, and more.

It covers various fields of study, such as engineering, geology, law, medicine, and more.

The scholarships also cover tuition fees, health insurance, and a monthly stipend for the duration of the program.

However, the scholarships do not cover the travel expenses or the visa fees.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the BEA Scholarships

You must be a Nigerian citizen with a valid international passport.
You must have completed your secondary education with at least five credits, including English and Mathematics, in one sitting.
Also, You must have a minimum of 180 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for undergraduate applicants, or a first-class or second-class upper degree for postgraduate applicants.
You must have applied and received admission to one of the partner universities in the host country.
You must not be more than 18 years old for undergraduate applicants, or 35 years old for postgraduate applicants.

How to Apply

To apply for the BEA Scholarships,

Visit the official website of the Federal Ministry of Education and register online.
Fill in the online application form and upload the required documents, such as your passport, academic transcripts, admission letter, and UTME result slip.
Print out the completed application form and the examination slip.
Attend the computer-based aptitude test at the designated center in your state of origin.
Wait for the announcement of the shortlisted candidates and the interview dates.
Attend the oral interview at the designated venue with the original and photocopies of your documents.
Wait for the final selection and award of the scholarship.

Note: The application deadline for the BEA Scholarships is usually in January every year.

best international scholarships for Nigerian students

2. Reach Oxford Scholarship

The Reach Oxford Scholarship is one of the international scholarships for Nigerian students.

It is a prestigious scholarship offered by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom to students from low-income countries who have exceptional academic potential and leadership skills.

The scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Oxford, including the course fees, a grant for living expenses, and one return airfare per year. The scholarship is tenable for any undergraduate course offered by the university, except for medicine.

Also, it is renewable for up to four years, depending on the length of the course and the academic performance of the scholar.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Reach Oxford Scholarship,

You must be a citizen of a low-income country, as defined by the World Bank.
You must have completed your secondary education with excellent results, preferably in the top 10% of your class.
You must have applied and received an offer of admission to the University of Oxford through the normal application process.
You must demonstrate financial need and the inability to afford the cost of studying at Oxford.
You must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to your community.

How to Apply

To apply for the Reach Oxford Scholarship,

Apply to the University of Oxford through the UCAS system by the October deadline of the year before you intend to start your course.
Indicate that you wish to be considered for the Reach Oxford Scholarship on your UCAS application form.
If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to complete and submit an additional scholarship application form by the February deadline of the year of entry.
Wait for the notification of the outcome of your scholarship application by April of the year of entry.

Note: The deadline for the Reach Oxford Scholarship is usually in October for the UCAS application and in February for the scholarship application.

3. Global Korea Summer Scholarship

The Global Korea Summer Scholarship is a unique scholarship offered by the Korean Government to students from Africa and Latin America who want to experience Korean culture and education.

As one of the international scholarships for Nigerian students, it covers a five-week summer program at one of the designated universities in Korea

Where the scholars will take academic courses, cultural activities, and field trips.

The scholarship also covers a roundtrip air ticket, room and board, health insurance, and a cultural allowance for the duration of the program.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Global Korea Summer Scholarship,

You must be a citizen of an African or Latin American country.
You must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a university in your home country.
You must have completed at least two semesters of your program and have a minimum GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 or equivalent.
You must have a good command of English or Korean, as the program will be conducted in either language.
You must have a clear motivation and interest in Korean culture and education.

How to Apply

To apply for the Global Korea Summer Scholarship,

Visit the official website of the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) and check the list of the designated universities and the program details.
Choose one university and one program that suits your preference and eligibility.
Contact the university directly and submit your application documents, such as your passport, academic transcripts, language proficiency certificate, and recommendation letter.
Wait for the notification of the acceptance from the university and the scholarship confirmation from the NIIED.
Prepare for your travel and visa arrangements and attend the pre-departure orientation.

Note: The deadline for the Global Korea Summer Scholarship is usually in March or April every year.

4. Entrance Scholarship for African Students Studying in English

The Entrance Scholarship for African Students Studying in English is one of the international scholarships for Nigerian students.

It is a merit-based scholarship offered by the University of Ottawa in Canada to students from Africa who want to pursue an undergraduate program in English at the university.

The scholarship covers the differential tuition fees that apply to international students, which means that the scholars will pay the same tuition fees as Canadian students.

It is also renewable for up to four years, depending on the academic performance of the scholar.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Entrance Scholarship for African Students Studying in English,

You must be a citizen of an African country.
You must have completed your secondary education with excellent results, preferably in the top 10% of your class.
You must have applied and received an offer of admission to an undergraduate program in English at the University of Ottawa.
You must have a minimum admission average of 92% or equivalent.
You must demonstrate a strong interest and involvement in extracurricular activities or community service.

How to Apply

To apply for the Entrance Scholarship for African Students Studying in English,

Apply to the University of Ottawa through the OUAC system by the April deadline of the year of entry.
Indicate that you wish to be considered for the Entrance Scholarship for African Students Studying in English on your application form.
Submit your supporting documents, such as your passport, academic transcripts, and proof of English proficiency.
Wait for the notification of the outcome of your scholarship application by June of the year of entry.

Note: The deadline for the Entrance Scholarship for African Students Studying in English is usually in April every year.

5. Radboud Scholarship

The Radboud Scholarship Programme is a partial scholarship offered by Radboud University in the Netherlands to students from non-EU/EEA countries who want to pursue a master’s degree program at the university.

The scholarship covers the tuition fees, visa costs, residence permits, health insurance, and liability insurance for the duration of the program.

Being one of the best international scholarships for Nigerian students, it also offers a monthly allowance of 940 euros for living expenses.

The scholarship is tenable for any master’s program offered by the university, except for Erasmus Mundus programs, joint or double degree programs, and the Master of Theology.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Radboud Scholarship,

You must be a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country.
You must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized institution in your home country.
You must have applied and received an offer of admission to a master’s program at Radboud University by the March deadline of the year of entry.
You must have a minimum GPA of 7.5 out of 10 or equivalent.
You must have a high level of English proficiency, as evidenced by a TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge certificate.

How to Apply

To apply for the Radboud Scholarship,

Apply to the master’s program of your choice at Radboud University through the online application system by the March deadline of the year of entry.
Indicate that you wish to be considered for the Radboud Scholarship on your application form.
Submit your supporting documents, such as your passport, academic transcripts, diploma, motivation letter, and reference letters.
Wait for the notification of the outcome of your scholarship application by May of the year of entry.

Note: The deadline for the Radboud Scholarship is usually in March every year.

Final Thoughts

Studying abroad can be a life-changing opportunity for Nigerian students who want to enlarge their perspectives and enhance their skills.

However, it can also be a costly endeavor, especially for students from low-income backgrounds.

That is why applying for scholarships can be a smart and rewarding move, as it can help you finance your education and achieve your dreams.

In this blog post, we have introduced you to five of the best international scholarships for Nigerian students that you can apply for from 2024 to 2025.

These scholarships offer various benefits, such as tuition fees, living expenses, travel costs, and more.

They also cover different fields of study, levels of education, and destinations.

However, they also have different eligibility criteria, application procedures, and deadlines.

Therefore, you need to do your homework and find the scholarship that best suits your needs and goals.

We hope that this blog post has given you some useful information and inspiration to start your scholarship journey.

We wish you all the best in your applications and studies!