The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and consistently ranks among the top three universities globally. For Nigerian students, Oxford is not simply a dream — it is an achievable destination, with multiple scholarship pathways that are specifically accessible to Nigerian applicants. This guide covers the four most relevant Oxford scholarship opportunities for Nigerians — the Rhodes Scholarship, the Reach Oxford Scholarship, the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships, and the Oxford-Orjiako Graduate Scholarship — so you have a complete picture of what is available, who qualifies for each, and exactly how to pursue them.
Understanding how Oxford works is essential before approaching any of its scholarship programmes. Oxford is a collegiate university — you apply to the university and become a member of a specific college. Your academic department teaches your course, while your college provides tutorials, accommodation, welfare, and community. When you apply for scholarships at Oxford, you are navigating both the university’s central funding systems and individual college awards. This guide focuses on the scholarships with the clearest pathway for Nigerian applicants and the most comprehensive financial coverage.
Scholarship 1 — The Rhodes Scholarship (West Africa Constituency)
The Rhodes Scholarship is the most prestigious fully funded award for postgraduate study at Oxford and is directly accessible to Nigerian students through the West Africa constituency. Three scholarships are available each year for the entire West Africa region — which includes Nigeria — covering full tuition, a living stipend of approximately £20,400 per year, return flights, health insurance, visa fees, and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
The application for the 2027 intake is currently open, with a closing date of 23:59 GMT on 27 August 2026. Nigerian applicants must be between 18 and 24 years old on 1 October 2026, hold or be completing a first-class undergraduate degree, and have lived in West Africa for at least five of the last ten years. Selection is based on four criteria — intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service.
Applications are submitted through the official Rhodes Trust website at rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk. Read the full Moreschooling guide on the Rhodes Scholarship for Nigerian applicants for complete eligibility details and a step-by-step application breakdown.
Scholarship 2 — Reach Oxford Scholarship
The Reach Oxford Scholarship is one of the clearest fully funded undergraduate pathways at Oxford for Nigerian students from low-income backgrounds. It is designed for students from countries that receive official development assistance from the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee — and Nigeria is on this list. The scholarship supports students who would not otherwise be able to study at Oxford due to financial constraints and who are unable to get a place at or funding from a university in their home country.
What it covers: University and college fees for the full duration of your undergraduate programme, a grant for living costs, and return flights between Nigeria and the UK each year.
Who can apply: Nigerian citizens from low-income backgrounds who have been offered a place at Oxford for an undergraduate degree. You must not already be studying at a university and must be unable to access comparable funding in Nigeria. Academic entry requirements are the same as for all Oxford undergraduates — Oxford’s A-level equivalent or international qualification standards apply, and these are demanding. Nigerian students typically apply with A-levels, the International Baccalaureate, or a combination of strong WAEC results alongside a recognised foundation programme qualification.
How to apply: You must first apply for admission to Oxford through UCAS — the UK’s central undergraduate admissions system — and receive an offer of a place before applying for the Reach Oxford Scholarship. For 2027 entry, details will be published on the official Reach Oxford page at ox.ac.uk in January 2027.
Scholarship 3 — Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme
The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships are a fully funded postgraduate award for outstanding graduates from developing and emerging economies who demonstrate the potential to become future leaders committed to the improvement of their home countries and regions. Nigerian applicants are explicitly eligible and have won this award in previous cycles.
What it covers: Full course fees and a grant for living costs for the duration of your Oxford postgraduate programme, plus participation in a comprehensive leadership development programme that runs alongside your academic studies. The leadership programme includes mentoring, networking events, seminars with senior leaders, and study trips.
Who can apply: Outstanding graduates from developing or emerging economies — Nigeria qualifies — who are applying for or have been accepted onto a full-time postgraduate degree at Oxford. The scholarship targets people who would not otherwise be able to support themselves financially to study at Oxford, and who demonstrate a clear commitment to applying what they learn in ways that benefit their home country or region.
How to apply: You apply for the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship as part of your Oxford graduate admissions application — you select it in the funding section of the online application form. The deadline is the same as your chosen course’s graduate admissions deadline, which varies by course. Most Oxford graduate course deadlines for the 2027–2028 academic year will fall in December 2026 or January 2027.
Scholarship 4 — Oxford-Orjiako Graduate Scholarship
The Oxford-Orjiako Graduate Scholarship is a fully funded MBA scholarship at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, specifically designed to support African students in pursuing world-class business education. It was established through a personal donation by Dr Bryant Orjiako — a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist — and is explicitly focused on creating opportunities for African change-makers.
What it covers: Full MBA course fees at Saïd Business School for one year, plus a living costs grant for the duration of the programme.
Who can apply: Students from across the African continent — Nigerian applicants are directly targeted — who have been accepted onto the Oxford MBA programme at Saïd Business School. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic and professional excellence and a demonstrated commitment to making a positive impact in Africa.
How to apply: Apply for admission to the Oxford MBA at Saïd Business School first. The scholarship application is then completed separately through the Saïd Business School funding portal. Visit the Oxford Saïd Business School website at sbs.ox.ac.uk for current application deadlines and scholarship details.
How Oxford Graduate Admissions Work — What Nigerian Applicants Must Understand
For all Oxford postgraduate scholarships, the starting point is always the Oxford graduate admissions application, submitted through the Oxford online application system. For the 2026–2027 academic year, Oxford expected to offer over 1,100 full or partial graduate scholarships for new students, with many awarded automatically through the admissions process when you select them on the funding section of your application form.
The most important practical advice for Nigerian postgraduate applicants is this: identify all the scholarship options you are eligible for before completing your Oxford graduate application, select every relevant one in the funding section of the form, and submit before your course’s specific deadline. Oxford’s scholarship search tool at ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding allows you to filter scholarships by your course, nationality, and other criteria. Use it.
Deadline Information
Rhodes Scholarship West Africa 2027: Closing 27 August 2026 — apply now at rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk. Reach Oxford Scholarship for 2027 entry: Details published in January 2027 at ox.ac.uk. Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships: Deadline tied to your Oxford course deadline — most fall December 2026 or January 2027 for 2027–2028 entry. Oxford-Orjiako MBA Scholarship: Check sbs.ox.ac.uk for current MBA application and scholarship deadlines. Moreschooling will publish updates as each new cycle opens. Bookmark this page and visit ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding for the most current information on all Oxford scholarships open to Nigerian students.