The University of Edinburgh is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom, founded in 1583 and consistently ranked among the top universities in the world. For Nigerian students, Edinburgh is not just an aspirational destination — it is an accessible one, because the university offers multiple scholarship programmes specifically targeting African students, including Nigerians. This guide covers the two most relevant Edinburgh scholarships for Nigerian applicants — the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and the GREAT Scholarship — so you can identify which one applies to you and apply with full confidence.
Edinburgh is located in Scotland’s capital city and offers a wide range of postgraduate programmes across disciplines including science, engineering, humanities, social sciences, law, education, and health. International tuition fees at Edinburgh typically range from £20,000 to £35,000 per year depending on the programme, making scholarship support essential for most Nigerian applicants. The good news is that Edinburgh takes African talent seriously and has structured its scholarship offerings to specifically reach students from the continent who might otherwise face barriers to accessing a world-class UK education.
Scholarship Option 1 — Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh is the flagship opportunity for African students, including Nigerians. It offers both on-campus Master’s scholarships and online Master’s or postgraduate diploma scholarships, and it is focused specifically on climate justice, sustainability, and community leadership. The programme is designed to support exceptional young leaders from Africa who have overcome significant barriers to education and are committed to driving change in their communities.
Eligibility requirements:
- You are a citizen and resident of an African country — including Nigeria — or hold refugee status in an African country
- You are 35 years of age or under in the year your programme commences
- You have completed an undergraduate degree from a recognised African university and can provide your degree certificate and official final transcript
- You have not previously completed a postgraduate degree — this is a first postgraduate degree scholarship
- You have faced significant barriers to education — social, financial, personal, practical, or health-related
- You have a demonstrated track record of leadership and service within your community
- You have experience or clear ambition in addressing the climate crisis and sustainability challenges
- You meet the University of Edinburgh’s academic entry requirements for your chosen programme — generally equivalent to a UK Second Class Upper (2:1) Bachelor’s degree or higher
What it covers — on-campus scholarship:
- Full tuition fees for your chosen one-year on-campus Master’s programme
- University accommodation for the full duration of your studies
- A monthly living stipend to cover daily expenses in Edinburgh
- Return economy class airfare between Nigeria and the UK
- Study materials including a laptop
- Tailored disability support where applicable
- Participation in the Climate Leadership Programme, a dedicated component for all Mastercard Foundation scholars at Edinburgh
What it covers — online scholarship:
- Full tuition fees for a three-year part-time online Master’s degree or a two-year part-time postgraduate diploma
- Study materials support
- Online degrees from Edinburgh carry the same academic standing as on-campus degrees
The online scholarship is particularly valuable for Nigerian professionals who cannot relocate to the UK but still want a fully funded Edinburgh postgraduate qualification delivered to them wherever they are in Nigeria.
Scholarship Option 2 — GREAT Scholarship
The GREAT Scholarship is a British Council initiative offered in partnership with over 60 UK universities, including the University of Edinburgh. It supports postgraduate students from a specific list of eligible countries — and Nigeria is on that list. At Edinburgh, the GREAT Scholarship provides £10,000 toward tuition fees for one-year on-campus postgraduate Master’s programmes.
Eligibility requirements:
- You are a Nigerian citizen and resident
- You have been accepted or are applying for a full-time one-year on-campus postgraduate Master’s programme at the University of Edinburgh in an eligible subject area
- You meet the academic requirement — generally the equivalent of a UK first-class honours degree is expected for GREAT Scholarship applicants at Edinburgh
- You are self-funding — the GREAT Scholarship is awarded to students who are not receiving other full scholarship funding
What it covers:
- £10,000 deducted directly from your tuition fees for one academic year
Note that the GREAT Scholarship is a partial scholarship — it reduces your tuition costs by £10,000 but does not cover accommodation, living expenses, or flights. It is best suited for Nigerian applicants who have other means of covering their remaining costs, or who are combining it with other funding sources.
How to Apply — Step by Step
Step 1: Decide which scholarship is right for you. If you are under 35, have faced barriers to education, and have a strong community leadership and sustainability profile, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is your primary target — it is fully funded and far more comprehensive. If you hold a first-class degree and are self-funding the rest of your studies, the GREAT Scholarship is a strong supplement.
Step 2: Check the specific programmes available under each scholarship. Not all Edinburgh programmes are eligible under both scholarships. Visit the Edinburgh Global website at edinburgh-global.ed.ac.uk for the Mastercard Foundation programme list, and the University of Edinburgh scholarships page for the GREAT Scholarship eligible programmes.
Step 3: Apply for the scholarship first — not the degree. For the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship specifically, you apply for the scholarship before applying for your degree programme. If you receive a scholarship offer, you are then invited to apply for your chosen degree. Do not apply to the degree programme first — follow the scholarship application process as instructed on the Edinburgh Global website.
Step 4: Prepare your application documents. For the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, you will need your undergraduate degree certificate and official transcripts, a personal statement addressing your barriers to education, your leadership record, and your sustainability goals, and evidence of community impact or climate-related work. For the GREAT Scholarship, you will need your degree certificates, transcripts, and a completed scholarship application form accessed through the MyEd student portal after receiving your course offer.
Step 5: Submit before the deadline. For the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, the 2026–2027 application window opened on 14 October 2025 and closed on 21 November 2025. For the GREAT Scholarship, the 2026 deadline was 1 May 2026. Both deadlines are strict — late applications are not considered.
Deadline Information
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Edinburgh for the 2026–2027 academic year has now closed. The 2027–2028 cycle is expected to open in October 2026. The GREAT Scholarship for Nigerian applicants at Edinburgh for the 2026 intake closed on 1 May 2026. The next cycle is expected to open in early 2027 alongside the university’s general postgraduate admissions cycle.
Both scholarships are competitive and reward applicants who prepare early, write specific and compelling personal statements, and clearly connect their goals to the scholarship’s values. For the Mastercard Foundation programme in particular, vague applications that do not address barriers to education, community leadership, and climate commitment directly are consistently unsuccessful. Moreschooling will publish updates as soon as the next application windows open. Bookmark this page and visit edinburgh-global.ed.ac.uk for the most current information.