Most scholarship content targeting Nigerian students focuses almost entirely on postgraduate opportunities — Master’s degrees, PhD programmes, and research fellowships. Undergraduate scholarships that are genuinely open to Nigerian secondary school leavers and send them abroad for a first degree are far less discussed, but they do exist. This guide covers five fully funded or substantially funded undergraduate scholarships that Nigerian students can access to study abroad, with honest information about eligibility, what each covers, and the specific requirements Nigerian applicants need to understand before applying.
It is important to be realistic about undergraduate scholarships for international students. They are far more competitive and far fewer in number than postgraduate awards. The scholarships on this list are genuine, verified, and have been won by students from Nigeria and other African countries in recent cycles. However, the level of academic excellence and leadership required is exceptionally high — most of these programmes select fewer than 50 students globally each year. If you are a secondary school student or a recent leaver with outstanding results, a strong community record, and a clear sense of your goals, this list is for you.
1. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship — University of Toronto, Canada
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is the most prestigious undergraduate award the University of Toronto offers to international students — and it is one of the most generous undergraduate scholarships available to Nigerians anywhere in the world. Approximately 37 scholars are selected globally each year, making this exceptionally competitive but genuinely accessible to Nigerian students with outstanding secondary school results and a strong leadership profile.
What it covers: Full tuition fees for four years of undergraduate study at the University of Toronto, books and academic materials, incidental fees, and full residence support — university accommodation for all four years. There are no loan components — everything is a grant.
Who can apply: International students requiring a Canadian study permit — Nigerian citizens fully qualify. You must be in your final year of secondary school or have graduated no earlier than June 2025. You must not have already begun post-secondary studies at another institution. Critically, your secondary school must nominate you — each school may nominate only one student per year.
Key requirement for Nigerian applicants: Your secondary school must register as a Pearson Scholarship nominating school through the University of Toronto’s website. If your school is not yet registered, speak to your principal about registering — the process is straightforward and opens the door for all future students at your school. Once nominated, you complete the scholarship application alongside your University of Toronto admissions application.
Next cycle timeline: School nominations for the 2027 intake are expected to open in July 2026. The scholarship application deadline for students is expected in November 2026. Visit future.utoronto.ca for official announcements.
2. MEXT Undergraduate Scholarship — Japan
The Japanese government’s MEXT Scholarship is one of the few fully funded undergraduate programmes from a major world power that is explicitly open to Nigerian students. It funds a complete undergraduate degree at a Japanese national university — typically five to seven years including a one-year Japanese language preparatory course before the main degree begins. No IELTS or TOEFL is required.
What it covers: Full tuition fees for the entire duration of your undergraduate programme, university accommodation, a monthly living stipend of approximately ¥117,000, round-trip economy class airfare between Nigeria and Japan, and a preparatory Japanese language course.
Who can apply: Nigerian citizens who have completed or are completing 12 years of formal education — equivalent to completing secondary school including WAEC or NECO. Age limits generally apply — check with the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria for the specific age requirement for the undergraduate category. Strong results in Mathematics and science subjects are particularly important for competitive fields. No IELTS required — the embassy conducts its own written tests.
Important note: The MEXT undergraduate programme is taught primarily in Japanese after the first year. You will study Japanese intensively during the preparatory year, but most of your undergraduate coursework will be in Japanese. This is a significant commitment and applicants should be genuinely prepared for full immersion in Japanese academic and cultural life.
Next cycle timeline: The Embassy Recommendation Route for the 2027 intake is expected to open at the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria in early 2027 with a deadline around May 2027. Visit ng.emb-japan.go.jp for the exact announcement.
3. Chinese Government Scholarship — Undergraduate Track
The Chinese Government Scholarship covers undergraduate study at over 270 Chinese universities and is one of the most accessible fully funded undergraduate scholarship routes for Nigerian students. Unlike the Pearson Scholarship which requires a school nomination, the Chinese Government Scholarship can be accessed through two routes — the embassy channel through the Chinese Embassy in Abuja, and the university channel where you apply directly to a Chinese university.
What it covers: Full tuition fees, free on-campus accommodation in a shared dormitory room, basic health insurance, and a monthly living stipend of approximately CNY 2,500 for undergraduate students.
Who can apply: Nigerian citizens who have completed secondary school with strong results. Age limit is generally under 25 for undergraduate applicants. A medical examination certificate is required. Applicants must not currently hold another Chinese government scholarship. Many programmes at the undergraduate level are taught in Chinese — applicants should be prepared for a Chinese language preparatory course in the first year unless applying for an English-taught programme.
English-taught programmes: A growing number of Chinese universities offer undergraduate programmes taught entirely in English — particularly in fields like medicine, engineering, and business. If you prefer to study in English, filter for English-taught programmes on the campuschina.org scholarship database before choosing your university.
Next cycle timeline: The application window typically opens in December and closes in April each year. The 2027 intake cycle is expected to open in December 2026. Visit campuschina.org for the official opening date and the list of eligible universities and programmes.
4. UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship — University College London, UK
The UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship is one of the few fully funded undergraduate awards at a top UK university that is explicitly open to Nigerian students on the basis of financial need. Up to 33 scholarships are awarded each year — 10 of them covering full tuition plus a maintenance allowance and a fixed allowance for visa and health surcharge costs, and 23 covering full tuition only. Nigerian students from low-income backgrounds are directly eligible.
What it covers: For the 10 full awards — full overseas tuition fees for the entire degree, an annual maintenance allowance estimated at £12,000 to £15,000, and a fixed allowance toward UK visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge. For the 23 tuition-only awards — full overseas tuition fees for the entire degree duration with no maintenance component.
Who can apply: International students from any country outside the UK — Nigerian citizens fully qualify. You must be from a low-income household background (UCL uses £42,875 as a guide but considers all applications). You must have submitted a UCAS application for a full-time undergraduate degree at UCL and have your overseas fee status confirmed. You do not need an offer of admission before applying for the scholarship.
Key requirement: Academic entry requirements for UCL undergraduate programmes are demanding. Most programmes require A-levels or equivalent qualifications — Nigerian students typically apply with A-levels, International Baccalaureate, or in some cases strong WAEC results combined with foundation programme qualifications. Check UCL’s country-specific entry requirements for Nigeria at ucl.ac.uk before beginning your application.
Next cycle timeline: The 2027 application deadline is expected to fall in April 2027. Applications are submitted through the UCL Portico student portal after submitting your UCAS admissions application. Visit ucl.ac.uk/scholarships for the official deadline when announced.
5. Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship — University of Melbourne, Australia
The University of Melbourne’s International Undergraduate Scholarship is specifically designed for students from developing countries with a GDP per capita of USD $10,000 or less — and Nigeria qualifies under this threshold. It provides a 25% tuition fee reduction for the full duration of a Bachelor’s degree at one of Australia’s top-ranked universities. While it is a partial scholarship rather than a fully funded one, a 25% tuition reduction across three to four years represents a significant saving — often worth AUD $30,000 or more in total — and it is automatically considered when you apply for admission.
What it covers: A 25% reduction in overseas tuition fees for the full duration of your undergraduate programme — no separate scholarship application required.
Who can apply: Citizens of countries with a GDP per capita of USD $10,000 or less — Nigeria qualifies. You must be applying for an overseas fee place in a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Melbourne and must not have previously undertaken tertiary studies. Selection is based on strong secondary school academic achievement.
How to combine with other funding: Because the Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarship is automatic and partial, Nigerian students who receive it can combine it with other funding sources — personal savings, family support, part-time work during studies, or additional university bursaries — to make the total cost of a Melbourne undergraduate degree more manageable. Australia’s student visa also permits a certain number of work hours per week during term time.
Next cycle timeline: Applications for a February/March 2027 start are due by 31 October 2026. Applications for a July 2027 start are due by 31 May 2027. Visit scholarships.unimelb.edu.au for current information.
What Nigerian Secondary School Students Should Do Right Now
If you are currently in secondary school or have recently completed your WAEC or NECO examinations, the most important actions you can take right now are these: build the strongest possible academic record, develop genuine leadership and community involvement that you can speak about specifically and honestly, and begin researching scholarship requirements so you understand exactly what each programme expects before you apply. The Pearson Scholarship requires a school nomination — speak to your principal now about registering your school. MEXT requires sitting written tests in Mathematics and English — begin reviewing these subjects now. The UCL scholarship requires UCAS application proficiency — start learning how the UK admissions system works well before you are ready to apply.
Nigerian students have won every scholarship on this list. The common thread among those who succeed is not simply excellent grades — it is a combination of academic strength, genuine community impact, clear future goals, and early, disciplined preparation. Moreschooling covers detailed guides for every scholarship on this list — use the navigation menu to find the full guide for each programme.