Nigerian women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics face a double barrier when seeking international scholarship opportunities — they must meet the academic requirements of competitive global programmes while also finding awards that specifically support women or that actively prioritise gender diversity in their selection. The good news is that several fully funded and partially funded scholarships exist specifically for women in STEM, and Nigerian women are eligible for most of them. This guide covers seven scholarships that Nigerian women in STEM should know about, with honest information about eligibility, what each award covers, and how to apply.
One important note before going through the list: the British Council Women in STEM Scholarship — one of the most well-known gender-specific STEM awards — does not include Nigeria in its list of eligible countries for the 2026–2027 cycle. This is worth stating clearly because many Nigerian students see this scholarship circulated online and spend time preparing an application without realising they are currently ineligible. The scholarships listed below are confirmed as open to Nigerian women.
1. L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Programme
This is one of the most prestigious science-specific awards available to Nigerian women researchers. The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Programme is funded by the Fondation L’Oréal and UNESCO, and from 2026 it has been unified into a single Pan-African programme covering all 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa — including Nigeria. The programme targets women at PhD and postdoctoral research levels working in scientific fields.
What it covers: Research grants of up to €15,000 per awardee to support ongoing PhD or postdoctoral research. The award is not a degree scholarship — it is a research funding grant designed to support women who are already engaged in scientific research within Africa.
Who can apply: Women researchers at PhD or postdoctoral level based in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, working in fields across the physical sciences, life sciences, environmental sciences, engineering, mathematics, and technology. Previous awardees of any L’Oréal-UNESCO national or regional programme are not eligible.
How to apply: Applications are submitted through the official For Women in Science platform at forwomeninscience.com. The 2026 cycle is currently open — visit the official website for the current deadline and application requirements.
2. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — Edinburgh, Toronto, and Partner Universities
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is not exclusively a women’s scholarship, but it explicitly prioritises women and other underrepresented groups in its selection. At universities including the University of Edinburgh and the University of Toronto, the programme offers fully funded Master’s and undergraduate scholarships for Sub-Saharan African students — including Nigerian women — who have overcome significant barriers to education and are committed to climate, sustainability, and community leadership.
What it covers: Full tuition fees, accommodation, monthly living stipend, return flights, and a laptop at on-campus programmes. Online Master’s scholarships cover full tuition for part-time study from Nigeria with no relocation required.
Who can apply: Nigerian women under 35 who hold an undergraduate degree from an African university, have not previously completed a postgraduate degree, and can demonstrate barriers to education, community leadership experience, and commitment to sustainability and climate goals.
How to apply: Application routes vary by partner university. For the University of Edinburgh, applications are submitted through Edinburgh Global. For the University of Toronto, applications are submitted through the university’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars portal. Check each partner university’s website for the most current cycle deadline.
3. Australia Awards Scholarship — Priority Given to Women Applicants
The Australian government’s fully funded scholarship for Nigerian working professionals explicitly encourages applications from women, and gender diversity is factored into the selection process. The programme has a dedicated GEDSI Support Hub — Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion — specifically to assist women and other underrepresented applicants through the application process.
What it covers: Full tuition fees, return economy flights, monthly living allowance, health insurance, arrival establishment allowance, and academic support for the full duration of the programme.
Who can apply: Nigerian women who are at least 25 years old, have a minimum of five years post-graduate work experience, are currently employed, and are applying for a Master’s degree that aligns with Nigeria’s development priorities. The next application window opens 1 February 2027.
How to apply: Applications are submitted through the OASIS portal on the Australia Awards Africa website at australiaawardsafrica.org. The GEDSI Support Hub on the same website provides tailored guidance for women applicants.
4. GKS Global Korea Scholarship — Women Strongly Encouraged to Apply
The Korean government’s fully funded Global Korea Scholarship actively promotes gender diversity and encourages women from developing countries — including Nigeria — to apply. The programme covers all costs for a Master’s or doctoral degree in South Korea including a one-year Korean language course.
What it covers: Full tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend of 1,380,000 KRW, return flights, health insurance, research allowance, and Korean language training.
Who can apply: Nigerian women under 35 for Master’s programmes and under 40 for doctoral programmes with a minimum CGPA of 80% or equivalent. Applications are submitted through the Korean Embassy in Nigeria or directly to GKS-designated Korean universities.
How to apply: Monitor the Study in Korea portal at studyinkorea.go.kr and the Korean Embassy in Nigeria website for the next application window, expected to open mid-2026.
5. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — Multiple Programmes With Gender Diversity Priorities
Several Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programmes explicitly prioritise gender balance in their cohorts, making them particularly accessible for Nigerian women in STEM fields. Programmes in areas such as sustainable energy, environmental science, public health, data science, and engineering actively seek to increase female representation among scholars.
What it covers: Full tuition fees for a two-year Master’s degree across multiple European universities, a monthly stipend of €1,400, travel and installation contributions, and health insurance.
Who can apply: Nigerian women with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field who have not previously received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship. No IELTS is required if your previous degree was taught in English.
How to apply: Browse the EACEA Erasmus Mundus programme catalogue at eacea.ec.europa.eu, identify programmes in your STEM field that prioritise gender diversity, and apply directly through each consortium’s portal. Application portals for September 2027 cohorts open from October 2026 onwards.
6. DAAD Scholarship — Development-Related STEM Programmes Open to Nigerian Women
The DAAD scholarship has several programmes specifically designed for students from developing countries pursuing STEM and development-related fields. Nigerian women in engineering, environmental science, agriculture, public health, and related disciplines are well positioned for DAAD’s EPOS-funded programmes. DAAD also offers a specific In-Country/In-Region programme for Sub-Saharan Africa that allows Nigerian women to study at African universities without relocating to Germany.
What it covers: Monthly stipend of approximately €992 for Master’s students and €1,300 to €1,400 for doctoral candidates, plus travel allowance, health insurance, and research support allowances.
Who can apply: Nigerian women with a Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of relevant professional experience applying for a development-related Master’s or doctoral programme. Visit daad.de and use the scholarship database to find the specific DAAD programme that matches your academic profile.
How to apply: Applications are submitted through the Mein DAAD portal. Deadlines vary by programme — check each programme’s specific closing date at daad.de.
7. Chevening Scholarship — Women Among Top Recipients in Nigeria
While Chevening is not exclusively a women’s scholarship, Nigerian women have consistently been among the top recipients of the award, and the programme’s emphasis on leadership, community impact, and potential for change aligns strongly with the profiles of many Nigerian women professionals. There is no quota system that limits women’s applications, and the programme’s selection criteria do not disadvantage women in any field including STEM.
What it covers: Full tuition, monthly living stipend, return flights, visa fees, and access to a global alumni network of over 50,000 Chevening scholars.
Who can apply: Nigerian women with at least two years of full-time work experience after their undergraduate degree and a 2:1 degree equivalent. The next application window opens August 2026.
How to apply: Applications are submitted through the official Chevening portal at chevening.org. Begin preparing your four application essays — leadership, networking, career goals, and study choice — well before the August opening.
Final Advice for Nigerian Women in STEM Applying for Scholarships
When applying for any scholarship as a Nigerian woman in STEM, your gender is not a weakness to be apologised for or explained away — it is a dimension of your identity that many scholarship committees actively value in the context of their diversity and inclusion goals. Be specific about your STEM work, your research experience, your community impact, and your plans after the scholarship. Committees want to fund women who will return to Nigeria and make a difference in their fields — show them exactly what that will look like. The scholarships on this list are real, competitive, and accessible. Start your preparation early and apply to more than one.
Moreschooling has full guides for every scholarship listed here. Use the navigation menu to find detailed eligibility, benefits, and step-by-step application information for each programme.