University College London — known as UCL — is one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious universities and ranks consistently among the top ten universities in the world. Located in the heart of central London, UCL attracts students from over 150 countries and offers degrees across every major academic discipline. For Nigerian students, UCL has two scholarship programmes that are directly relevant and worth pursuing — the UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship, which is open to all international students from low-income backgrounds, and the UCL-GREAT Scholarship, which is specifically designed for Nigerian postgraduate applicants. This guide covers both in detail so you can identify which one applies to your level of study and apply with full confidence.
Studying at UCL without scholarship support is an expensive undertaking. International undergraduate tuition fees at UCL typically range from £22,000 to £35,000 per year depending on the programme, and living costs in London add significantly to that figure. The scholarships covered in this guide are specifically designed to remove those financial barriers for students from countries like Nigeria, and both are worth applying for if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Scholarship Option 1 — UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship
The UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship is the university’s flagship award for international students from low-income backgrounds who wish to pursue a full-time undergraduate degree at UCL. Nigerian students are fully eligible and the scholarship is open to all undergraduate programmes across every faculty at UCL. For the 2026–2027 academic year, UCL offered up to 33 scholarships under this programme, split across two award levels.
What it covers:
- 10 Full Awards: These cover full overseas tuition fees for the entire duration of the degree programme, plus an annual maintenance allowance to cover living expenses in London — estimated at £12,000 to £15,000 per year — plus a fixed allowance toward UK Student Visa application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
- 23 Tuition-Only Awards: These cover full overseas tuition fees for the entire duration of the degree programme only, with no maintenance allowance included
Both award types are tenable for the standard duration of your undergraduate programme — typically three years, or four years for programmes that include a placement year or integrated study abroad component. The scholarship is awarded based primarily on financial need, not academic merit alone, though you must still meet UCL’s standard academic entry requirements for your chosen programme.
Eligibility requirements:
- You are from any country outside the UK — Nigerian citizens are fully eligible
- You are from a low-income household background — UCL uses £42,875 or less as a general guide for household income, though applications above this threshold are still considered based on individual circumstances
- You have submitted an application for a full-time undergraduate degree at UCL for the 2026–2027 academic year
- You qualify for overseas fee status as confirmed by UCL Admissions
- You have not previously studied at undergraduate level — this is a first-degree scholarship
One important point for Nigerian applicants — you do not need to have received an offer of admission before applying for this scholarship. You need to have submitted your UCL admission application and have your overseas fee status confirmed by UCL Admissions, which typically happens shortly after applying or just before an offer is made.
Scholarship Option 2 — UCL-GREAT Scholarship for Nigerian Postgraduate Students
The UCL-GREAT Scholarship is jointly funded by UCL and the British Council as part of the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign. Importantly, this scholarship is specifically targeted at citizens of Nigeria — making it one of the few UK university scholarships that names Nigeria directly as an eligible country. It supports Nigerian students applying for a full-time Master’s degree at UCL.
What it covers:
- £10,000 toward tuition fees for one academic year — deducted directly from your tuition bill
The GREAT Scholarship is a partial award — it reduces your tuition costs by £10,000 for your Master’s year but does not cover the remaining tuition balance, accommodation, or living expenses. It is best suited for Nigerian applicants who have other means of covering the remaining costs, such as personal savings, employer sponsorship, or a combination with other funding sources.
Eligibility requirements:
- You are a passport holder and resident of Nigeria at the time of application
- You have made an application to study a full-time Master’s degree in any faculty at UCL for the 2026–2027 academic year
- You hold an offer of a place on your chosen Master’s programme at UCL by the scholarship application deadline
- The scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic excellence and financial need
How to Apply — Step by Step
Step 1: Apply for admission to UCL. Both scholarships require you to have first submitted your UCL admission application. For the undergraduate scholarship, apply through UCAS — the UK’s central undergraduate admissions service. For the GREAT Scholarship, apply directly to UCL for your chosen Master’s programme. Apply early to ensure your fee status is confirmed and your offer is in place well before the scholarship deadlines.
Step 2: Confirm your fee status with UCL Admissions. For the undergraduate scholarship specifically, you must have your overseas fee status confirmed before you can access the scholarship application form. This happens automatically as part of the admissions process, but if it has not been confirmed two weeks before the scholarship deadline, contact UCL’s Student Funding Office by email and they will send you an alternative application form.
Step 3: Access the scholarship application form through Portico. For the UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship, log into your UCL Portico account, navigate to the Funding page, and click “Check and Apply” to find the scholarships you are eligible for. Submit a separate application for each UCL programme you have applied to — one form does not cover multiple applications.
Step 4: For the GREAT Scholarship, apply through UCL’s scholarship portal. Once you have a conditional or unconditional offer for your Master’s programme, apply for the GREAT Scholarship through the UCL scholarship application system. Prepare a clear statement explaining your academic background, financial circumstances, and how your proposed Master’s degree connects to your long-term career goals and your contribution to Nigeria.
Step 5: Provide financial evidence if shortlisted. For the undergraduate scholarship, shortlisted candidates are contacted around mid-May and asked to submit financial evidence confirming their household income. Prepare your family’s financial documents in advance so you can respond quickly when contacted. Delays in submitting financial evidence can result in your application not being considered further.
Step 6: Await the outcome and respond promptly. Successful UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship applicants for 2026–2027 were notified by 3 June 2026, in time for the UCAS offer response deadline. GREAT Scholarship recipients are notified on a rolling basis after the application deadline. If awarded a scholarship, respond to your offer promptly and notify UCL’s Student Funding Office of any other funding you receive alongside it.
Deadline Information
For the UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarship, the 2026 deadline was 5pm BST on Monday 27 April 2026. The 2027 deadline is expected to fall in April 2027 — monitor the UCL scholarships website at ucl.ac.uk/scholarships for the exact date as soon as it is announced. For the UCL-GREAT Scholarship, the 2026 application deadline was 7 May 2026. Both deadlines are strictly enforced — late or incomplete applications are not considered under any circumstances and no exceptions are made.
UCL’s Student Funding Office is one of the more accessible scholarship offices at a major UK university and responds to applicant enquiries — if you have questions about your eligibility or cannot access the application form, contact them directly through the UCL scholarships website well before the deadline. Moreschooling will publish updates as soon as the 2027 application windows open for both scholarships. Bookmark this page and visit ucl.ac.uk/scholarships for the most current information.