Insight

• Ikiodiete George
• 5 Min Read

Zero Tuition! Scholarships For Nigerian Students (Master’S/Phd/Ug/Pg) In 2025 – Fully Funded + Monthly Stipend

Are you a Nigerian student looking to study for free in 2025 — either abroad or locally? This guide is for you!

With rising education costs, fully funded scholarships that cover tuition fees, accommodation, travel, and monthly stipends have become the most sought-after golden ticket for ambitious Nigerian students. Luckily, there are many options available for undergraduates, Master’s, and PhD students — and some don’t even require IELTS.

Let’s explore the top zero tuition scholarships with monthly stipends that Nigerian students should apply for in 2025.

Top Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerians in 2025

Below is a breakdown of the most trusted scholarship programs that offer 100% free tuition and monthly stipends:

1. Chevening Scholarship (UK)

Funded by the UK Foreign Office, the Chevening Scholarship allows Nigerian students to study any Master’s course at any UK university.

Benefits include:

• 100% tuition fee waiver
• Monthly stipend (~£1,300)
• Round-trip airfare
• Visa fees and health surcharge

Eligibility:

• Nigerian citizenship
• 2:1 Bachelor’s degree
• At least 2 years of work experience (can include NYSC)

Application opens: September 2024
Website: www.chevening.org

2. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

These scholarships cover full Master’s and some PhD programs in the UK and are aimed at students from low-income countries, including Nigeria.

What’s covered:

• Tuition fees
• Monthly living allowance (£1,347)
• Airfare
• Warm clothing allowance

Application opens: October 2024
No IELTS required if you studied in English.

Apply via: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk

3. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)

One of the most prestigious scholarships, Fulbright fully funds Nigerian students to study for Master’s or PhD in U.S. universities.

Coverage includes:

• Full tuition
• Living stipend ($1,000+ monthly)
• Health insurance
• Airfare

Requirement:

• IELTS or TOEFL
• Leadership and academic excellence

Application opens: February 2025
Website: foreign.fulbrightonline.org

4. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

This pan-African scholarship is offered by top schools such as:

• University of Toronto
• McGill University
• University of Cape Town
• Sciences Po
• University of Edinburgh

What you get:

• Tuition
• Monthly stipend
• Laptop, books, travel
• Mentorship and leadership training

No IELTS required.
Application is through partner universities.

5. Türkiye Burslari (Turkey Government Scholarship)

This Turkish government initiative supports Nigerian students at undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD levels.

Coverage:

• Free tuition
• Free accommodation
• Monthly stipend:
• Undergrad: ₺1,000
• Master’s: ₺1,400
• PhD: ₺1,600
• Turkish language training
• Airfare

No IELTS needed.
Application period: January – February 2025
Website: www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr

6. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

This is a top PhD funding opportunity for high-performing students in health, engineering, and social sciences.

Funding details:

• $50,000 CAD per year
• Up to 3 years
• Covers tuition, living, and research costs

IELTS required, unless your academic training was in English.

Website: vanier.gc.ca

7. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)

The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) funds Master’s and PhD programs for Nigerians in German universities.

Offers:

• Zero tuition
• Monthly stipend of €934 (Master’s), €1,200 (PhD)
• Travel allowance
• Study and research grants

Website: daad.de

8. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

Offered by the University of Toronto, this is one of Canada’s most competitive scholarships for outstanding secondary school students.

Perks:

• Full tuition for 4 years
• Books, health, and accommodation
• Living stipend

Only one nomination per school is allowed.

9. Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Scholarship

This scholarship is available to Muslim students in Nigeria studying undergraduate, Master’s, or PhD in STEM and development-related fields.

Full coverage:

• Tuition
• Monthly allowance
• Health and travel costs

No IELTS required.
Apply via: www.isdb.org/scholarships

10. Romanian Government Scholarship

The Romanian Government Scholarship is open to Nigerian students at all levels, with no tuition fees and a modest monthly stipend.

What’s covered:

• Tuition
• Accommodation
• Monthly allowance (€65–€85)
• Romanian language prep year

Apply via: Romanian embassy or education ministry portals.

Documents Required for Most Scholarships

Smart Application Tips

• Start early: Most applications open between August and February
• Get your documents ready: Keep scanned copies of certificates, passport, and transcript
• Use official websites only: Don’t pay agents
• Check deadlines by country and university
• Prepare for virtual interviews or essay writing

FAQs – Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerians in 2025

1. Can I apply without IELTS?

Yes! Scholarships like Mastercard, Türkiye Burslari, and Commonwealth allow English proficiency letters from your previous school instead.

2. Is undergraduate funding available?

Absolutely. Lester B. Pearson, Türkiye Burslari, Mastercard, and IsDB all offer undergraduate scholarships.

3. Can I apply for more than one scholarship?

Yes. You can apply for multiple scholarships and choose the best offer.

4. Will they pay for my flight?

Most of the scholarships listed cover airfare.

Conclusion

Whether you're looking to pursue a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD, there’s a fully funded scholarship out there for you—with zero tuition fees and monthly stipends to help you thrive.

These opportunities are life-changing, and 2025 could be your year. Start preparing now, submit strong applications, and don’t give up!