Nigerian students who hoped to study abroad have been bracing against the increasing uncertainties in their plans.
In 2023, 23 African currencies hit record lows against the US dollar. The Nigerian naira has been devalued twice in attempts to close the gap with a parallel market rate, making it the second-worst-performing currency in the world, after the Lebanese pound.
And unfortunately, students are facing the brunt of it having to put their study plans on hold.
Thankfully, however, there are numerous financial aid and scholarships for Nigerian students to take advantage of.
Most of these international scholarships are targeted towards Europe and are open to both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA countries. Even so, it’s still best to check with the respective university on course specifications and whether your course is eligible.
To make life easier for you, below are international scholarships for Nigerian students
University of Twente Scholarship (UTS)
Located in the Netherlands, the University of Twente is a research university focusing on technical developments and their impact on people and society. This is reflected in the university’s five faculties: Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science, Science and Technology, Behavioural, Management & Social Sciences, and Geo-Information Science & Earth Observation.|
Here, master’s scholarships are offered to students from both EU/EEA countries and non-EU/EEA countries who want to pursue an MSc programme in subjects like Applied Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering, European Studies, Nanotechnology and Psychology.
Fifty scholarships are available, with each valued between 3,000 euros to 22,000 euros (US$3,259.89 to US$23,905.86 at the time of writing) annually.
Do note that this scholarship requires IELTS. These are the rest of the requirements.
Radboud Scholarship
Also located in the Netherlands, Radboud University teaches you how to apply your ideas and knowledge to the societal challenges of today and tomorrow. Here, your personal development goes hand in hand with contributing to a better society.
The Radboud Scholarship Programme offers partial scholarships to non-EU/EEA students to pursue a complete English-taught master’s degree programme at Radboud University.
As of the 2025/26 academic year, a maximum of 18 Radboud Scholarships are available under these faculties: Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Law, Nijmegen School of Management, Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies, Faculty of Science, and the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Awardees will only have to pay 2,530 euros (US$2,749.17) for tuition fees. What’s more, the scholarship also covers visa costs, residence permits, health insurance and liability insurance during your stay in the Netherlands.
Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme (ESOP)
For Nigerian students seeking a master’s programme in Switzerland, you can start by checking out ETH Zurich — one of the world’s best universities, ranking #7 on the QS World University Rankings 2025 list.
Here, you can opt for the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP). The scholarship is worth 12,000 Swiss francs per semester (US$13,876.04), covering your living and study expenses, and you get a tuition fee waiver too. It also provides mentorship and opportunities to build your professional network under the ETH Foundation.
There are approximately 60 ESOP scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year. Existing master’s students at ETH Zurich and those who hold a master’s degree are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Danish State Tuition Fee Waivers and Scholarships at Roskilde University
Located in Denmark, Roskilde University cultivates a project and problem-oriented approach to knowledge creation, because they believe that the most relevant results are obtained by solving real problems in collaboration with others.
Students arriving from countries outside of the EU/EEA who require financial aid for certain master’s programmes can apply for tuition fee waivers and scholarships under the Danish institution.
The tuition fee waiver and scholarship has a maximum length of 22 months for programmes that start in September. The scholarship amounts to 7,800 Danish kroner (US$1,136.55) per month and is meant to cover living expenses in Denmark.
Given that there are limited amounts of tuition fee waivers and scholarships being offered, applying for this scholarship doesn’t guarantee you will be awarded. It is credit-based rather than need-based financial aid. Meaning the emphasis is placed on academic performance, work experience and your motivational letter; family or social background won’t be taken into account.
GREAT Scholarships
If you’re looking for scholarships for Nigerian students in the UK, look no further than the GREAT Scholarships.
In the 2024-25 academic year, 210 scholarships are offered by 71 universities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Through this scholarship, you’ll have 10,000 pounds awarded (US$13,051) towards your tuition fees for a wide range of one-year taught postgraduate courses.
The universities involved include but are not limited to the University of Warwick, the University of York, the University of Glasgow, and University College London.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on October 21, 2024.