Scholarships in the United Kingdom for Nigerians

We all experience rejection at some point in our lives. Whether for a job, a date, a friendship, or a romantic relationship. Even though rejection can be painful, we cannot fold our hands and refuse to apply for jobs or accept love. One rejection that can be hurtful is applying for scholarships in the United Kingdom with no success.

Although there is always a chance of rejection, taking a risk is better than not taking any risk. What if your efforts pay off? Or you get the scholarship you have been aspiring for? What if you get the job you want? Do not let the fear of rejection stop you from pursuing new opportunities and making a fresh start.

Applying for scholarships can be stressful, which is one of the reasons many people put it off out of fear of rejection. But in the words of the astute Brian Tracy, “Refuse to let the fear of rejection hold you back.” It’s crucial to keep in mind that rejection is impersonal.

Although scholarships are highly competitive, it hasn’t stopped many Nigerians from studying in the United Kingdom on a scholarship. 

Studying in the UK

Education in the United Kingdom provides International students, including Nigerians, with a solid foundation while increasing the likelihood of obtaining a higher salary and desired jobs after their studies. The UK’s higher education system has served as the foundation for higher education standards in other countries.

We will discuss various scholarships in the United Kingdom, like the Chevening Scholarship, Commonwealth Scholarship, AS Hornby Educational Trust Scholarship, and many others. In the first series of this article, we will touch on the Commonwealth Scholarship and the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree Scholarship.

Before we share these scholarships, these are the general requirements you need to start your application. The article might be lengthy, but it’s worth your time. Now, let’s move to some of the requirements you need to apply for the scholarship.

General Requirement for Scholarships in the United Kingdom

When starting your scholarship search, make sure your choices match your interests and profile. Just as you wouldn’t pursue an engineering scholarship if you were more interested in the arts, you should choose scholarships that align with your goals. If you’re unsure of your path or eligibility, schedule a consultation with our career experts here.

Before beginning the application process, carefully review the eligibility requirements outlined by the scholarship provider. These criteria frequently include academic achievements, transcripts, Certificates, Resumes, International passports, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and demographic characteristics such as nationality or field of study.

1. Eligibility Criteria: Review scholarship eligibility requirements thoroughly.
2. Supporting Documents: Prepare necessary documents, including transcripts, essays, and recommendation letters.
3. Personal Statements and Essays: Craft compelling essays tailored to each scholarship.
4. Adhere strictly to the word/character limit.
5. Recommendation Letters: Find referees who can provide well-written recommendations.
6. Leadership and Volunteer Experience: Highlight leadership and volunteer experiences to demonstrate your potential impact.
7. Honours and Certifications: Emphasize any relevant honours or certifications.
8. Resume: Summarize your work experience and academic achievements.

By following these guidelines, you can enhance your scholarship application and increase your chances of success.

Now that you know the requirements, you might want to know the available scholarships for Nigerians. Let’s go

Top Scholarships in the United Kingdom for Nigerians

Commonwealth Scholarship

The Commonwealth Scholarships program aims to provide financial support to students from the Commonwealth who may not have the means to study in the UK on their own. The program offers funding for postgraduate studies in various formats, helping to contribute to the development of future innovators and leaders.

Scholarships are awarded based on the UK’s international development goals. It is to attract outstanding talents to UK universities whilst supporting sustainable development overseas.

Who can apply 

1. To apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship, you must be a citizen or permanent resident of a Commonwealth country, like Nigeria. You will still be eligible if you are a refugee or a British-protected person. 
2. Have an undergraduate honours degree of at least upper second class (2:1). If you want to apply for a PhD, you will need a Masters degree.
3. Finally, you can not afford to study in the UK without a scholarship.

Scholarships and fellowships have different eligibility criteria. Visit the website for more information on how to apply.

Commonwealth Scholarships are categorized, aligning with various fields and career prospects.

The Commonwealth Scholarships Commission offers:

• PhD Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states) 
• Split-site Scholarships
• Masters Scholarships 
• Shared Scholarships 
• Distance Learning Scholarships 
• PhD Scholarships (for high-income countries) 
• Professional Fellowships 
• Gender and Sexuality Fellowships

Financial The Commonwealth scholarship Covers airfare, tuition, personal allowance, and additional expenses.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree Scholarship 

Sponsored by the EU, this scholarship program promotes international collaboration. As a fully funded scholarship, it covers all the beneficiaries’ financial needs, including tuition, travel expenses, monthly allowances, and installation costs. The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship is available from October to January each year.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are prestigious international Masters jointly designed and delivered by higher education institutions.

They involve at least three (3) institutions from at least three (3) different countries and multiple associated partners from the academic and non-academic fields.

Typically, they include study, research, traineeship, thesis preparation and defence periods.

Type of degree awarded

You will gain either

• a joint degree (i.e. one single degree certificate issued on behalf of at least two higher education institutions) or
• multiple degrees (i.e. at least two-degree certificates issued by two higher education institutions of the consortium)

The applicants for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship typically have to have a bachelor’s degree with a First Class or Second Class Upper grade.

The juicy part is that if you have an outstanding grade toward a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can also apply. Although, this depends on the program and the course you are applying for. You can confirm if an HND is accepted for your program or not.

To increase your chances and demonstrate that your diploma is equivalent to a BSc degree, we advise you to take the World Education Services (WES) evaluation.

Conclusion

Now that you understand the Commonwealth Scholarship and the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree Scholarship, we wish you success in your application.

PS: To increase your chances of securing a scholarship in the UK, we can assess your profile and match you with a suitable scholarship.

Next on our list are the AS Hornby Educational Trust scholarship and the Chevening scholarship in the upcoming series. Keep in touch.