The Federal Ministry of Education has invited qualified Nigerian university graduates to apply for the 2027/2028 Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowship Plan, with applications closing on October 20, 2026.
The scholarship opportunity, which was announced through the Lagos State Scholarship Board, is open to Nigerians seeking to pursue postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom.
The scholarships cover a one-year taught Master’s programme or doctoral studies of up to three years.
The notice was issued by the ministry’s Department of Scholarship Awards, formerly known as the Federal Scholarship Board, and signed by the Director overseeing the Office of PSE, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, on behalf of the Minister of Education.
According to the notice, applicants for the Master’s category must hold a first degree with at least a Second Class Upper Division.
For doctoral studies, applicants must possess a relevant Master’s degree, in addition to at least a Second Class Lower Division in their first degree.
Applicants for both categories must have secured admission to at least two UK institutions.
Doctoral applicants are also required to provide a supporting statement from a prospective supervisor at their chosen UK institution.
The ministry also listed evidence of participation in the National Youth Service Corps among the eligibility requirements.
The notice stated that applications would be assessed based on three key criteria: academic merit, development impact upon completion and the quality of the proposed study plan.
“Applications will be assessed on Academic merit, Development impact on completion and Quality of Study plan,” the notice stated.
How to apply
All applications must be submitted online through the Electronic Application System.
Applicants are required to register on the EAS portal and complete the application form online.
They must also upload scanned copies of their passport photograph, university academic transcripts, birth certificate and admission letters from UK institutions listed in the application form.
Completed applications must be submitted online on or before October 20, 2026.
After submitting the application, candidates are required to create a PDF version of the completed form, download and print one hard copy for submission at the interview venue.
The notice stated that foreign certificates must be accompanied by official translations and evaluation documents.
It also advised applicants to consider Nigeria’s developmental priority areas relevant to their fields of specialisation when preparing their study proposals.
The ministry listed education, health, economic growth and the private sector, governance and conflict, climate and environment, water and sanitation, engineering, science and technology, food and nutrition, and humanitarian disasters and emergencies as priority areas.
The ministry advised prospective applicants to ensure that their proposed studies align with Nigeria’s development needs and priorities.
Prospective applicants were advised to consult the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website for further information on the scholarship and selection criteria.
Further enquiries may be directed to the Director, Department of Scholarship Awards, via fsb@education.gov.ng, 09124516750 or 09082454557.
Application portal: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships-results/?wpv_view_count=13930&wpv-cscukscholarshipcountry=nigeria&wpv_filter_submit=search
