These four scholarships are among the most searched by Nigerians this year. We checked each against its official rules. The short answer: Australia Awards and Saudi government scholarships are open to Nigerians; Slovakia’s full-degree scholarship and the DAAD “STEM disciplines” scholarship are not. Here is what each pays, when it opens, and what to apply for instead.
Australia Awards Scholarships: yes, Nigerians can apply
A fully funded master’s in Australia: return flights, full tuition, a contribution to living costs, health cover and an establishment allowance. Nigeria was on the eligible list for the 2027 intake.
- Who: at least 25 years old, with at least five years’ work experience in a related field, currently employed, and living in and applying from Nigeria. You must not already hold a master’s.
- English: IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0) or equivalent, unless your first language is English and your education was in English; check the policy handbook.
- When: the 2027 intake closed on 30 April 2026. The 2028 intake opens in February 2027; the exact dates are not out yet, and the 2028 country list has not been published.
- How: online through OASIS, linked from Australia Awards Africa.
Saudi government scholarships: yes, Nigerians can apply
Saudi universities offer full scholarships to international students living outside Saudi Arabia, with free tuition, a monthly allowance, housing, health care and annual flights. There is no nationality exclusion list.
- Who: aged 17 to 25 for undergraduate and Arabic-language programmes, up to 30 for a master’s and up to 35 for a PhD. Many programmes, including at the Islamic University of Madinah, teach in Arabic; science programmes there teach in English.
- When: the 2026 windows have closed. The next main undergraduate round is expected around May–June 2027; postgraduate dates vary by university.
- How: create an account on the official Study in Saudi platform and apply to a university through it. Universities say they have no agents.
Slovak Government Scholarships: not for Nigerians (full degrees)
Slovakia’s government scholarship for a full degree is only for a list of 33 countries, and Nigeria is not on the 2026/27 list (the only sub-Saharan countries are Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Sudan). The separate National Scholarship Programme is open to any nationality, but it funds short study or research stays of one to ten months, not full degrees. Its next deadline is 30 April 2027.
DAAD “STEM” scholarships: the main one excludes Nigeria
Most posts about “DAAD STEM scholarships” describe DAAD’s Study Scholarships for STEM disciplines (€992 a month for a master’s in Germany). Nigeria is not on its country list, or on the list for DAAD’s general master’s study scholarship. DAAD programmes that are open to Nigerians include:
- EPOS development-related postgraduate courses: €992 a month for a master’s or €1,400 for a PhD, for applicants with two years’ work experience. Deadlines vary by course.
- In-Country/In-Region scholarships: a master’s at an African university; see our DAAD In-Country/In-Region guide.
- Short-term research grants: the next deadline for Nigerians is 17 March 2027.
- Check the official DAAD scholarship database with Nigeria selected as your country.
How to apply instead: open alternatives
Each of our guides explains how to apply step by step. If one of these doesn’t fit, try:
- Türkiye Bursları 2027: fully funded, all levels, expected window 10 January – 20 February 2027.
- Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals: fully funded master’s in Sweden, Nigeria eligible.
- Commonwealth Scholarships 2027: UK master’s and PhD; the Shared Scholarships route opens on 10 November.
- Master’s scholarships 2027 for Nigerians and Africans and scholarships for Africans.
Eligibility in 30 seconds
- Search the official page for “eligible countries” and look for Nigeria first.
- Check the age and work-experience rules; Australia Awards needs five years’ work experience.
- Apply only through the official portal. Genuine government scholarships never charge an application fee.
Checked against the official Australia Awards, Saudi Ministry of Education and university, Slovak Ministry of Education and DAAD pages on 4 November 2026.
