European scholarships Nigerians can apply
Introduction – Why Europe and Why Now?
Studying in Europe ticks three big-ticket boxes for Nigerian students: world-class degrees, cheaper tuition (often zero), and generous post-study work visas. Add a weak naira to the mix, and a stipend paid in euros feels like winning the educational lottery. In 2025 the European Union is pumping fresh billions into Horizon Europe, which trickles down into scholarship seats, research grants, and startup incubators. Translation? More fully funded opportunities than ever.
But choice comes with chaos: different deadlines, essays, test scores… and that dreaded Schengen visa queue. I’ve boiled everything down into 15 rock-solid scholarships, all proven to welcome Nigerians. We’ll unpack eligibility, funding, insider hacks, and direct links so you can go from wishful Googler to visa-stamped scholar.
Eligibility Essentials for Nigerian Applicants (European scholarships)
Academic Targets
Most European providers want a Second-Class Upper (2:1) or better for master’s and a strong master’s CGPA (≥ 3.5/5.0) for PhDs. A few (Chevening, DAAD EPOS) may consider a 2:2 if your CV screams impact.
Language Tests at a Glance
| Destination | Primary Test | Typical Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| UK, NL, Sweden, Finland | IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall (6.0 subs) |
| Germany | IELTS 6.0 or TestDaF (4×4) | – |
| France, Belgium | IELTS 6.0 or TCF B2 | – |
Pro tip: Ask for an English-medium waiver—many programs accept a letter from your Nigerian university stating your degree was taught in English.
Experience & Leadership (European scholarships)
Chevening: 2 years’ work minimum (can include NYSC).
DAAD EPOS: Development or NGO track record.
Erasmus Mundus: Academic excellence, but volunteering boosts your score.
Visa Paperwork (European scholarships)
Medical – book IOM Lagos/Abuja immediately after conditional offer.
Police certificate – Abuja HQ; allow 10–14 days.
Proof of funds – some scholarships (Eiffel, KU Leuven) pay monthly stipends after arrival; budget first-month cash accordingly.
#1 Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (European scholarships)
Coverage – Tuition, insurance, travel, relocation allowance, €1 400/month living stipend.
Duration – 2 years in at least two EU countries.
Deadline – Most consortia: Oct 2024–Jan 2025.
Nigerian-Winning Formula
Start essays early; portals lag near deadline.
Emphasise “international teamwork’’—cite group projects, Model UN, or inter-state volunteering.
Highlight Nigeria-EU connections (e.g., renewable energy solutions in Lagos can scale to Lisbon).
#2 Chevening Scholarship (United Kingdom)
Chevening screams prestige: fully paid tuition, £1 500/month London stipend, visa fees, flights, arrival & departure allowances.
Essays Demystified
Leadership – narrate a challenge, your action, and measurable impact.
Networking – show cross-sector ties (tech, policy, NGOs).
Study Plan – pick 3 UK courses; explain synergy.
Career Plan – a 5-year blueprint of impact back in Nigeria.
Interview Hack – They’ll ask why you’ll return. Link your UK skillset to national targets (Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, Digital Economy Strategy).
#3 DAAD EPOS & Leadership for Africa (Germany)
Germany equals tuition-free public universities plus DAAD’s juicy stipend.
| Track | Target Group | Funding | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPOS | Dev-sector grads | €934/m + insurance | English/German |
| LfA | Conflict-region youth | Same + 6 mo German course | German prep |
Visa Shortcut: DAAD award letter waives the €11 k blocked account—huge win.
#4 Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals
Package – Full tuition, SEK 12 000/month stipend, insurance, travel grant, and network trips.
Fields – Tech for SDGs, gender equality, governance.
Edge Strategy – Outline a networking action plan: conferences you’ll attend, NGOs you’ll partner with back home, LinkedIn groups you’ll host.
#5 Eiffel Excellence Programme (France)
Eiffel funds Master’s (≤ 25 yrs) & PhD (≤ 30 yrs). Monthly stipend €1 181 (Master’s) / €1 700 (PhD), plus flights.
Most courses now offer English tracks—no French panic.
Campus France Lagos offers free CV review—book early.
#6 VLIR-UOS ICP Connect (Belgium)
Focus: Development masters (Agro-food, Risk Management).
Offers full tuition, insurance, flights, €1 150/m stipend, field-trip financing.
50 % seats reserved for Sub-Saharan Africa—Nigerians rank high.
#7 Holland Scholarship + Orange Knowledge
Holland Scholarship – €5 000 tuition discount (one-time).
Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) – Full tuition + stipend for high-impact professionals.
Apply for both; sometimes you snag HS first year then OKP for year 2.
#8 Stipendium Hungaricum (European scholarships)
Tuition, dorm or housing allowance, HUF 43 700/month stipend (~€110), medical insurance.
650+ English-taught programmes.
Medical check & police cert required; templates on Nigerian embassy site.
#9 Italian Government MAECI (European scholarships)
€900/month living allowance, tuition waiver, and medical. Perfect for Arts, Design, Architecture programmes in Milan, Florence, Rome.
Italian Insight – Many courses allow “programme-taught-in-English’’ waiver for language test.
#10 ETH Zurich Excellence (European scholarships)
Swiss STEM paradise: CHF 12 000/semester stipend + CHF 3 000 project allowance. ETH expects GRE (Quant ≥ 160) for some depts; plan ahead.
#11 University of Geneva Excellence Fellowship
Faculty of Science offers CHF 10 000–15 000/year. Needs concise research proposal and 2 referee letters. Swiss CV ≈ one page, bullet-point achievements.
#12 KU Leuven Global Minds
Targets Social Sciences & Humanities from low-income countries. Full tuition, insurance, “bridging year’’ language prep, €10 000 living grant.
#13 Erasmus+ Youth & Capacity-Building Grants
Short-term mobilities (10-days–12 months) for Nigerian NGOs and universities. Covers travel, board, project funds. Great CV booster before full master’s.
#14 University of Oulu International
100 % tuition waiver for master’s. Finnish living cost ~€650/month; part-time jobs (restaurant, campus IT) pay €9–12/hour. Minus 20 °C winters? Layer up!
#15 Tampere University Excellence
Full tuition the first year; 100 % or 50 % renewal based on 55 ECTS credits. Residence permit needs bank statement ≈€8 000. Campus jobs: library aide, coding TA.
Crafting a Winning Scholarship Essay
Mirror the Donor’s Language – If the call says “digital inclusion,” echo that phrase.
Quantify Everything – “Trained 200 women,” “Built app with 5 000 downloads.”
STAR+L – Situation, Task, Action, Result + Lesson you’ll apply in Europe.
Proofread Aloud – Catch awkward phrasing and run-on sentences.
Common Pitfalls & Fixes (European scholarships)
| Pitfall | Quick Fix |
|---|---|
| Missed deadline | Set Google Calendar reminders with 1-week buffer |
| Copy-paste statement | Customise 15 % per scholarship |
| Weak referee | Prep referees with bullet points + résumé |
| IELTS slot shortage | Book 2 dates; reschedule cheaper than last-minute |
Conclusion – Turn Your EU Dream into a Boarding Pass
Fifteen scholarships, dozens of deadlines, one simple truth: applications reward momentum. Start now—draft essays, order transcripts, sit IELTS. Each rejection is feedback; each submit button is a micro-victory. Europe’s lecture halls, snow-capped winters, and plum stipends are waiting for the bold. Be that bold Nigerian.
FAQs (European scholarships)
1. Can I apply for multiple scholarships simultaneously?
Absolutely. Just inform funders if you need to decline after receiving multiple offers.
2. Do I need GRE/GMAT for European master’s?
Rarely. ETH Zurich and some Dutch tech programmes request GRE; most rely on transcripts.
3. Will my stipend cover dependants?
Usually no. Chevening allows dependants but doesn’t fund them; budget independently.
4. Is 2nd-Class Lower accepted anywhere?
Yes—DAAD EPOS (with strong experience) and a few Erasmus consortia. Highlight work impact.
5. When should I start preparing?
Ideal lead-time: 6–8 months. Passport, police cert, essays, IELTS, referees—Nigeria’s paperwork culture is slow; start early.
