If you've been searching for "ongoing scholarship in Nigeria", you're probably tired of seeing outdated lists and dead links. I get it. Nothing is more frustrating than finding a scholarship, reading through the requirements, only to discover the deadline passed
six months ago.I'm Samson, the founder of Study Discovery. I don't run a scholarship agency. I don't have secret backdoor access. What I have is a system — a way of tracking current, live opportunities that Nigerians can apply for right now. In this article, I'll share what's currently open, how to verify deadlines yourself, and how to avoid the fake "ongoing" scams that flood WhatsApp every day.
Let's get straight into it.
First, What Does "Ongoing Scholarship in Nigeria" Really Mean?
When you search for that phrase, you might see two types of results:
Scholarships that are currently accepting applications from Nigerian citizens, whether to study inside Nigeria or abroad.
Outdated blog posts use "ongoing" as a clickbait keyword.
Since Study Discovery focuses on helping you study abroad, I'll highlight only the scholarships that can take you out of Nigeria. I'll also show you how to find ongoing opportunities yourself, so you never have to rely on old blog posts again.
Ongoing Scholarships for Nigerians to Study Abroad (Right Now)
⚠️ Important: Scholarship deadlines change. I've verified these as of the time of writing, but always double‑check the official website before applying.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom – Chevening (Usually Opens August/September)
Status: Not open year‑round. But if you're reading this between August and November, Chevening is ongoing.
What it covers: Full master's degree funding.
Official site: chevening.org
Nigerian tip: Use the downtime (when it's closed) to prepare your essays and find your three university choices.
🇩🇪 Germany – DAAD (Varies by Program)
Status: Some DAAD programs have deadlines between August and October for the following year. Check the DAAD Nigeria website.
What it covers: Monthly stipend (€934+), health insurance, travel.
Official site: daad.ng
Nigerian tip: Many DAAD scholarships require work experience. If you're a recent graduate, consider getting a one‑year internship or job first.
🇹🇷 Turkey – Turkiye Burslari (Usually Opens January)
Status: Opens January each year. If you're reading this in January–February, it's ongoing.
What it covers: Tuition, stipend, accommodation, flight, and health insurance.
Official site: turkiyeburslari.gov.tr
Nigerian tip: Applications take about 30–45 minutes. Don't rush.
🇨🇳 China – CSC Scholarship (Opens January–April)
Status: Varies by embassy and university. The Chinese Embassy in Abuja usually announces between January and April.
What it covers: Full tuition, accommodation, stipend, and health insurance.
Official site: campuschina.org
Nigerian tip: You can apply directly to universities without waiting for the embassy. Many universities have their own deadlines.
🇯🇵 Japan – MEXT (Opens April–May)
Status: Opens April to May each year. If you're reading this during that window, it's ongoing.
What it covers: Full tuition, monthly stipend (¥117,000+), flight.
Official site: studyinjapan.go.jp
Nigerian tip: Start studying basic Japanese now. It's not mandatory for the application, but it helps your interview.
🌍 Multiple Countries – Erasmus+ (Opens October–January)
Status: Opens around October and closes January–March, depending on the programme.
What it covers: Full tuition, monthly stipend, travel.
Official site: erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu
Nigerian tip: Each joint master's programme has its own deadline. Don't assume they all close on the same date.
🇨🇦 Canada – University‑Specific Scholarships (Vary)
Status: Many Canadian universities have deadlines between November and February for fall admission. If you're reading this in that window, some are still open.
How to find: Go to any Canadian university website → search "international undergraduate scholarship" or "international graduate scholarship".
Nigerian tip: Smaller universities often have less competition. Don't only apply to the University of Toronto and McGill.
How to Find Ongoing Scholarships Yourself (Stop Relying on Old Blog Posts)
Here's the system I use, Samson. You can teach your readers to do the same:
Bookmark the official scholarship websites – Chevening, DAAD, MEXT, Turkiye Burslari, CSC. Check them once a week.
Set Google Alerts – Create alerts for "Nigerian scholarship deadline 2025" or "[Country] scholarship for Nigerians".
Follow trusted platforms – Opportunity Desk, Scholars4Dev, and the Federal Scholarship Board's website.
Join no‑fee WhatsApp groups – But be extremely careful. If anyone asks for money, leave immediately.
Check embassy websites – The UK, German, Canadian, Turkish, Japanese, and Chinese embassies in Nigeria all post scholarship news.
Red Flags: How to Spot Fake "Ongoing Scholarship" Scams
Every week, Nigerian students lose money to scammers posting fake "ongoing" opportunities. Here's how to protect yourself:
Any application fee – Real scholarships never ask you to pay before applying.
"Guaranteed" award – No one can guarantee a scholarship. Not even the university.
Urgent WhatsApp message – "Congratulations, you've been selected. Pay N10,000 to claim your slot."
Poor grammar and fake email addresses – Real scholarship emails come from .org, .ac.uk, .edu, or .gov domains, not Gmail or Yahoo.
Rule of thumb: If it feels too good to be true, it probably is. Verify on the official website before doing anything.
Common Mistakes Nigerians Make With "Ongoing" Scholarships
Waiting until the last week – Deadlines are firm. Apply at least two weeks early.
Not reading eligibility carefully – If the scholarship requires a first class and you have a second class upper, don't waste your time.
Using the same application for every scholarship – Each scholarship has different values. Customise your essays.
Ignoring time zones – A deadline of 11:59pm GMT is 12:59am Nigerian time (or later during daylight savings). Submit early.
Real Example – A Different Pattern
Let me tell you about Ifeanyi from Owerri. He wasn't a student anymore — he had graduated three years ago with a Third Class in Civil Engineering from FUTO. Everyone said he was finished. No scholarship would touch him.
But Ifeanyi had a plan. He knew that some scholarships look at work experience more than grades. He got a job as a site supervisor for a small construction company in Owerri. He worked there for two years, learning everything he could. Then he applied for a DAAD scholarship to Germany for a master's in Construction Management.
He wrote in his personal statement: "My Third Class does not define me. What defines me is the four buildings I supervised from foundation to completion without a single structural failure."
He won. Not a full scholarship — a partial one covering 60% of his living costs. He worked part‑time in Germany to cover the rest. Today, Ifeanyi is a project manager for a mid‑sized construction firm in Berlin. He still has that Third Class degree. No one asks about it anymore.
Ifeanyi's story is different from the perfect‑grade narratives. He failed academically but succeeded practically. He used his weakness as a story of resilience.
Final Disclaimer & Your Next Step
Study Discovery Disclaimer – All information on this site is for general and educational purposes only. I am not connected to any government, university, or immigration office. Any decision you make based on this content is your personal responsibility. Always double‑check official sources before taking action.
How I write on this blog: Everything you read comes from my own real‑life experience (the wins, the mistakes), my growing expertise, and – I'll be honest – AI‑assisted research. I use AI to help me find and organise information faster. Still, I personally fact‑check every claim, rewrite every sentence in my own voice, and add my unique Nigerian perspective. No copy‑paste. No robot essays.
Your next step today: Pick one "ongoing" scholarship from this list — Chevening (if it's in season), DAAD, Turkiye Burslari, MEXT, or CSC. Open the official website. Check the deadline. If it's still open, spend 15 minutes reading the requirements. Don't apply yet — just understand what they want. Tomorrow, start gathering your documents.
You can do this. Many Nigerians before you have, and you will too. From my corner to yours – safe journey.
— Samson (founder, Study Discovery)
Thank you for sharing this
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