Reviewed: 27 September 2026. Nigerian students seeking a fully funded undergraduate scholarship for 2027 should focus on programmes that cover most or all major study costs and that are genuinely open to international applicants.
The most urgent opportunities right now include the 2027 Global Korea Scholarship (GKS-U), the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto, and the UBC International Scholars Program. Other major routes, such as Reach Oxford and Türkiye Scholarships, have later application windows but should be prepared for now.
For a broader list across undergraduate and postgraduate study, see AfricanBase’s Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerian Students guide.
Quick Comparison: Fully Funded Undergraduate Scholarships for Nigerians in 2027
| Scholarship | Country | Level | Main Funding | 2027 Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Korea Scholarship (GKS-U) | South Korea | Bachelor’s / Associate | Tuition, airfare, Korean language training, monthly allowance | 2027 guidelines released |
| Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship | Canada | Bachelor’s | Tuition, books, incidental fees, full residence support | School nomination deadline: 9 Oct 2026 |
| UBC International Scholars Program | Canada | Bachelor’s | Need-based comprehensive support depending on assessed financial need | Opens early Oct 2026; deadline 15 Nov 2026 |
| Reach Oxford Scholarship | UK | Bachelor’s | Course fees, living grant, one return airfare per year | 2027 scholarship details available Jan 2027 |
| Türkiye Scholarships | Türkiye | Bachelor’s | Tuition, stipend, accommodation, health insurance, language course, flight | Typical annual window: 10 Jan–20 Feb |
1. Global Korea Scholarship 2027 Undergraduate (GKS-U)
The Korean government released the official 2027 GKS Undergraduate guidelines on 9 September 2026. The programme supports international students at undergraduate level through both embassy and university tracks.
Official GKS benefits include:
- airfare;
- Korean language training fees;
- tuition;
- monthly allowance.
For bachelor’s applicants, the scholarship normally includes one year of Korean language training followed by the degree programme, subject to the official rules.
The general GKS framework states that undergraduate applicants should normally be under 25 in the applicable year, hold non-Korean nationality together with their parents, and meet the academic requirement. For the 2027 cycle, use the newly released guidelines rather than relying on older summaries.
Important: application deadlines differ by embassy and university track. Nigerian applicants should check the Korean Embassy route and the specific participating universities immediately because the 2027 cycle is already active.
Official 2027 GKS-U announcement
2. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship 2027
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto is one of the strongest undergraduate funding routes for international students.
For the September 2027 intake, the scholarship covers:
- tuition;
- books;
- incidental fees;
- full residence support for four years.
Applicants must be international students entering their first undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in September 2027.
The key 2027 deadlines are:
- 9 October 2026: school nomination deadline;
- 16 October 2026: University of Toronto admission application deadline for Pearson consideration;
- 6 November 2026: Pearson scholarship application and documentation deadline.
Students cannot nominate themselves. Your secondary school must nominate you first.
Official Lester B. Pearson Scholarship page
3. UBC International Scholars Program 2027
The University of British Columbia International Scholars Program is for high-achieving international students who demonstrate leadership, community contribution and significant financial need.
For September 2027 entry, UBC says applications will open in early October 2026. International applicants seeking consideration for the International Scholars Program must submit the required university and award applications by 15 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Applicants must generally:
- be international students requiring a Canadian study permit;
- enter UBC directly from an accredited secondary school;
- be applying for their first undergraduate degree;
- demonstrate significant financial need;
- have strong academic performance and leadership evidence.
The funding is assessed in relation to the student’s financial need, so applicants should not assume every award has an identical fixed value.
Official UBC International Scholars page
4. Reach Oxford Scholarship 2027
Reach Oxford is designed for students from low-income countries who cannot study for a degree in their own country for financial, political or educational reasons. Nigeria is among the countries eligible under the scheme’s country rules.
The scholarship covers:
- course fees;
- a grant for living costs;
- one return airfare per year.
It is available for most undergraduate subjects except medicine.
Oxford says applications for 2026 entry are closed and that full 2027 application details will be available in January 2027. The scholarship deadline for 2027 entry is 26 January 2027.
Students must first apply to Oxford and receive an offer before they can be considered for Reach Oxford.
Official Reach Oxford Scholarship page
5. Türkiye Scholarships 2027
Türkiye Scholarships supports international students at bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels.
The bachelor’s scholarship package includes:
- university and department placement;
- monthly stipend;
- tuition;
- one-year Turkish language course;
- accommodation;
- health insurance;
- one-off flight ticket at the beginning and completion of study.
The official programme states that bachelor’s applications are received annually between 10 January and 20 February through the Türkiye Scholarships application system.
Applicants should verify the exact 2027 call when it opens rather than assuming every detail from a previous cycle remains unchanged.
Official Türkiye Scholarships full-time programme page
What About the Brunei Government Scholarship?
The Government of Brunei Darussalam Scholarship is another major fully funded undergraduate route. The current official scholarship page still lists the 2026/2027 cycle, which covered tuition, return airfare, monthly allowances, accommodation and other benefits.
The 2027/2028 call has not yet been confirmed on the official page as of this review date. Nigerian students interested in Brunei should monitor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs scholarship page rather than applying through third-party forms.
Official Brunei Ministry of Foreign Affairs scholarship page
Which Scholarships Are Most Urgent Right Now?
As of 27 September 2026, the priority order is practical rather than a ranking of scholarship quality:
- Lester B. Pearson: school nomination deadline is 9 October 2026.
- GKS-U 2027: the official cycle has already been announced and deadlines vary by application route.
- UBC International Scholars: applications open in early October and close 15 November 2026.
- Reach Oxford: prepare your Oxford admission application now; scholarship application details follow in January.
- Türkiye Scholarships: prepare documents ahead of the January–February application window.
Documents to Prepare Now
Although requirements differ, Nigerian undergraduate applicants should begin preparing:
- international passport;
- WAEC/NECO or equivalent secondary-school results;
- school transcript where required;
- proof of current school status or graduation;
- recommendation or nomination documents;
- leadership and community-service evidence;
- personal statement or scholarship essays;
- financial documents for need-based scholarships;
- English-language evidence where required.
Do not obtain unnecessary paid documents before checking each programme’s official checklist.
How to Build Your 2027 Undergraduate Scholarship Plan
Use three categories:
- Apply now: programmes with active or imminent deadlines that you already qualify for.
- Prepare: programmes opening in the next few months.
- Monitor: scholarships whose 2027 call has not yet been officially released.
Use AfricanBase’s Scholarship Application Calendar to track dates and the scholarship shortlist framework to eliminate opportunities you do not actually qualify for.
Common Mistakes Nigerian Undergraduate Applicants Should Avoid
- Waiting until after a school nomination deadline to ask for nomination.
- Assuming “fully funded” means every personal expense is covered.
- Using unofficial scholarship forms shared through WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Applying to programmes whose age or academic requirements you do not meet.
- Submitting generic essays to different scholarships.
- Ignoring university admission deadlines while focusing only on scholarship deadlines.
- Using last year’s scholarship dates without checking the current official call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Nigerian student get a fully funded undergraduate scholarship abroad?
Yes. Programmes such as GKS-U, Lester B. Pearson, Reach Oxford and Türkiye Scholarships accept eligible international students, including Nigerians, subject to their current criteria.
Which fully funded undergraduate scholarship is open now for 2027?
The 2027 GKS undergraduate guidelines have already been released. Lester B. Pearson is also in its active nomination/application period, while UBC International Scholars opens in early October 2026.
Do I need JAMB for these scholarships?
Usually not as a scholarship requirement. Each foreign university or scholarship programme sets its own admission criteria. Your Nigerian secondary-school qualifications and other documents are assessed under the institution’s international admission rules.
Can I apply after starting university in Nigeria?
It depends on the scholarship. Some first-entry undergraduate scholarships, including Pearson and UBC International Scholars, have strict rules about applicants entering directly from secondary school or pursuing a first undergraduate degree. Check each programme carefully.
Are all these scholarships completely free to apply for?
The scholarship application itself may be free, but university admission systems can have separate fees unless a waiver applies. Always check the official university and scholarship pages.
Final Advice
For Nigerian students targeting undergraduate funding in 2027, the most important step is to act according to the real application calendar. Pearson and GKS require attention now; UBC follows closely; Oxford and Türkiye require preparation for later windows.
Do not rely on recycled “10 fully funded scholarships” lists. Build your shortlist from current official sources, verify every deadline, and apply only where you meet the eligibility rules.
