5. Oxford Clarendon Scholarships
The Clarendon Fund is one of Oxford University’s major graduate scholarship programmes.
It is open to applicants from around the world and supports eligible new master’s and DPhil students.
Clarendon scholarships cover course fees and provide a grant for living expenses during the period of fee liability. Oxford states that there are no restrictions based on nationality, ordinary residence or field of study for the main Clarendon scheme.
The university reports that more than 230 new Clarendon scholarships were awarded for 2025/26.
Do you submit a separate Clarendon application?
No.
For eligible applicants, the process is integrated into the Oxford graduate application.
You must apply for an eligible master’s or DPhil course by the relevant December or January deadline for that course. Eligible applicants are then automatically considered for Clarendon.
This is an important point because some students make the mistake of searching for a separate Clarendon scholarship application form.
There isn’t one for the main scheme.
6. Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals
Swedish Institute Scholarships
The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals is a fully funded master’s scholarship in Sweden.
Nigeria is among the countries whose citizens are eligible for this scholarship.
For the 2026/27 academic year, the application period ran from February 9 to February 25, 2026, so that particular round has already closed as of August 2026.
It is still worth including in a 2026 scholarship guide because students planning for future intakes can use the current requirements to prepare early.
What does the SI scholarship cover?
For the 2026/27 cycle, the scholarship included:
- Full tuition fees
- SEK 12,000 monthly living allowance
- A one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000 for eligible applicants
- Membership of the SI Network for Global Professionals
The scholarship does not cover everything. For example, SI states that it does not provide an insurance package or additional grants for family members and does not cover the Swedish university application fee.
Applicants from Nigeria and several other listed countries were required to demonstrate at least 3,000 hours of work experience before the relevant 2026 eligibility point, along with leadership experience.
This illustrates why applicants should always read the exact eligibility requirements instead of assuming that a scholarship advertised as “fully funded” is open to everyone.
Other Fully Funded Scholarship Opportunities to Monitor
The scholarships above are not the only options.
International students should also investigate:
- Government scholarships offered by individual countries
- University-funded master’s scholarships
- University-funded PhD studentships
- Research scholarships
- Commonwealth scholarships
- National scholarship programmes
- Faculty-specific awards
- Development-focused scholarships
- Joint university and government awards
For example, the Cambridge Trust maintains a scholarship database containing funding opportunities at undergraduate, master’s and PhD levels. Some awards are full-cost while others are partial.
The Japanese Government’s MEXT Scholarship is another major government-funded programme. Its official information shows that benefits can include tuition exemption, monthly allowances and round-trip travel expenses, depending on the scholarship route and programme.
The key is to distinguish between fully funded, full tuition, and partial funding.
What Do Fully Funded Scholarships Usually Cover?
There is no universal definition of “fully funded.”
Depending on the programme, a scholarship may provide some combination of:
| Expense | May be covered? |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Often |
| Monthly living allowance | Often |
| Airfare | Sometimes |
| Visa fees | Sometimes |
| Health insurance | Sometimes |
| Accommodation | Sometimes included through the living allowance |
| Books and study materials | Sometimes |
| Research expenses | Programme-dependent |
| Family expenses | Usually limited or excluded |
| University application fee | Often excluded |
The safest approach is to examine the scholarship’s official funding terms before assuming that a particular expense will be paid.
For example, the Swedish Institute explicitly lists expenses that are not covered by its scholarship, while Chevening provides a specific list of benefits under its full award.
Who Can Apply for Fully Funded Scholarships?
There is no single profile that qualifies for every scholarship.
Eligibility can depend on:
- Nationality
- Age
- Academic qualification
- Grade or GPA
- Degree level
- Field of study
- Professional experience
- Leadership experience
- Research experience
- English-language requirements
- Admission to a specific university
- Admission to a specific programme
- Career objectives
- Country of residence
For example, Chevening is primarily aimed at postgraduate students pursuing eligible master’s degrees, while Erasmus Mundus focuses on joint master’s programmes. Rhodes supports postgraduate study at Oxford, while DAAD operates numerous programmes with different eligibility rules.
This is why applying randomly to dozens of scholarships is usually less effective than identifying scholarships that actually match your profile.
Documents You Should Prepare Before Scholarship Applications Open
Many scholarship applications require some combination of:
- International passport or national identification
- Academic certificates
- Academic transcripts
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement of purpose or personal statement
- Scholarship essays
- Research proposal for research-based programmes
- Recommendation letters
- Proof of employment or work experience
- Leadership evidence
- English-language test results where required
- University admission or application information
- Proof of nationality
Do not wait for an application portal to open before gathering everything.
Academic transcripts and recommendation letters can take time to obtain, particularly if you attended a university several years ago.
How to Apply for Fully Funded Scholarships in 2026
A better scholarship strategy is systematic rather than random.
Step 1: Identify your degree level
Determine whether you are looking for:
- Undergraduate scholarships
- Master’s scholarships
- PhD scholarships
- Research funding
- Postdoctoral opportunities
This immediately eliminates many irrelevant programmes.
Step 2: Check your nationality
Some scholarships are genuinely global, while others are restricted to specific countries or regions.
For example, the Swedish Institute lists 34 eligible countries for its Global Professionals scholarship, including Nigeria. (Sveriges Ingenjörer)
Step 3: Choose your study destination
Decide which countries offer programmes relevant to your career goals.
Do not select a scholarship solely because it is fully funded. The university, degree, curriculum and long-term value of the programme matter too.
Step 4: Check the official scholarship website
This is one of the most important steps.
If you find a scholarship on a Facebook page, blog or WhatsApp group, use that information as a lead rather than as the final authority.
Go to the official scholarship provider and verify:
- Deadline
- Eligibility
- Funding
- Required documents
- Application method
- Eligible countries
- Degree programmes
- Selection process
Step 5: Build a scholarship calendar
Create a simple spreadsheet containing:
| Scholarship | Country | Degree | Opens | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening | UK | Master’s | Aug 4, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 | Open |
| Rhodes West Africa | UK | Postgraduate | Jun 1, 2026 | Aug 27, 2026 | Open |
| Erasmus Mundus | Europe | Master’s | Varies | Usually Oct–Jan | Upcoming |
| DAAD | Germany | Master’s/PhD | Varies | Varies | Upcoming |
| Oxford Clarendon | UK | Master’s/DPhil | University admissions cycle | Dec/Jan course deadline | Upcoming |
| SI Global Professionals | Sweden | Master’s | Feb 2026 | Feb 25, 2026 | Closed for 2026/27 |
The dates above reflect the official information available at the time of writing and should be rechecked before publication or application.
Common Mistakes Scholarship Applicants Make
Applying without checking eligibility
A scholarship can be fully funded and still be completely unsuitable for you.
Check nationality, age, degree level, academic requirements and work experience before investing time in an application.
Using outdated information
Scholarship websites and social media posts can remain online long after a deadline has passed.
A 2024 scholarship article does not automatically provide accurate information for 2026.
Assuming every scholarship covers everything
Some awards cover tuition and provide a stipend but do not cover airfare, visa fees, family expenses or application fees.
Read the funding terms.
Applying to the wrong programme
Some scholarships are attached to specific master’s programmes or universities.
Erasmus Mundus, for example, consists of individual joint master’s programmes with their own requirements and application procedures. (Erasmus+)
Waiting until the deadline
A strong scholarship application requires more than completing an online form.
You may need to rewrite essays several times, obtain references, collect transcripts and prepare supporting evidence.
