Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for Nigerians: How to Apply via FSB
- Deadline
- October 20, 2026
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Institution
- UK universities (via the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission)
- Value
- Fully funded — tuition, £1,712/month stipend (£2,000 in London), return flights and study travel grant
- Level
- phd
- Eligibility
- International Students
- Field
- Any/All fields of study
About
Quick answer: Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (least developed countries & vulnerable states route) fully fund three years of full-time PhD study at a UK university — tuition, a £1,712 monthly stipend (£2,000 at London universities) and flights. Nigeria is on the eligible-country list, but you cannot apply to the CSC directly: Nigerians are nominated through the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) of the Federal Ministry of Education.
For study starting September/October 2027, the CSC window opens 8 September 2026 and closes 16:00 UK time on 20 October 2026. The FSB has not yet published its own advert for this cycle — its screening usually runs September–October with interviews in Abuja. Watch education.gov.ng for the FSB call.
Eligibility
- Nigerian citizen, resident in Nigeria.
- Nominated by the Federal Scholarship Board — no direct applications to the CSC.
- First degree of at least Second Class Lower; NYSC discharge or exemption certificate.
- Full-time PhD study only. Admission offers from UK universities (you can list up to three) plus a supporting statement from a prospective supervisor strengthen your application — start contacting supervisors now.
Additional Information
How to apply: (1) secure UK admission offers early; (2) when the FSB advert appears on education.gov.ng, complete the domestic screening; (3) submit the CSC online application before 20 October 2026. Application is free at every stage — nobody should charge you. ⚠️ The old portal domain fsbn.com.ng no longer belongs to the Federal Scholarship Board — see our FSB portal status page before you type your details anywhere. More UK options: UK scholarships for Nigerian students.