How to secure full scholarship abroad

How to Secure Fully Funded Scholarship Abroad

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Many people have asked me how they could secure a fully funded scholarship abroad. This is possible. However, there is no single route to embark on such journey. I am currently on a fully funded scholarship for my graduate program in the United States; in that case, I have a practical experience about it. Having seek for full funding for over 8 years, whatever you want to read in this blog is from real life experience.

Education is expensive anywhere in the world. Traveling from one country to another for the sake of education is not a part on the back. However, anyone can acquire quality education whether from a priviledge background or not. The possibility of this reality is scholarship.

Types of Funded Scholarship

There are two types of scholarship. Fully funded scholarship and partial funded scholarship.

Fully Funded Scholarship

This is a type of scholarship  that covers most of the fees such as tuition, insurance and living expenses. University can offer this kind of scholarship or other forms of organizations like Mastercard. The condition given in this kind of scholarship is not universal. Some scholarships require the recipients to just focus on studies without doing any form of work; while others require students to take academic and administrative roles. The work they do cover for their funding. This academic role could be graduate teaching assistant, graduate research assistant or graduate fellowship. Each university has their expectations and requirements. However, students must be in good academic standing to secure and maintain these fundings. Some are contigent to their academic strength.

Partial Funded Scholarship

This is a kind of scholarship where students are offered some percentage of financial support to assist in payment of certain academic fee. Partial funding sometimes can be given to students based on the availability of funding by the department at the time.  It is partial because it does not cover for everything.

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How to Get Admission and Fully Funded Scholarship

You are expected to have a good grade before applying for admission and to be considered for any form of funding. Each university and program have their requirements and the kind of grade they require you have before they offer you admission or consider you for funding. At least 2.1 CGPA in Nigeria scale is required in most universities in the United States and Canada. Of course there are schools that consider 2.2 or even third class for admission. However, the chances of securing scholarship with those grades are almost impossible. The best bet is to have good result. If you are still an undergraduate in Nigeria and wish to study abroad, make sure you work hard and come out with a nice result.

Note also that you must not have a master’s degree before you embark on PhD in the United States. With your bachelor’s degree, you can study straight to five years for your PhD and have a master’s on the way. You must not also study the same program you studied in your undergraduate years. You may decide to diversify. What matters is how you are able to convince the admissions committee that you could do the kind of research needed in the program you are applying to.

Now you are sure and convince yourself that you can do it and are qualified for such pursuit, you are required to have an article or part of your undergraduate project or term paper. That will be used to judge your academic research strength. You will write statement of purpose and explain why you want to study the course. In your statement, you must state your drive, motivation and why you feel the program will help your fiture goal. Also make sure that you mention your background and tell stories about yourself. American universities like stories. Tell them where you are coming from, where you are, where you want to be and how you feel that their program will help you get there. How will it support your academic and professional career goals?

When you have your writing sample and statement of purpose, make sure you have your academic transcript from your former university. Scan it. You will be using it to apply for schools. Make sure you have your passport (International passport) and it is valid. While 6 month validation by the time you will be admitted may be seen as minimum requirement, don’t wait until your passport is about to expire before you renew it. Always have a passport with years ahead of it.

Note also, that before you start writing the sample and statement of purpose, scroll through the website of each university you want to study abroad. Be patient and go through the programs they offer. When you finally select one, try to see their requirements. Ask yourself, what are their requirements? When you see their requirements, try to meet them. Make sure you gather all the necessary documents before you start application.

Some program requires you find a professor who will be your potential advisor, some don’t require such. In my experience, I applied to Master’s in Applied Linguistics at the University of Saskachewan in 2020. I didn’t read the clauses where it states you must find a supervisor willing to supervise you before application. I went ahead to apply and spent $90 application fee then, only to be denied admission on the basis of not getting a supervisor before application.

Don’t make this mistake like me. Learn from my experience. There are universities and programs that do not require potential supervisors. You can go ahead and apply to those schools. I remember when I was admitted in Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada in the same 2020, I didn’t have any potential supervisor but was granted admission. It was the same course I was denied at the University of Saskechewan, Canada, but this time, it was Applied Linguistics and Discourse Analysis with specialization in African Studies — more broad. You understand the point now? What a school may demand might be different from what another school may demand. It is your sole responsibility to figure this out.

When you are writing to potential supervisors, ask them if they have funding. Some may not have funding, some may have. If they have funding, they will tell you. If they don’t have funding, they will tell you. I don’t advise anyone to go to any university abroad without funding especially when they have no financial backup or sponsors. It doesn’t worth the stress. But if you have the money and sponsors, why not?

The easiest way to check whether the program you have interest in has funding or not is to ask. Ask. Go to the program webpage or website and check the program cordinator. Email them and express your interest in the program. Then ask if they have funding. The answer will inform your decision.

Additionally, write to professors who share the same research interest areas as you. Attach with the email your CV and academic  transcript from your previous institution. Take this as a full-time job and write to as many professors from many universities as possible. It is called cold mail. Some may reply you. Some may not. A professor who is seeking for students will definitely pick interest. You can be offered admission and funding if there is availability.

General Requirenments for Admission and Scholarships

  • Writing Sample
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Academic CV
  • Academic Transcript
  • Three (two) recommendation letters from your previous professors
  • English Proficieny  (TOEFL, IELT, etc)
  • Standard exams (SAT, GMAT, GRE, etc)

These requirements are not absolute for all the programs. There are some programs that waive standard tests or English proficiency. However, get an English proficiency waiver letter from your university. Not all the universities will accept it, but some will surely accept it.

Read this article gently and over and over, as you are about to embark on this journey. Remember, this is an investment into your future. See it as a full-time job. As you read and prepare your mind, bookmark this website for more nuggets on study abroad and scholarship as we will be dropping contents and scholarship opportunities all over the world.

Thank you for reading!

I paused!

112 thoughts on “How to Secure Fully Funded Scholarship Abroad”

    • Doing all these things without asking us to pay tithes.

      Honestly, Maazi you are the most resourceful person that am following on this app, walahi?

      Thank you, thank you, and thank you a million times. God bless you.

      Reply

  4. This is very educative, and grateful to have read this article 🙏. Thanks, I hope secure a fully funded scholarship abroad soon.

    Reply

  13. This has been insightful. Thank you very much for this and looking forward to other articles like this.

    Reply

  16. I have been looking for this kind of opportunity, and here it is, thank you for creating this kind of opportunity.
    I am impressed! Thank you Maazi Ogbonnaya, I believe,it will favour me.

    Reply

  28. First of all, thank you for sharing this valuable guide

    I sincerely appreciate you for generously sharing your personal journey and practical insights on how to secure a fully funded scholarship abroad. Your transparency, especially in highlighting both your successes and mistakes, makes this guide not only informative but deeply relatable and encouraging.

    For many aspiring students—especially those from underprivileged backgrounds—this kind of firsthand information is a beacon of hope. You’ve demystified the process, outlined the key requirements, and offered step-by-step direction that can make a world of difference for someone unsure of where to begin.

    Thank you once again for turning your experience into a roadmap for others. This is more than just a blog post—it’s an investment in other people’s dreams. May your journey continue to inspire and may your platform keep reaching those who need it most.

    Warm regards,
    Emmanuel Christopher Ekwe.

    Reply

  36. Thank you for the time you took in detailing this process. I would like to ask if someone with a HND background can get fully or partially funded masters in any school in US or Canada

    Reply

  43. God bless you Sir.
    I’m truly informed.
    I’m Joshua Moses, and a graduate in banking and finance from a prestigious university of calabar, calabar here in Nigeria.

    Once again, God bless your heart Sir.

    Reply

  50. Thank you so much maazi for this wonderful exposure.
    Please sir, ii graduated from high school in 2023; I’ve not entered tertiary institution yet.
    But basically wrote jamb exam this –still waiting for my admission.
    But the desire to study abroad has been my dream from time immemorial.
    So, I want to know if there is any scholarship program that would consider me to study in any of the abroad universities sir with my o’ level certificate at hand, even when I’ve written jamb already.

    I would be glad if inquiry is looked into.
    Thank you so much maazi, as I look forward to hearing from you.

    Reply

  57. Thanks Maazi, this was really insightful. I have written to three professors lately but no reply yet, I’ll keep trying until I start getting some headways

    Reply

  59. Good morning Mazi, hope you’re doing good today. Please can it be possible to gain scholarships with HND 3.0 without passing through evaluation?

    Reply

  63. Thanks for these insights Maazi. I am seriously worried about funding freeze by the US govt. this period. Do you think it will be lifted anytime soon?

    Reply

  65. Thank you Maazi for this information.
    By the grace ofGod,I will surely make it through you.
    Thanks alot sir.

    Reply

  67. I’m grateful Maazi for this opportunity. Meanwhile for someone that have HND and PGD do I still need to provide transcript for both PGD and HND?

    Reply

  69. This is Amazing
    Thank you sir for inspiring me and educating me on this. I have HOPE now
    I still have a question to ask.
    Can a HND graduate also apply for this when the time comes. Or is it only for BSc graduates

    Reply

  71. I’m grateful for this,I calm down to read from beginning to the end and already fixing my mistakes from my previous attempt
    God bless you abundantly ezigbo m

    Reply

  73. Thanks for all you do here for us.it was insightful hopefully we’ll get opportunities here. Thank you so much Mazi. God bless you🙏

    Reply

  74. Very detailed and helpful, thank you very much. I look forward to seeing more posts from you, God bless you always .

    Reply

  80. Good morning Maazi Ogbonnaya.
    I crown 👑 you Maazi Ekwu-Eme.
    You promised to do this and now you have done it.

    Thank you Sir, this is very thoughtful of you sir.

    I’m very much interested in becoming one among the greatest teachers of our time, your story has inspired me a lot, and I’m very optimistic that you will help a lot of us here through this website. More grace to your elbow Sir.

    Reply

  84. Good one from Maazi Ogbonnaya who has become a beacon of hope to many. Thank You for this and God bless You.

    Reply
  88. Pingback: Cold Mail: How to Get Prospective Professors to have Interest in your Research and Offer you Admission and Funding -

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