The Federal Government has commenced the selection process for the 2027/2028 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, with more than 2,000 Nigerian applicants participating in nomination interviews for postgraduate study opportunities in the United Kingdom.
The interviews began in Abuja on Monday, November 2, and are scheduled to run until November 5, 2026. The exercise is part of the government's process of selecting qualified Nigerian candidates for nomination to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK.
The Federal Ministry of Education disclosed that more than 2,000 applications were received through its Electronic Application System, reflecting growing interest among Nigerian graduates in international postgraduate education.
According to the ministry, the nomination exercise involves a face-to-face assessment by a national panel, which will evaluate shortlisted candidates before recommending successful applicants for further consideration.
The interviews are being conducted across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said the scholarship programme was an investment in developing skilled professionals who could contribute to Nigeria's growth.
She identified academic merit, the quality of proposed study plans and the potential development impact of applicants' chosen programmes as the major selection criteria.
The Director of the Department of Scholarship Awards, Khadijat Liman, said the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission had invited Nigeria to nominate qualified candidates for the 2027/2028 academic session.
She added that 56 Nigerian Commonwealth Master's and PhD scholars began their academic programmes in the United Kingdom in September 2026.
Who was eligible for the scholarship?
The 2027/2028 application exercise covered Nigerian graduates seeking a one-year taught Master's degree or doctoral studies of up to three years in the UK.
The requirements included:
Master's applicants must possess a first degree with at least Second Class Upper Division.
PhD applicants must have a relevant Master's degree and at least Second Class Lower Division in their first degree.
Applicants must provide evidence of participation in the National Youth Service Corps.
Candidates must have secured admission into at least two UK institutions.
PhD applicants must provide a supporting statement from a prospective supervisor at their chosen UK institution.
Applicants were also expected to demonstrate how their proposed courses could contribute to Nigeria's development priorities, including education, healthcare, science and technology, engineering, agriculture, governance and environmental sustainability.
Is the application still open?
No. The application deadline for the 2027/2028 Nigerian nomination exercise was October 20, 2026. The government has now moved to the interview and selection stage.
Consequently, Nigerians who did not submit applications before the deadline cannot join this particular nomination exercise through a new application.
Interested graduates can monitor announcements from the Federal Ministry of Education and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for information about future scholarship opportunities.
The Commonwealth Scholarship programme supports postgraduate education, research and professional development across member countries, with the aim of building expertise that can contribute to sustainable development.