NLNG’s Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme is one of the most generous corporate-funded postgraduate routes in Nigeria, funding a full year of UK master’s study, but it is also one of the smallest, and who exactly can apply changes from one edition to the next in a way most guides gloss over.
Current status:
- The most recent cycle was a Special Edition marking NLNG’s 35th year of incorporation, and eligibility was restricted to indigenes of NLNG’s Host Communities in Rivers State rather than open nationally, with a submission deadline of 2 December for the following September’s intake
- The standard, nationwide edition of PGSS has historically funded roughly ten scholars per cycle, making it one of the most competitive awards available to Nigerian graduates regardless of which edition is running
- Requirements typically include a First Class or Second Class Upper degree from a Nigerian public university, completed NYSC, an IELTS score of at least 8.0, and an age limit of 30 at the time of application
That IELTS threshold is unusually high, well above what most UK universities themselves require, and NLNG uses it deliberately to narrow the field before academics are even assessed. You will also need a provisional admission letter from a recognised UK university in hand before you apply, since it is a required upload rather than something you can add later, so start your own university application months ahead of the NLNG advert.
Because eligibility criteria shift with each announcement rather than following a fixed template, check the current NLNG advert on the NLNG corporate site for who can apply before you invest time preparing documents. NLNG also runs an undergraduate scheme, covered in NLNG UGSS: First-Year Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme.