We list 4 masters Scholarships Open to Nigerian Students in Germany, with the deadline, study level and eligibility of each one taken from the award's own terms. 3 of them are fully funded. Awards with a known closing date are listed soonest first.
Written from the 4 awards on this page — every figure below is counted from what the awards themselves state. 5 min read.
This page collects 4 masters scholarships in Germany that are open to Nigerian students. Every award here is at masters level, every one is in Germany, and every one accepts Nigerian applicants. Three of the four are labelled fully funded by the provider; one does not state its funding either way, so read that award's own page before you build a budget around it.
The providers are a mix of political foundations and a private university: The Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Neufert-Foundation and Constructor University. Each runs its own selection, its own paperwork and its own calendar. There is no single German application you can send to all four.
All 4 awards on this page are open to Nigerian students. One names Nigeria or the region in its eligibility text; the other 3 carry no nationality restriction at all. None of the four leaves eligibility unstated, which means you can read the terms on each award page and know where you stand before you spend money on a courier.
The qualification that leads into this level is a first degree or an HND — B.Sc, B.A, B.Eng, LLB, MBBS or HND. These are taught and research masters, and awards usually state a minimum class of degree. Where an award asks for an "upper second", that corresponds to Second Class Upper (2:1) on a Nigerian transcript. Whether an HND is accepted is decided by each university, not by this page, so check the course page as well as the scholarship page.
Germany is a popular destination for Nigerian students. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics recorded 3,717 Nigerian students in Germany in 2024, placing Nigeria fourth among source countries. That figure describes the student population, not your chances — selection is made award by award.
Of the 4 awards, 3 are described as fully funded in their own text. The fourth does not label its funding, and this page will not guess on its behalf.
When awards spell out what they cover, the benefits named are:
These counts reflect what the awards say in writing. A benefit that is not named is not promised, so treat each line as something to confirm on the award page rather than assume. If an award covers tuition but says nothing about living costs, you are still responsible for rent, food, transport and the semester contribution that German universities charge.
One award on this page states a number of places: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Scholarships 2026 lists up to 40 awards. The other three do not publish an awards count here.
Two of these providers are political foundations with a stated civic or democratic mission. That usually shows up in the application as an essay about your background, your commitments and what you intend to do afterwards, not just your grades. Read the foundation's own description of what it funds before you write.
One award on this page states a requirement for letters of recommendation in its own text. That does not mean the others ignore referees — it means only one says so in the material collected here. Assume you will need referees for all of them and approach your lecturers early, because Nigerian academics are asked constantly and a rushed reference reads like one.
Expect the standard German scholarship file: transcripts, degree certificate, a CV, a statement of purpose, and proof of English or German proficiency where the course requires it. Some German programmes waive the English test if your previous degree was taught in English, but that decision belongs to the university, so confirm it with the admissions office rather than assuming.
Budget for the paperwork itself. Transcripts from Nigerian universities, courier fees and certified copies cost real money, and you may be sending them to more than one address. Start the transcript request before you start the essay.
The dates on this page are not uniform. One award has a date attached, 1 is still open, 3 are undated in the listing, and 1 recurs. May is the busiest month among the awards here, with 1 deadline falling in it.
The award closing soonest is Neufert-Foundation Scholarships 2026-2027, which closes on 15 May. That is 219 days away, which is enough time to request transcripts, sit an English test if you need one, and get two referees to write properly — but only if you start now.
Beyond that, the calendar spreads out. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung takes masters applications by 30 April 2026 for the summer semester. Heinrich Böll has two dates, 01 September 2026 and 01 March 2027, which reflects a recurring cycle rather than a single window. Constructor University asks you to see the details on its own page.
Note that German intakes run twice a year in many cases, and a scholarship deadline can fall months before the university application deadline — or after it. Work backwards from the scholarship date, not from the semester start.
Four awards is a short list, and short lists reward care over volume.
If you are also considering study at another level, the same providers appear elsewhere on this site — the brief behind this page shows bachelors, PhD, high school and short course awards in Germany as well. A foundation that rejects a masters application is not closing the door on you permanently, but each award has its own rules about reapplying, so read them.
Open the Neufert award first, since it closes soonest, and check whether your degree and your intended course fit. Then read the Heinrich Böll and Friedrich Ebert pages together, because both are fully funded foundation awards and you will likely reuse most of the same material for each. Finish with Constructor University, where the deadline sits on the detail page.
Keep a single folder with your transcript, certificate, CV, statement and referee contacts. Most of the work is shared across applications; only the essays and the forms change. That is how four applications become manageable rather than four separate projects.
Germany has become one of the most popular study destinations for Nigerian students because of its world-class universities, affordable living costs, and high-quality education system. Every year, hundreds of international students apply to German universities for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs in fields such as engineering, medicine, business, social sciences, and IT. To make education more accessible, several fully funded scholarships in Germany for international students 2026–2027 are now available, covering tuition fees, monthly stipends, accommodation, health insurance, and travel costs.
Whether you want to pursue higher studies at top institutions like the Technical University of Munich, Heidelberg University, or RWTH Aachen, or enroll in specialized research programs, these scholarships provide financial support and open doors to international career opportunities. Many of these scholarships are offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), government organizations, and top universities themselves, ensuring that talented international students can achieve their academic goals without financial burden.
In this guide, you will find a complete list of the best scholarships in Germany for international students 2026–2027, along with details about benefits, eligibility criteria, and appli...
*UNESCO Institute for Statistics, inbound internationally mobile students from Nigeria, 2024.
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