Picture a Nigerian graduate with a second class upper degree, a bookmarked list of twelve "fully funded" scholarships, and no idea which to apply for. She is not short of options. She is short of a way to rank them. This worksheet gives you that, so you pick a course and country on evidence instead of on whichever advert looked best on Instagram.
Work through it with a pen or a spreadsheet. It takes about two hours, and it can save you months of applications that were never going to fit.
Start with the outcome, not the country
Most people choose a country first ("I want the UK") and then hunt for a course. That order causes trouble. The course decides your career path, your funding options and often your visa rules. The country is the delivery method.
Write one sentence: "After this degree I want to be ______ within ______ years, in ______ (home country, abroad, either)." For example: "a public health data analyst within three years, in Nigeria or remotely." That sentence filters out half your list immediately.
Be honest about the "in ______" part. If you plan to return home, a degree from a university your local employers recognise matters more than a famous name abroad. If you plan to stay abroad, post-study work rules matter a great deal, and those change, so check the government's immigration site before you commit.
Step 1: Set your non-negotiables
Before comparing anything, list the limits you cannot move. Typical ones:
- Money you can actually access. Even with a scholarship, you may need to pay deposits, application fees, flights and set-up costs before the first payment arrives.
- Family situation. Can dependants come with you? Rules differ by country and by course level, so confirm on the official immigration page.
- Language. Can you study in English only, or will you accept a course taught in another language?
- Length. A one-year master's and a two-year master's differ in cost, time away from income and often in funding.
- Timing. Some courses start in September, others in January or February. Your readiness may fit one intake only.
Step 2: Build a shortlist of five course-and-country pairs
Aim for five, not twelve. Include at least one "stretch" choice, one "safe" choice and one at a university in a country you had not considered. Many Nigerian applicants only look at the UK, US, Canada and Germany, and so compete with the largest crowds.
For each pair, collect these facts from the university and funder pages themselves, not from blogs or agents:
- Course title, length and start date
- Entry requirements, including minimum degree class and whether your degree subject is accepted
- Language test requirement and any waiver rules
- Application deadline for the course and a separate one for funding, if any
- What funding exists for international students, and what it covers
- Whether the university states post-study work or residence options
Funding deadlines often fall months before course deadlines. Our scholarship deadlines roundup shows how early some close.
Step 3: Score each pair with a simple table
Give each criterion a weight from 1 to 3 (how much it matters to you), then score each pair from 1 to 5. Multiply and add up. Here is a hypothetical example for one applicant.
| Criterion (weight) | Pair A: UK, one-year MSc | Pair B: Germany, two-year MSc | Pair C: South Africa, MSc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding chance (3) | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Fit with career goal (3) | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Total cost to me (3) | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Entry requirements I meet (2) | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Work rights after study (2) | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Language and test hurdle (1) | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Weighted total | 6+15+6+8+8+3 = 46 | 12+12+12+6+6+2 = 50 | 9+9+12+10+4+5 = 49 |
The numbers are made up, but the lesson is real. The "dream" option (A) scored best on fit and lost on funding and cost. Germany and South Africa were close, so the applicant should now dig into details on those two before deciding. A score gap under five points is a tie; use it as a prompt to research, not as a verdict.
Step 4: Test the funding claim
"Fully funded" means different things. Read the official page and write down exactly what is covered:
- Tuition only, or tuition plus living allowance?
- Flights, visa fees and health cover included or not?
- Is the award for the full course or only the first year?
- Is it open to your nationality and your degree subject?
Our guide on choosing between Commonwealth scholarship schemes shows how one funder can have several routes with different rules. Also see whether a funder works through specific universities, as explained in African or Overseas Mastercard Foundation Partner University?
Large, competitive awards usually look for more than grades. The Gates Cambridge programme, for instance, describes itself on its official site as a scholarship for outstanding postgraduate students at the University of Cambridge who show potential for social leadership and a desire to improve the lives of others. If a funder states criteria like that, your course choice should connect to a story about what you will do with the degree. Always read the funder's current eligibility and deadline pages directly, because both change between rounds.
Step 5: Do a reality check on cost of living and power
A funded place can still leave gaps. Ask:
- What is the university's own estimate of monthly living costs, and does the stipend cover it?
- Will you need to show funds for your visa, and in what form?
- What will you need up front: deposit, accommodation, insurance, flights, medical tests?
- Can you work part-time on your visa, and how many hours? Treat this as a bonus, never as the plan.
Check the exchange rate on the day you do the sums, since the naira moves. Add a buffer of about 10 to 15 percent to anything you convert.
Common mistakes
- Choosing by ranking alone. A top-ranked university with no funding for you is less useful than a good one that pays.
- Ignoring the degree-class cutoff. If a course asks for a second class upper and you have a second class lower, find out whether exceptions exist, or move on early.
- Trusting agents' shortlists. Agents may be paid by the universities they recommend. Verify everything on the university site, and read our piece on fake scholarship agents if anyone asks for payment to "secure" an award.
- Applying to everything. Ten rushed applications lose to four careful ones. Each needs its own statement and referees who know your target.
- Skipping the course content. Read the module list. A course called "Data Science" at one school may be mostly statistics and at another mostly software.
How the advice shifts for different applicants
Recent graduate, no work experience: prioritise courses with clear entry routes and funding for fresh graduates, and look at taught master's rather than research roles.
Working professional: check whether the funder prefers work experience, and plan how to ask your employer for leave or a reference.
Applicants in Ghana, Kenya or South Africa: some funders list eligible countries, so a scheme open to Nigerians may not be open to you, and the reverse. Check the nationality line first.
Aiming for a PhD later: pick a master's with a dissertation, and see our PhD funding basics.
Frequently asked questions
How many programmes should I apply to?
Three to six is workable for most people. Fewer than three is risky; more than six usually weakens the quality of each application.
Should I choose a country with easier visas?
Visa rules matter, but they change often. Use them as one factor and read the official government page before you apply, not a social media summary.
Is a cheaper country worth it if the course is slightly weaker?
Often yes, if the degree is accredited and respected in the field you want. Ask lecturers or professionals in that field what they think of the programme.
What if my best-fit course has no funding?
Look for external funders, university-specific awards and employer sponsorship. If none exists, consider a related course where funding does.
Your next step
Today, write your one-sentence goal and list five course-and-country pairs. Tomorrow, open each university's official page and fill in the six facts from Step 2. By the weekend you will have a scored table and a real shortlist.
Sources
Details checked against the official sources above on 5 November 2026. Things change, so confirm on the official site before you act.
Scholarship details, deadlines and eligibility can change. Always confirm on the official website before applying, and never pay anyone who promises to "guarantee" a scholarship.