Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) – Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) — Nigeria Scholarship

Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) – Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA)

1. Scope & Duration

Scope: International undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in partner countries that maintain bilateral educational agreements with Nigeria (e.g., Russia, China, Hungary, Morocco, Cuba).
Duration: Full length of the degree program (3 to 6 years, depending on field and required language preparatory year).

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Undergraduate: Must be a Nigerian citizen, aged 17–20 years, with WAEC/NECO results featuring A or B grades in core subjects. Certificates must not be older than 2 years.
Postgraduate: Must hold a First Class or Upper Second Class (2:1) degree. Must have completed NYSC service or obtained an exemption certificate. Age limit is typically under 35 years for Master's and 40 for PhD.

3. Financial Benefits & Purpose

Partner Country Contribution: Free tuition and basic university housing.
Nigerian Government Supplement: Monthly supplement allowance, warm clothing allowance, and health insurance grant paid by the Federal Ministry of Education.

4. Timing & Fund Disbursement

Application Window: Opens annually between November and January.
Selection Announcement: Computer-Based Tests (CBT) and interviews occur between February and April; final lists are released mid-year.
Disbursement: The foreign government manages tuition directly. Nigerian supplement funds are disbursed periodically in tranches (quarterly or bi-annually) through foreign missions/embassies.

The Nigerian Federal Government pays BEA (Bilateral Education Agreement) scholars a yearly allowance consisting of:

$200 annually for health insurance

$500 annually for medicals

$500 monthly stipend for nutrition, books, equipment, and transport

In addition, the host country covers 100% of the tuition and provides housing/accommodation.

(Note: In domestic Federal Scholarship Board awards tenable within Nigeria, undergraduate students receive ₦250,000 annually, postgraduate students receive ₦300,000 annually, and HND/NCE students receive ₦150,000 annually, whereas the foreign BEA scheme provides the dollar-based foreign allowances detailed above.

The Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) application portal typically opens between April and June each year (though some cycles have historically opened around December, such as the 2025/2026 cycle, which ran from December 2024 to January 2025)

How to Apply

Visit the Official Portal: Go to the Federal Ministry of Education Scholarship Portal or the Federal Scholarships Board (FSB) Official Website.

Create an Account / Profile: Register your profile on the portal and select the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship category.

Fill out the Application Form: Provide all required personal, educational, and contact details accurately. Ensure details match your official certificates.

Upload Required Documents:

Valid National Identification Number (NIN)
Academic certificates and transcripts (SSCE, degree certificates for postgraduates)
Data page of a valid international passport
State of origin / Indigene certificate
Birth certificate

Submit Online: Complete and submit the application form before the official deadline. Note that the application process is completely free of charge.

Print Acknowledgement Slip: Print your completed application and acknowledgement slips for future reference if you get selected for interviews or nominations.

Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) – Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA)