Nigeria
Study at a top 50 global university known for world-leading research and industry connections.
- A long history of welcoming students from Africa in one of the UK’s most vibrant cities.
- Generous Global Futures Scholarships with awards of up to £19,000 a year.
- Award-winning careers support at the most targeted university by the UK’s top employers (High Fliers Report, 2026).
Welcome
A university with a strong international community
With academic roots stretching back to 1824 and claims to 26 Nobel prizes The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø is one of the world’s leading institutions. This is confirmed in numerous rankings, including the QS World University Rankings 2027, which places us 40th in the world and 8th in the UK.
Almost 14,500 of our 44,000+ students come from outside the EU – one of the largest international communities of any UK university.
We have a long history of welcoming students from Sub-Saharan Africa and there are over 400 students from the region currently studying at the University.
Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø
The single-site campus is at the heart of the city of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø. Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø is UK’s most popular student city – a buzzing and modern metropolis and an incredibly vibrant, cosmopolitan, friendly place to live and study. Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø has one of the most diverse populations in the UK with more than 200 languages spoken.
It is budget-friendly for international students as rent tends to be more reasonable than in many other locations. The many amenities are within walking distance of the campus with most of the shops, theatres, cafes and restaurants a short walk away.
Employability
We're the most targeted university by the UK's top graduate employers ().
Our Careers Service placed second for Careers and Employability at the StudentCrowd University Awards 2022, based entirely on verified reviews from students.
World-leading research
We are recognised as a global powerhouse of research, with 93% of the University’s research activity assessed as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
World rankings
Using different methodologies, international rankings typically compare universities from across the globe for their research performance and academic reputation.
| League table | World | Europe | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 16 | 8 | |
| 9 | |||
| 46 | 13 | 6 | |
| 56 | 8 | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 9 | 6 | 4 |
Video: student stories
My experience in Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø
Watch this film to hear from one of our Nigerian students as she describes the quality of a Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø degree and the varied opportunities available at the university and in the city.
Entry requirements
General requirements
Due to differences in the Nigerian and UK education systems, applicants who have completed the WASSCE will need to successfully complete a University-recognised foundation programme before joining an undergraduate course.
Applicants to Faculty of Science and Engineering
Students with high grades in the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) (including Mathematics and Physics) would be considered for the University’s .
Read details of the grade requirements on our .
Biosciences
Applications for the University’s Biosciences with a foundation year programme would be considered following completion of the SSCE on a case by case basis.
Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Nursing and Psychology
Students who have achieved five passes in Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) at Grade B3 or higher would be considered for the foundation programmes run in partnership with the University by INTO Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø. Subject-specific requirements may also apply.
NCUK International Foundation Year
The University is a member of the Northern Consortium (NCUK). NCUK offers an International Foundation Year in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Students who have completed the International Foundation Year programme and have achieved the required academic standard will be considered for undergraduate programmes.
For information on studying for a foundation in Nigeria, see .
Bachelor's degree
For entry onto an undergraduate degree programme, we accept the following qualifications:
- SSSCE or WASSCE plus successful completion of a recognised foundation course as detailed above;
- three GCE A-levels or an International Baccalaureate
Although formal undergraduate applications must come through UCAS, we are happy to consider your qualifications informally to indicate the likely chances of gaining admission.
Postgraduate taught programmes
Applicants for a master's degree will generally require a bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum class of 2:1 or a minimum GPA of 3.5/5.0.
For some courses, a good 2:2 bachelor’s degree may be acceptable.
Postgraduate research
A master's degree from a good university will allow access to an MPhil or PhD.
Postgraduate research degrees are individually supervised and we strongly recommend that prospective applicants make initial enquiries with the potential supervisor or School before submitting a formal application.
A research proposal might be required along with your formal application. Please check with the School to which you wish to apply.
English language requirements
All international students coming to study in the UK on a Tier 4 visa/Student Route visa are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English language. The minimum English language requirements for each programme are specified in the course description.
We accept a range of global English tests (for example IELTS, TOEFL iBT). In addition, we can usually accept a high score in English in WAEC exams (if taken within the last seven years). The minimum grade requirement is B3 or B2 depending on the requirement of the course.
For postgraduate applicants we can waive the English requirement for students who can demonstrate that their degree from Nigeria was taught entirely in English.
For further guidance about evidencing English language proficiency, please contact the International Office or the relevant admissions team. Alternatively, consult our English language requirements.
Other entry requirements
Please note that this is general information only. Faculties and Schools have different entry requirements and some qualifications may not be acceptable for certain courses, so it is important to check with the School directly before you apply.
Some courses have additional entry requirements such as previous work experience, submission of written work with the application or previous study of a particular subject.
Visa applications
Visa applications
All Nigerian nationals who wish to study in the UK will need to apply for a study visa before they are eligible to enter the UK and begin their programme of study.
Visit our for advice on what you need to consider with regard to your student visa.
Visa counselling
Obtaining a visa can be a time-consuming process in Nigeria and, as such, we recommend that students contact one of our educational advisors or agents (see the ‘Contacts’ tab above for their contact details).
Our representatives often conduct visa seminars or advice sessions which are sometimes free, especially if you hold an offer from us. Therefore, if you decide to seek visa advice from one of our agents, inform them that you are a University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø offer-holder and that you found out about their services from our website.
Early tuition fee payments
Though generally not a requirement, some students may wish to make full or partial payment towards their tuition fees in advance of their arrival in Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø. We are able to issue a receipt against such payment, which can be presented in support of a visa application.
The Advance Payment Facility is available to any non-MBA applicant who has firmly accepted an unconditional offer for an academic course at the University (ie not pre-sessional English courses, which have separate mechanisms).
The process for making payments is as follows:
1. Please make a payment via one of the methods on our website.
2. If you need to speak to somebody about this, please telephone the Student Services Centre during working hours (10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday) on +44 161 275 5000.
3. Once payment has been received the Student Services Centre will email you a confirmation receipt.
(Please note that payment will be refunded to the original payer should you fail to obtain a visa for the UK).
Finance
Scholarships
Global Futures Scholarships 2027
The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø is proud to offer more than 350 awards to international students starting their studies in September 2027. The total value of scholarships offered will be more than £6 million, and are open to students applying for undergraduate and master’s degrees.
Undergraduate awards
We're proud to offer a number of merit-based undergraduate scholarships of up to £36,000 (£12,000 per year over three years) to international students from a selection of countries across the globe.
The Global Futures Scholarships for Africa are open to applicants domiciled in the following countries: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Please note the application form will only be made available once you've applied for an eligible course and received an offer.
Each award comprises £12,000 for the first year of study with a further £12,000 in the second and third years. Continuation of the award is conditional on attainment of 60% in final exams and assessments each year. Scholarships will be awarded as a discount on published international tuition fees.
You must be taking one of the following qualifications: A-level, IB, South African Matric (NSC or IEB), NCUK International Foundation Year or Bridge House College Foundation.
Scholarships will be awarded based on academic excellence, predicted and achieved grades, and your online application form, which will be emailed to all eligible offer-holders.
Awardees will primarily be selected based on academic merit, but the University may also consider the overall composition of the scholarship cohort, including representation across academic programmes, domicile, gender and qualification background.
- Applications will be considered from international fee-paying students domiciled in the following countries: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
- To be considered as domiciled in these countries, applicants must have predominantly resided there during the last three years.
- We consider your permanent country of residence to be the country you're ordinarily resident, not a country where you're only living for full-time education.
- Applicants must be applying for direct first-year entry in 2027 and have, or be working towards, one of the following qualifications:
-
- A-levels
- IB Diploma
- South African NSC or IEB
- NCUK International Foundation Year
- Bridge House College Foundation
- Application deadlines will vary by the qualification taken.
- Scholarship applications from A-level, IB and NCUK IFY students will be assessed on any previous examinations, predicted grades in the above-listed qualifications and the strength of the personal statement.
- Scholarships for South African NSC/IEB students will be based on the results released in January 2027 and the strength of the personal statement.
- You must be self-funded (not sponsored).
- You must have selected The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø as your 'Firm' UCAS choice by 15 May 2027.
- The award applies only to full-time courses delivered at The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø’s UK campus.
Not eligible
- Medicine (MBChB), Dentistry (BDS), Architecture, or any courses with an integrated foundation year.
- Those who've previously studied in the UK.
- Blended and distance learning programmes.
The application form will be emailed automatically to all eligible applicants shortly after an academic offer is made. Forms will be emailed from December 2026 until the closing date.
The above is a summary so make sure that you download and read our (PDF, 298KB).
Applications are considered in two rounds according to the qualification you're taking:
- Round one: Students who take examinations in 2026 (eg South African NSC or IEB or November series A Level) may apply for an early selection round by 25 February 2027.
- Round two: All other students should apply by 8 April 2027.
Successful applicants will be notified by the dates according to the exams taken:
- Students who applied Round 1 will be notified of the decision by 2 April 2027.
- Students who applied in Round 2 will be notified decision by 12 May 2027.
Where exam results aren't available by the application deadlines, awards offers will be conditional on academic performance as outlined in the full terms and conditions below.
Master’s awards
The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø is proud to offer more than 250 merit-based master’s scholarships to prospective international students from a range of countries across the globe.
The value of The Global Futures Scholarships for African students is £19,000. Scholarships will be awarded as a discount on published overseas tuition fees.
Within Africa, the awards are open to applicants domiciled in the following countries: Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Please note: the application form will only be made available once you've applied and been made an offer (either conditional or unconditional).
The scholarships of £19,000 will be awarded based on academic excellence and the quality of your online application form.
Scholarships will be awarded as a discount on published overseas tuition fees.
- Applications will be considered from international fee-paying students domiciled in: Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
- To be considered as 'domiciled' in these countries, you must have predominantly lived there during the last three years.
- We consider your permanent country of residence to be the country you're ordinarily resident, not a country where you're only living for full-time education.
- You must hold an unconditional offer to study a full-time, on-campus master’s course at The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø starting in September 2027 by 20 April 2027 and submit an online scholarship application form by the same deadline. The form will be emailed to all eligible offer-holders.
- You must be self-funded (not sponsored).
Not eligible
- MBA, MPhil, Master of Architecture (MArch), Architecture and Urbanism (MA), Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), MA Architecture and Digital Design, Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), Clinical Medicine and Dentistry degrees.
- Some ‘Master’s by Research’ courses (see terms and conditions below).
- Those who've studied a Bachelor’s degree outside of Africa.
- Blended and distance learning programmes.
The above is a summary so make sure that you download and read our (PDF, 258KB).
You must hold an unconditional offer to study a full-time master’s course at Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø and submit an online scholarship application form by 20 April 2027.
All successful applicants will be notified by 24 May 2027.
For PhDs, the University offers a number of competitive bursaries via individual Schools and research groups for well-qualified candidates. Please check with your prospective academic School for details and check the University’s postgraduate research funding database.
Please note the application form will only be made available to you once you have applied and been made an offer.
PHD Funding
For PhDs, the University offers a number of competitive bursaries via individual Schools and research groups for well-qualified candidates. Please check with your prospective academic School for details and check the University’s postgraduate research .
In addition, a number of other faculty, school and programme-specific scholarships are available to students from Africa.
For PhDs the University offers a number of competitive bursaries via individual Schools and research groups for well-qualified candidates. Please check with your prospective academic School for details and check the University’s postgraduate research .
Careers and alumni
Nigerian graduates from The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø have gone on to pursue successful careers in a number of prestigious organisations including:
- MTN Nigeria Communications
- Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
- Ahmadu Bello University
- The Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria
- World Bank
- Shell Petroleum Development Company
- Federal Government of Nigeria
- Schlumberger Nigeria
- Chevron Corporation
- University of Lagos
- Central Bank of Nigeria
Global Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø
Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø welcomes students from all over the world, creating a vibrant, inclusive community you can quickly feel part of.
With a rich cultural mix, global food scene and friendly atmosphere, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to connect with others, celebrate your own culture and experience new ones.
Through our strong international partnerships with universities, organisations and global networks, you’ll also benefit from opportunities such as study abroad, collaborative research and global career connections.
Together, this makes Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø an exciting and supportive place to call home during your studies.
Meet us
Representatives from The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø visit Nigeria to talk about study at our institution. Details of planned events are posted here.
Virtual Open Days
If there are no current opportunities to meet us, you can still discover what it’s like to study at Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø.
By joining one of our virtual open days, you can explore the campus, accommodation and the city, join live sessions and Q&As with staff and current students - and get a real feel for student life and support available to you from application to graduation. It’s your chance to connect and ask questions.
- Undergraduate virtual open days
- Postgraduate taught information sessions
- Postgraduate research virtual open days
Campus tours
Thinking of visiting campus? Learn more about our international student campus tours.
Contacts
The International Team is here to help.
Please complete the form below to contact us with any questions you may have.
We also welcome enquiries from schools and invitations to any planned events.
Educational advisers (agents)
is the only agency representing The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø in Nigeria.
IDP Lagos Ikeja – GRA 
52 - 54 Isaac John Street Ikeja GRA, 101233, Lagos State, Nigeria
Tel: +234 (0)13440035
Email: info.lagos@idp.com 
IDP Lagos Ikeja – Alausa
3rd Floor, Omatsola Complex, 17 Kafi Street, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos
Tel: +234 (0) 8057126781
Email: Ikeja@idp.com
IDP Lagos-Victoria Island 
2A Louis Solomon Close, Victoria Island, Lagos
Tel: +234 (0) 8139629332
Email: ³Õ¾±°ª¾±»å±è.³¦´Ç³¾â€¯
IDP Abuja 
50 Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent (Osas & Oseji Building), between UBA and H-Medix, Abuja
Tel: +234 (0) 92906508
Email: Abuja@idp.com
IDP Port Harcourt
45 Stadium Road, beside Bereton School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Tel: +234 (0) 8116709992
Email: Ph@idp.com
IDP Enugu
Suite B8, First Floor, Bethel Plaza, 36 Garden Avenue, Enugu
Tel: +234 (0) 8074235705
Email: Enugu@idp.com
IDP Ibadan 
1st Floor, Ile Ori Detu, 1 Shell Close Onireke, Ibadan
Tel: +234 (0) 9037233489
Email: Ibadan@idp.com
IDP Kano
Ground Floor (Suite 10A), JBS Plaza, No 375 Civic Centre Road, Kano
Tel: +234 (0) 8166575768
Email: Kano@idp.com
IDP Nasarawa (Virtual)
Tel: +234 (0) 8122227346
Email: Damilola@idp.com
Working with an educational adviser or agent
Using the services of an agent is entirely optional. If you're planning to seek the support of an educational adviser or ‘agent’, we would strongly recommend that you first refer to sector guidance including the and the (PDF, 189KB). 
The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø’s contracted educational advisers are trusted, trained representatives of the institution. If you're dissatisfied with your experience or have any queries relating to agents who represent us, email international@manchester.ac.uk.