Updated: August 2026
Short answer: no — the Federal Government of Nigeria is not currently accepting new applications for the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship. If you’ve seen this scholarship listed as “open” elsewhere, including on other scholarship websites, that information is outdated. Here’s exactly what happened, according to the government’s own official clarification.
What the Federal Ministry of Education Actually Said
In May 2026, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education confirmed that a BEA-related allocation appearing in the 2026 national budget does not mean the scholarship has been reinstated — it only reflects funding that was already committed under the 2025 budget before the government stopped issuing new awards. Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa issued the clarification directly, after public confusion arose from reports suggesting a contradiction between the scholarship’s discontinuation and its continued appearance in budget documents.
According to the Minister, the government halted processing of new BEA scholarship awards around April and May 2025. Because of how Nigeria’s budgeting system works, funding already approved in a signed budget can’t simply be removed after the fact — which is why the allocation still shows up in the 2026 budget even though no new awards are being processed.
In short: the money you might see referenced in a budget document is leftover from before the program was paused — it is not evidence that new applications are being accepted.
Is BEA scholarship still open? Why the Confusion? Other Sites Are Still Listing This as “Open”
If you’ve searched for this scholarship recently, you may have found other pages describing a “2026/2027 BEA application” as newly opened. Based on the Ministry’s own May 2026 statement, that information does not reflect the government’s official position. Always check a scholarship’s status against the official source before investing time in an application — especially for a government program where third-party scholarship sites may not catch a policy change quickly.
What the BEA Scholarship Covered, for Reference
For context, the BEA Scholarship — when it was active — funded undergraduate study in Russia, Morocco, Hungary, Egypt, and Algeria, and postgraduate study (Master’s and PhD) in Russia, China, Hungary, Serbia, and Romania. Participating countries covered tuition and accommodation, while the Nigerian government covered supplementary costs like health insurance, warm-weather clothing allowances, and research grants. It was one of several Nigerian government-linked scholarship pathways, alongside programs like the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship.
A standing warning worth repeating regardless of program status: legitimate Nigerian government scholarships never charge a processing fee. Be cautious of anyone asking for payment to “process” a BEA application.
Active Scholarship Alternatives for Nigerian Students Right Now
Since BEA isn’t currently accepting applicants, here are pathways that are:
- British Council GREAT Scholarships for Nigerian Students — funded postgraduate study in the UK, specifically reserved for Nigerian applicants
- Commonwealth Scholarships — as a Commonwealth nation, Nigerian students remain eligible for PhD, Master’s, and distance-learning funding in the UK
- See our complete guide to scholarships for Nigerian students for the full, currently active list
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BEA scholarship still open and accepting applications in 2026?
No. The Federal Ministry of Education confirmed in May 2026 that new BEA scholarship awards remain discontinued, despite a budget line referencing the program.
Why does the BEA scholarship still appear in Nigeria’s national budget if it’s discontinued?
The budget allocation originates from the 2025 budget, approved before the government halted new awards in April/May 2025. Nigeria’s budgeting system doesn’t allow already-approved provisions to be retroactively removed, which is why the line item persists even though no new applications are being processed.
Will the BEA scholarship reopen in the future?
There’s no official confirmation of a reopening. This page will be updated if the Federal Ministry of Education announces a change in status.
What should I apply for instead of BEA right now?
Currently active pathways for Nigerian students include British Council GREAT Scholarships and Commonwealth Scholarships — see our full guide to scholarships for Nigerian students for more options.
Does BEA scholarship processing require a fee?
No — legitimate Nigerian government scholarships, including BEA when it was active, never charge a processing fee. Treat any such request as a red flag for frau