Most scholarships that Pakistani students hear about are big, competitive, fully funded schemes with one hard deadline a year. The Covenant University International Excellence Scholarship works differently. It is a standing tuition-waiver policy at Covenant University, a private Christian university in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, and it is reserved for students who are not Nigerian citizens and who are admitted into one of its Master's programs. You can read the full scholarship details, and this guide explains how the award actually works and whether it makes sense for you.
The short version: if you hold a strong Bachelor's degree, want a Master's at a low cost outside the usual Western destinations, and can pay your own living costs, this is worth a look. If you need a stipend, flights or housing paid for, it is not the right fit.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria |
| Funding | Partial funding: a tuition waiver of 50%, 75% or 100% |
| Level | Master's (taught or research) |
| Fields | All fields offered at Master's level |
| Deadline | Rolling, tied to the Alpha and Omega postgraduate admission cycles each academic session |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Official site | Covenant University scholarships page |
How your Bachelor's result decides the size of the waiver
There is no separate shortlist, interview or essay competition for this award. The waiver percentage is set by the class of your first degree, and it is confirmed automatically once you are admitted. The tiers are:
- A First Class undergraduate degree earns a 100% tuition fee waiver.
- A Second Class Upper with a CGPA of 4.0 or above on Covenant's scale (or the equivalent) earns a 75% waiver.
- A Second Class Upper with a CGPA below 4.0, or a comparable degree, earns a 50% waiver.
The waiver runs for the full duration of the Master's program, which is typically 18 months. Scholars also get access to the university's postgraduate research facilities, library and campus support services.
The tricky part for Pakistani applicants is that Pakistani universities do not all use the "First Class" and "Second Class Upper" labels, and the source material does not explain how a Pakistani CGPA is converted to Covenant's scale. Do not assume a good Pakistani CGPA automatically lands you in a particular tier. Ask the university how your transcript will be read before you count on a specific percentage.
What the waiver leaves you paying for
This is a tuition waiver, not a fully funded package. It does not cover accommodation, feeding, flights or living expenses. Even with a 100% waiver you will still need money for housing, meals, visa costs and travel to Nigeria.
Tuition for non-Nigerian students is charged in a currency and structure specific to international students, and the source does not give a figure. Contact Covenant's International Office at iols@covenantuniversity.edu.ng to confirm the latest tuition schedule for non-Nigerian students before you apply. Do this early. A 50% waiver means very different things depending on the full fee, and you need that number to plan a realistic budget. If you are not sure how to present your finances for a visa, our guide on bank statements and proof of funds is a useful starting point.
Who qualifies, and where Pakistanis fit in
The scholarship is open only to people who hold a citizenship other than Nigerian. Pakistani nationals are included. You also need to meet these conditions:
- You have secured, or are applying for, admission to a Covenant University Master's program.
- Your Bachelor's degree is at least Second Class Upper, or its verified international equivalent.
- Your foreign academic results are interpreted or verified by Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Education.
- Your transcript is verified by your home-country embassy in Nigeria, or through an equivalent process, as required for all international postgraduate applicants.
- You indicate on the postgraduate admission form that you are applying for the International Excellence Scholarship.
Any discipline is allowed. Covenant's Master's programs span its colleges of business, engineering, science and technology, leadership and development studies, and law, so the field you choose depends on what the university actually runs in a given intake.
Students with a lower second class or third class degree should skip this one. The minimum is Second Class Upper, and there is no tier below 50%.
The paperwork, including the spiritual reference
The documents are the standard postgraduate admission set. There is no separate scholarship file:
- Completed Covenant University postgraduate admission form
- First-degree certificate
- Official undergraduate transcript, sent directly by the issuing institution
- Personal statement or statement of purpose
- Two academic or professional reference letters and one spiritual reference letter
- Valid international passport
- Federal Ministry of Education interpretation of academic results (for foreign-trained applicants)
Two items catch people out. The first is the spiritual reference letter, which is part of the standard postgraduate requirements at this Christian university. Think about who can write it for you well before you apply. The second is the transcript, which has to come directly from your university, not from you. Pakistani registrar offices can be slow, so request it as soon as you decide to apply. For attesting degrees on the Pakistani side, see our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide.
Applying through the postgraduate portal
Because the scholarship is assessed at the point of admission, the application is really a Master's application with one extra box ticked.
- Choose your Master's program at Covenant's School of Postgraduate Studies and check that the current admission cycle (Alpha or Omega semester) is open.
- Fill in the online postgraduate application on the School of Postgraduate Studies admission portal, selecting non-Nigerian citizenship.
- Indicate on the form that you are applying for the International Excellence Scholarship.
- Upload your first-degree certificate, official transcript and personal statement.
- Arrange verification or interpretation of your foreign documents by Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Education and, where required, your home embassy in Nigeria.
- Wait for the admission decision. The waiver is confirmed based on your degree classification once you are admitted.
- Complete the Subject-to-Regularization (STR) visa formalities and register, using your scholarship award letter.
The International Office also has a page on the International Excellence Scholarship that is worth reading alongside the main scholarships page.
Alpha and Omega intakes and why timing still matters
There is no single global deadline. Covenant runs two postgraduate intakes in each academic session. The Alpha Semester is the main intake, and its admission window commonly opens around mid-year, though the exact date varies by year. The Omega Semester is a second admission window within the same session, and its dates also vary.
Rolling does not mean relaxed. Each program has its own closing date within the open window, and scholarship confirmation only comes after admission processing and document verification. The Federal Ministry of Education and embassy verification can take several weeks. If you apply late in a window, you risk running out of time before the session starts. Confirm the current cycle's closing date on the official portal before you plan anything else.
Nigeria as a study destination for Pakistani students
Nigeria is West Africa's largest economy, and it has a growing number of private universities with internationally accredited programs at a fraction of the cost of Western institutions. Covenant is consistently ranked among Nigeria's top private universities, and this scholarship is one of the few concrete, verifiable tuition-reduction routes into a Nigerian institution.
Before you travel you will need a Subject-to-Regularization (STR) visa, which is converted to a residence permit after you arrive. Plan your visa file carefully. Our article on why student visas get rejected covers the mistakes that apply to most destinations.
Mistakes that cost applicants their waiver
The most common error is mentioning the scholarship only in a cover email. You need to state your interest on the application form itself. If the box is not ticked, do not expect the waiver to appear.
The second is leaving verification until after admission. Start the Federal Ministry of Education and embassy process early, because it is a requirement for every international postgraduate applicant and it takes time.
The third is budgeting as if the award were fully funded. Price out accommodation, feeding, visa costs and flights before you commit. A 100% waiver on tuition still leaves a real bill.
Finally, apply early within a cycle. Scholarship confirmation is tied to admission processing time, so an early application gives you more room to fix problems with documents.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Covenant University International Excellence Scholarship fully funded?
No. It is a tuition fee waiver of 50%, 75% or 100% depending on your undergraduate degree classification. It does not cover accommodation, feeding or travel.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Yes. It is open to applicants of any citizenship other than Nigerian who are admitted into a Covenant University Master's program, which includes Pakistani nationals.
Does it cover Bachelor's or PhD study?
No. It is only for Master's degree applicants.
Do I need a separate scholarship application?
No. You indicate your interest on the regular postgraduate admission form, and the waiver is applied on admission based on your academic record.
How long does the waiver last?
It applies for the full duration of the Master's program, which is typically 18 months.
Check the current intake dates and tuition on the official Covenant University scholarships page, and keep the full scholarship details page handy as you prepare your documents.