The MTN Foundation Scholarship 2026 is funding 400 Nigerian students at ₦300,000 per year until graduation, renewable annually, provided you meet the grade and upskilling conditions set each cycle. Three tracks are open: Science and Technology, Blind Students, and the Top 10 UTME Scholarship.
About the Programme
The MTN Foundation has run this scholarship without interruption since 2010. The Science and Technology track (STS) and the Blind Students track (SBS, running since 2012) target students in public tertiary institutions, where funding gaps are deepest. The Top 10 UTME track, added in 2020, works differently; it is automatic and covers public and private institutions alike.
Four hundred slots across all categories is a substantive pool. Apply for the track that matches your situation.
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What You Get
Each scholarship pays ₦300,000 per academic year. Funding continues until graduation, but renewal is not automatic. The foundation attaches grade and upskilling conditions to each annual cycle. Confirm what those conditions are on the application portal before you count on continued funding.
The SBS track allocates 100 slots specifically. The STS and UTME track slot breakdown across the remaining 300 has not been published separately.
The award does not specify whether it covers tuition only or functions as a general stipend.
Eligibility: All Three Tracks
MTN Science and Technology Scholarship (STS) from 2010
Open to Nigerian students in public universities, teaching hospitals, polytechnics, and colleges of education, studying a science and technology-related course.
Level of study:
- Students who have completed their 200-level second-semester exams and are entering the 300-level may apply.
- Students currently in the 300 level may also apply. The foundation acknowledges that academic calendars are not aligned across all institutions.
- Medical students who have completed the 300-level second semester and are entering 400 level, or are currently in 400 level, are eligible.
CGPA requirements:
- STEM students in public universities and colleges of education: minimum CGPA of 3.0/4 or 3.5/5 (second-class upper credit).
- STEM students in public polytechnics: minimum OND CGPA of 3.0 (upper credit), with confirmed HND admission.
- Direct Entry STEM students: minimum OND CGPA of 3.0 (upper credit) with confirmed admission into the 300 level at a public university.
- Medical students in public universities and teaching hospitals: a minimum of a “Pass” grade.
MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (SBS) from 2012, 100 slots
Open to blind students studying any course at Nigerian public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Level of study:
- 200 and 300-level students are eligible.
- Blind law students are the exception. Law runs for five years, so only 300-level blind law students may apply.
CGPA requirements:
- Blind students in public universities or colleges of education: minimum CGPA of 2.5.
- Blind students in public polytechnics: minimum OND CGPA of 2.0, with confirmed HND admission.
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MTN Top 10 UTME Scholarship from 2020
The top 10 scoring candidates in UTME, as announced by JAMB each year, automatically qualify. No application track to select a qualification is determined by JAMB results. The award covers 100 level through graduation, subject to grade requirements. It applies regardless of the course of study or institution type; public and private universities in Nigeria both qualify.
Renewal Conditions
Funding does not stop at year one. The foundation renews each award annually through graduation, but two conditions apply: maintaining academic grade requirements and completing upskilling activities as defined by the foundation each cycle.
The exact upskilling requirements, whether online certifications, digital skills courses, or foundation-run programmes, are not specified on the official page.
Documents Required
The official listing does not specify required documents. Based on the eligibility criteria, the following are very likely to need to be confirmed on the portal before submitting.
Likely required:
- Valid student ID or admission letter confirming institution and level
- Official academic transcript showing current CGPA
- For polytechnic applicants: OND result and HND admission letter
- For blind students: medical documentation confirming visual impairment (exact standard not specified).
- National ID or NIN slip
- Passport photograph
- Bank account details for disbursement
Nigerian public institution transcripts can take two to six weeks to obtain officially. Request yours now, before you start the form.
How to Apply
The direct application portal is live: MTN-Scholarship
Steps:
- Open the portal and select your track: STS, SBS, or Top 10 UTME.
- Create an account, or log in if you applied in a previous year.
- Upload all required documents. Ensure your transcript reflects your most recent CGPA.
- Complete the academic and personal information sections accurately. Mismatches between your form and your documents can trigger disqualification.
- Submit before the deadline.
- Monitor your registered email for screening or interview notifications.
Common mistakes: applying to the wrong track, submitting informal result printouts instead of stamped transcripts, and entering a CGPA that does not match your documents.
Is This Open to Nigerians?
Yes, exclusively. The STS and SBS tracks cover Nigerian students in Nigerian public institutions only. The Top 10 UTME track is the exception; it covers public and private institutions, but the student must still be a Nigerian UTME candidate ranked in the top 10 by JAMB. NYSC documentation is irrelevant here. This is an undergraduate award.
The MTN Foundation Scholarship has a 15-year track record of annual disbursement. Few Nigerian corporate scholarship programmes commit to funding students through to graduation; most are one-off awards. The multi-year structure here is the core value, not just the ₦300,000 figure.
The STS is best suited to a 200-level STEM student finishing the second semester with a CGPA above 3.0 who needs reliable funding for the next two to three years. Medical students heading into the 400-level should note that the pass-grade threshold is considerably lower than the CGPA bar for other STEM students—more people qualify than realise.
The SBS at CGPA 2.5 is a realistic target for blind students facing the dual pressure of academic performance and accessibility barriers in Nigerian public institutions.
One specific tip: the foundation’s annual renewal requires upskilling activities. If the application asks about professional development or digital training, be specific. Name certifications, online courses, or technical programmes you have completed. It signals to the foundation that you are already the kind of student worth renewing.
Private university students and students in 100 level (outside the UTME track), this programme does not cover you.
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