The University of Southampton is offering 20 scholarships worth £3000 each to international students from Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, who wish to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate master's degrees in Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) for the 2026 academic year.
About the Southampton ECS Commonwealth Scholarship
This prestigious scholarship aims to support talented students from Commonwealth nations who demonstrate potential to contribute to sustainable development goals. The scholarship provides financial assistance to help offset the cost of studying at one of the UK's leading institutions for electronics and computer science education.
Applications for the 2026 entry will open in October 2025, with a deadline of April 22, 2026, at 5pm UK time. Successful applicants will be notified by May 30, 2026, while unsuccessful candidates will receive notification by June 3, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for this scholarship, you must:
Apply for an eligible Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) course before applying for the scholarship
Receive a course offer before the scholarship closing date
Be a resident of an eligible Commonwealth country (including Nigeria)
Be an international student paying the overseas fee
Not be receiving any external scholarship
The university defines residency as where you have been living for a 3-year period or longer before the start of the course, excluding temporary residence for study purposes.
Ineligible Programs
This scholarship is not available for students studying:
PGCert, PGDip, Foundation, or PGR courses
Distance Learning courses
Programs with partner institutions
At the Malaysia campus
Study Abroad courses
Exchange or partner student programs
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses
Pre-sessional English only (though pre-sessional English students with an offer to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level can apply)
Eligible Commonwealth Countries
Residents from 54 Commonwealth countries are eligible to apply, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Australia, Canada, and many others. The full list includes:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji Islands, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zambia.
Application Process
To apply for this scholarship, follow these steps:
Apply for an eligible Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) course
Complete and submit the online scholarship application form by April 22, 2026, 5pm (UK time)
Late applications will not be accepted, so ensure you submit your application before the deadline.
Supporting Your Application
The University of Southampton is looking for students who will use their time at the institution to achieve remarkable outcomes and build an inclusive world. As part of your application, you'll need to answer four questions related to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals:
Choose one UN Sustainable Development Goal most relevant to your chosen course and explain why (100 words maximum)
Outline how your intended degree and research can contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (250 words maximum)
Explain your future goals and how your chosen course at Southampton will help you achieve them (200 words maximum)
Describe how you might act as an ambassador for the University as a Southampton ECS Commonwealth student (200 words maximum)
Selection Process
The scholarship selection process consists of five stages:
Eligibility criteria verification
Scoring and ranking of application form answers
Shortlisting candidates, with priority given to applicants from low-income countries
Scoring of academic qualifications from UCAS or PGT application forms
Final assessment by a scholarship panel based on total scores
This is a competitive process, and not all applications will be successful. The decision of the scholarship panel is final.
Why Apply for the Southampton ECS Commonwealth Scholarship?
The University of Southampton is renowned for its excellence in Electronics and Computer Science education. This scholarship not only provides financial support but also offers Nigerian and other Commonwealth students the opportunity to study at a world-class institution while developing skills that can contribute to sustainable development in their home countries.
For Nigerian students particularly, this scholarship represents a valuable opportunity to gain international education experience that can be applied to address technological challenges back home.
Visit University of Southampton Website
Remember to check the University of Southampton website in October 2025 for updated information about the 2026 entry requirements and application process.
Stay updated with more scholarship and study abroad opportunities by following our social media channels:
