The MTN Foundation Scholarship supports high-performing Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions through annual awards for science and technology students, medical students and blind students. A separate award automatically covers the top 10 candidates announced by JAMB after the UTME.
For 2026, each scholarship is worth ₦300,000 per year and may continue until graduation if the recipient meets the required academic and upskilling conditions.
However, the 2026 application period has ended. The official application portal displayed “Submission is closed” when checked on 20 August 2026. Contemporary reports put the closing date at 31 May 2026.
Current status: The 2026 MTN Foundation Scholarship is closed. Do not pay anyone promising to submit a late application or guarantee selection. Students can use this guide to understand the requirements and prepare for the next official application cycle.
MTN Scholarship 2026 at a Glance
The Four Scholarship Routes Explained
1. MTN Science and Technology Scholarship
The MTN Science and Technology Scholarship, often shortened to MTN STS, is for eligible Nigerian students studying science- and technology-related programmes in public tertiary institutions.
For the 2026 cycle, it covered students entering or currently in 300 level. Eligible institutions included public universities, teaching hospitals, polytechnics and colleges of education.
2. Medical-student scholarship places
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MTN Scholarship 2026: Requirements and How to Apply
Aug 20, 2026
Aug 23, 2026
20 min read
Published
Updated:
The MTN Foundation Scholarship supports high-performing Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions through annual awards for science and technology students, medical students and blind students. A separate award automatically covers the top 10 candidates announced by JAMB after the UTME.
For 2026, each scholarship is worth ₦300,000 per year and may continue until graduation if the recipient meets the required academic and upskilling conditions.
However, the 2026 application period has ended. The official application portal displayed “Submission is closed” when checked on 20 August 2026. Contemporary reports put the closing date at 31 May 2026.
Current status: The 2026 MTN Foundation Scholarship is closed. Do not pay anyone promising to submit a late application or guarantee selection. Students can use this guide to understand the requirements and prepare for the next official application cycle.
MTN Scholarship 2026 at a Glance
Item | Verified information |
Provider | MTN Nigeria Foundation Limited by Guarantee |
Country | Nigeria |
Award | ₦300,000 per recipient each year |
Main categories | Science and Technology Scholarship, medical-student places and Scholarship for Blind Students |
Separate category | Top 10 UTME Scholarship |
Eligible institutions | Nigerian public universities, teaching hospitals, polytechnics and colleges of education, depending on category |
Application method | Online through the official MTN scholarship portal |
Application fee | Free |
2026 deadline | 31 May 2026 |
Current status | Closed |
Renewal | Annually until graduation, subject to academic and upskilling requirements |
The Four Scholarship Routes Explained
1. MTN Science and Technology Scholarship
The MTN Science and Technology Scholarship, often shortened to MTN STS, is for eligible Nigerian students studying science- and technology-related programmes in public tertiary institutions.
For the 2026 cycle, it covered students entering or currently in 300 level. Eligible institutions included public universities, teaching hospitals, polytechnics and colleges of education.
2. Medical-student scholarship places
The 2026 programme expanded targeted support for medical students. It covered eligible students who had completed their second-semester 300-level examinations and were moving to 400 level, as well as students already in 400 level at public universities or teaching hospitals.
MTN's current programme overview says the number of new scholarship opportunities increased in 2026, with 100 additional places allocated to medical students.
3. MTN Scholarship for Blind Students
The Scholarship for Blind Students, or MTN SBS, is open to eligible blind students studying any course at Nigerian public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Applicants can be in 200 or 300 level. Blind Law students must be in 300 level because Law is normally a five-year programme.
4. MTN Top 10 UTME Scholarship
This award is for the 10 highest-scoring UTME candidates announced by JAMB. It does not use the standard public application process.
The selected candidates qualify automatically and may receive ₦300,000 annually from 100 level until graduation, subject to the grade requirements. This category applies regardless of the candidate's course and can cover attendance at a public or private Nigerian institution.
MTN Scholarship 2026 Requirements
Eligibility depends on the category. A student who qualifies for SBS does not need to satisfy the STS course requirement, while the Top 10 UTME award is automatic.
Science and Technology Scholarship Requirements
An STS applicant must meet the following conditions:
Be a Nigerian student.
Study at a Nigerian public university, teaching hospital, polytechnic or college of education.
Study a science- or technology-related course recognised by the scholarship.
Have completed second-semester 200-level examinations and be moving to 300 level, or already be in 300 level.
Meet the CGPA or qualification requirement for the institution type.
STS CGPA requirements
Applicant type | Minimum requirement |
Public university or college of education | 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or 3.5 on a 5.0 scale |
Public polytechnic | 3.0 or Upper Credit from OND, with admission into an HND programme |
Direct Entry into a public university | 3.0 or Upper Credit from OND, with admission into 300 level or third year |
MTN describes the university and college threshold as equivalent to a Second Class Upper or Credit standing.
Medical-student Requirements
Medical applicants must:
Be Nigerian students.
Attend a public university or teaching hospital in Nigeria.
Have completed the second semester of 300 level and be moving to 400 level, or already be in 400 level.
Have at least a Pass grade or the equivalent score specified by the institution and MTN application form.
Candidates should use the exact programme name, level and grading system shown in their official academic record.
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Scholarship for Blind Students Requirements
An SBS applicant must:
Be a Nigerian blind student.
Attend a Nigerian public university, polytechnic or college of education.
Be in 200 or 300 level.
Be in 300 level if studying Law.
Meet the applicable academic threshold.
SBS CGPA requirements
Applicant type | Minimum requirement |
Public university or college of education | 2.5 CGPA |
Public polytechnic | 2.0 from OND, with admission into an HND programme |
The SBS route is open to any course of study, not only STEM programmes.
Who Cannot Use the Standard Application?
The 2026 requirements exclude or do not provide a standard application route for:
Students in private institutions applying for STS, medical or SBS places.
100-level students applying for STS or SBS.
Non-Nigerian students.
STS applicants studying courses outside the eligible science and technology category.
Applicants below the required CGPA or qualification threshold.
Late applicants after the portal closes.
The Top 10 UTME category is the exception to the public-institution restriction, but candidates do not apply for it themselves.
How Much Is the MTN Scholarship Worth?
MTN's official 2026 page lists an award of ₦300,000 annually. The scholarship can be renewed each year until graduation if the recipient maintains the required academic standard and completes the stipulated upskilling activities.
The support is intended to help with education-related costs, including tuition, books and living expenses. It is not necessarily a complete payment of every expense the student may face.
MTN also says scholarship recipients can receive mentorship, technical training and employability support through its Skill Up initiative.
How to Apply for the MTN Scholarship
The steps below describe the official online process used for the 2026 call. The portal is now closed, but the process is useful for future cycles if MTN retains the same system.
Step 1: Start from the official MTN scholarship page
Visit https://www.mtn.ng/scholarships/. This is the safest starting point because MTN uses it to publish the current categories, requirements and official application link.
Step 2: Read the eligibility criteria
Check the institution, course, level and CGPA rules for your category before opening the form. Do not assume that every Nigerian undergraduate can apply.
Step 3: Open the official application form
During the 2026 window, MTN linked candidates to:
https://apps.mtn.ng/scholarships/form
The form is no longer accepting submissions. A genuine future form should be linked from MTN's official website and use an mtn.ng domain.
Step 4: Accept and read the terms
Read the declaration and privacy terms carefully. The 2026 form required applicants to confirm that submitted documents were genuine and that the information contained no false statement.
Step 5: Select the correct scholarship category
Choose the category that matches your circumstances:
Science and Technology;
medical student; or
Scholarship for Blind Students.
Top 10 UTME candidates do not submit the standard application.
Step 6: Enter personal and academic information
Provide your name, contact details, institution, course, study level, matriculation information and CGPA exactly as they appear in official records.
Do not round a CGPA upward to meet the threshold. MTN may verify academic information with the institution.
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Step 7: Upload the documents requested by the portal
The exact upload list must be taken from the live form. Applicants should normally prepare clear evidence of identity, student status and academic performance, such as:
A recent passport photograph.
A valid student identity card or other institutional identification.
An admission or matriculation document.
A current result, transcript or statement showing the CGPA.
Any category-specific evidence requested by MTN.
Do not upload extra sensitive documents unless the official form specifically requests them. Document requirements can change between application cycles.
Step 8: Review the form
Check the spelling of your name, telephone number, email, course, institution, level and CGPA. Confirm that every file is readable and belongs to you.
Step 9: Submit and keep proof
Submit the application before the published deadline and save the acknowledgement, reference number or confirmation message. Monitor the email address and phone number entered on the form.
Is the Application Free?
Yes. MTN does not charge candidates to apply for its Foundation scholarship.
Do not pay an agent for:
An application PIN.
A scholarship form.
“Guaranteed” shortlisting.
A verification slot.
Access to an insider list.
Late submission after the official deadline.
No person can legitimately sell selection into the programme.
Documents to Prepare for the Next Application Cycle
Because the 2026 portal is closed, MTN's next form may request a different set of files. Preparing the following records early can still prevent delays:
Current school ID.
Admission letter or evidence of enrolment.
Recent academic result or transcript with the correct CGPA.
Matriculation number and exact programme title.
Functional personal email address and phone number.
Clear passport photograph.
Category-specific documentation requested by MTN.
Use only genuine documents. The 2026 application terms gave MTN discretion to disqualify applicants whose verification failed or whose documents contained false information.
How MTN Scholarship Renewal Works
The award is renewable annually until graduation, but renewal is not automatic without conditions. MTN says recipients must maintain the required academic grade and complete a number of digital or upskilling courses.
Recipients should:
Keep their academic records current.
Monitor messages from MTN Foundation.
Complete mandatory training within the stated period.
Submit renewal evidence only through an official channel.
Inform MTN of any verified institutional change when instructed.
The exact renewal threshold and evidence should be confirmed in the recipient's award terms because requirements may differ by category.
How Applicants Are Selected
Meeting the minimum requirements makes a candidate eligible; it does not guarantee an award. MTN retains discretion over eligibility, verification and final selection.
Shortlisted applicants may be asked to provide further evidence or take part in verification. Candidates should keep their phone number and email active and should never send money in response to a supposed selection message.
Check suspicious communication against the official MTN scholarship page before responding.
Common Application Mistakes
Avoid these errors in a future cycle:
Applying through a copied Google Form or non-MTN website.
Choosing the wrong scholarship category.
Entering a CGPA that does not match the transcript.
Using an informal course name instead of the official programme title.
Uploading blurred, cropped or incomplete documents.
Using an email address or phone number you cannot access.
Waiting until the final hours before submitting.
Paying someone who promises selection.
Claiming the Top 10 UTME award through a public form.
Important Note About the Number of 2026 Awards
MTN's current programme pages and contemporaneous reports do not present the 2026 slot count in exactly the same way. The current MTN overview says new opportunities increased from 400 to 500, with 100 additional places for medical students. Its detailed page separately describes 400 science and technology awards and 100 awards for blind students.
Some May 2026 reports based on the opening announcement referred to 400 recipients, including 100 medical students. XTRAfrica therefore recommends describing the programme as offering up to 500 new scholarship opportunities in 2026 when using MTN's latest programme overview, while avoiding a more detailed category total unless MTN publishes a reconciled figure.
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This discrepancy does not affect the verified ₦300,000 award value or the eligibility rules listed on MTN's official page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MTN Scholarship 2026 still open?
No. The official portal displayed “Submission is closed” on 20 August 2026. The reported deadline was 31 May 2026.
What is the official MTN scholarship website?
The official information page is https://www.mtn.ng/scholarships/.
How much does MTN pay scholarship recipients?
The 2026 award is ₦300,000 per year, renewable until graduation if the recipient meets the academic and upskilling requirements.
Can 100-level students apply?
Not through the standard STS or SBS application. The Top 10 UTME award begins from 100 level but is given automatically to the highest-scoring candidates announced by JAMB.
Can 200-level students apply?
Blind students can apply for SBS at 200 level. STS candidates must have completed their second-semester 200-level examinations and be moving to 300 level, or already be in 300 level.
Can private-university students apply?
Private-institution students are not eligible for the standard STS, medical or SBS routes. A Top 10 UTME scholarship recipient can attend a public or private institution.
Can polytechnic students apply?
Yes, eligible public-polytechnic students can apply under STS or SBS if they meet the OND CGPA requirement and have secured HND admission.
Is the scholarship only for MTN subscribers?
The published eligibility criteria focus on nationality, institution, course, study level and academic performance. The official page does not state that an applicant must be an MTN mobile subscriber.
Is there an application fee?
No. The application is free.
Can I apply after the deadline?
No official late-application route is available. Ignore anyone offering to reopen the portal or add your name after closure.
When will the next MTN scholarship open?
MTN had not published the next application dates when this guide was updated. Monitor the official scholarship page rather than relying on an estimated opening date.
Official Sources and Verification Note
This guide was checked on 20 August 2026 against:
MTN Foundation Scholarship 2026 page — categories, award value, institution, level and CGPA requirements.
MTN Scholarships programme overview — 2026 expansion, renewal conditions and programme totals.
Official MTN application portal — current “Submission is closed” status and applicant declaration.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek — 31 May 2026 deadline and opening-announcement details.
QEDNG — supporting report on the deadline, award and eligible levels.
MTN can change its categories, portal, deadline and document requirements in a future cycle. Readers should confirm every new call on MTN's official website before applying.
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