Scholarships That Accept WAEC and NECO Results in Saudi Arabia and Europe for Nigerian Students. For many Nigerian students, WAEC and NECO are the most important academic qualifications they have after secondary school. Yet, when searching for scholarships abroad, many students are unsure whether universities in Europe or Saudi Arabia will accept these certificates.

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The good news is that Nigerian students can use WAEC and NECO results to access a number of university admission and scholarship opportunities abroad. However, there is an important point to understand: a university accepting WAEC or NECO for admission does not automatically mean that every scholarship at that university accepts the certificate or that the student will receive funding.

Some scholarships specifically mention WAEC/NECO. Others accept Nigerian secondary-school qualifications as part of their admission process, after which the student may qualify for a scholarship based on academic performance or other criteria.

This article focuses specifically on Saudi Arabia and Europe, with examples of universities and scholarship routes that Nigerian students should investigate.

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Scholarships and Universities in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has become an increasingly attractive destination for international students, including students from Nigeria.

The country has universities offering undergraduate, master’s and PhD programmes, and some institutions provide substantial financial support to international students.

For Nigerian students with WAEC or NECO, Saudi Arabia can be particularly interesting for undergraduate admission, because applicants normally need to demonstrate completion of secondary education or an equivalent qualification.

However, students should understand that Saudi universities may use terms such as secondary school certificate, high school certificate or equivalent qualification rather than specifically writing “WAEC” or “NECO.”

Therefore, Nigerian applicants should verify whether their specific certificate is accepted for their chosen programme.

1. Islamic University of Madinah

The Islamic University of Madinah is one of the Saudi institutions that international students should investigate when looking for undergraduate scholarship opportunities.

The university’s admission requirements refer to having a high-school diploma or equivalent qualification for relevant applicants.

For Nigerian applicants, this means that their secondary-school qualification, such as WAEC or NECO, may form part of the academic documentation used to demonstrate completion of secondary education.

However, applicants should not assume that simply having WAEC or NECO guarantees admission.

The university has additional admission requirements, and applicants must satisfy the conditions for their particular programme.

What makes Saudi universities attractive?

For students who want to study in Saudi Arabia, scholarship packages can potentially provide significant financial support depending on the institution and programme.

Students should investigate opportunities that may include:

• Tuition support
• Accommodation
• Monthly allowances
• Healthcare
• University services
• Other student benefits

The exact benefits depend on the university and scholarship category.

Students should also pay attention to whether the opportunity is an external scholarship for international students or an internal scholarship available to students who are already residents of Saudi Arabia.

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2. Batterjee Medical College

Another Saudi institution Nigerian students should investigate is Batterjee Medical College (BMC).

This is particularly interesting for Nigerian students interested in medicine and other health-related programmes.

The college’s admission requirements specifically state that applicants can use WAEC or NECO, with completion of 12th grade and science subjects required for relevant programmes. The published requirement includes a minimum 90% overall grade according to its grade-equivalency policy.

This is an important example because the university does not simply say “high school certificate.”

It specifically identifies WAEC and NECO.

Who should consider this option?

Nigerian students interested in fields such as:

• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Pharmacy
• Nursing
• Physiotherapy
• Other health-related disciplines

should investigate the college’s current admission and financial-aid opportunities.

However, students should understand that admission acceptance and scholarship eligibility are separate matters.

A student could meet the WAEC/NECO academic requirement but still need to satisfy other conditions for financial aid or scholarships.

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3. Saudi Universities Through the Study in Saudi Platform

Nigerian students should also investigate Saudi Arabia’s centralised international student admission system and the universities participating in it.

Rather than searching only for a scholarship with the words “WAEC scholarship Saudi Arabia,” students should search for:

Saudi Arabia undergraduate scholarships for international students

and then check the admission requirements for each participating university.

This is important because Saudi universities may use different terminology for international secondary-school qualifications.

A Nigerian applicant should have ready:

• WAEC or NECO certificate/result
• Passport
• Academic records
• Birth certificate where required
• Passport photograph
• Medical documentation where required
• Other documents requested by the university

The exact requirements vary.

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What Nigerian Students Should Know About WAEC and NECO in Saudi Arabia

One of the biggest mistakes students make is assuming that every Saudi university treats WAEC and NECO identically.

That is not necessarily the case.

For example, Batterjee Medical College specifically mentions WAEC and NECO and provides a particular grade requirement.

Another university may simply state that applicants need a secondary-school certificate or equivalent.

Therefore, Nigerian applicants should always ask:

“Does this university recognise my WAEC/NECO qualification for this specific programme?”

They should also determine whether the certificate needs:

• Attestation
• Translation
• Authentication
• Equivalency
• Verification

before submitting the application.

Scholarships and Universities in Europe

Europe provides even more opportunities for Nigerian students with WAEC and NECO.

However, the situation is different from Saudi Arabia.

Many European universities do not treat WAEC or NECO as an automatic equivalent of their local secondary-school qualifications for direct bachelor’s admission.

In some cases, students may need a foundation programme before entering university.

This is particularly important for Nigerian students who have only completed secondary education.

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4. University of Salford – United Kingdom

One of the strongest examples is the University of Salford in the United Kingdom.

The university’s International Foundation Year Excellence Scholarship specifically lists qualifications from Nigeria and West Africa.

For Nigerian students, the scholarship accepts:

• NECO – B or above in at least three subjects
• WAEC – B or above in at least three subjects
• WASSCE – B or above in at least three subjects

For September 2026 entry, the scholarship is worth £2,500 for one year of study on the International Foundation Year.

This is one of the clearest examples of a European scholarship where Nigerian students can see WAEC and NECO explicitly mentioned in the eligibility requirements.

What is the International Foundation Year?

The International Foundation Year is a pathway programme for international students who do not meet the direct undergraduate admission requirements.

The programme prepares students academically for progression into a bachelor’s degree.

The University of Salford currently lists its International Foundation Year tuition fee for 2026/27 at £14,940 for the first year.

Therefore, Nigerian students should understand that the £2,500 scholarship does not make the entire programme free.

The scholarship reduces tuition costs, but students still need to budget for:

• Remaining tuition
• Accommodation
• Food
• Transportation
• Visa expenses
• Health-related costs
• Other living expenses

This is why students should distinguish between a fully funded scholarship and a tuition discount or partial scholarship.

5. University of Salford – Scholarships After the Foundation Year

The University of Salford also offers additional scholarships to students progressing from its foundation route.

For example, the Global Gold Excellence Scholarship is worth £3,500 per year for eligible undergraduate students starting from September 2026.

There is also a Global Silver Excellence Scholarship, worth £3,000 per year for eligible undergraduate students starting from September 2026.

This creates an interesting pathway for Nigerian students:

WAEC/NECO → International Foundation Year → Undergraduate Degree → Scholarship

However, these scholarships have their own academic requirements.

Students should therefore not assume that receiving the foundation scholarship automatically guarantees the later undergraduate scholarship.

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6. Newcastle University – Scholarships for Nigerian Students

Newcastle University in the UK also provides scholarship opportunities specifically for international students from Nigeria.

Its Nigeria country page lists scholarships available to Nigerian students, including the Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships – Undergraduate 2026, with awards of up to £7,000 toward tuition fees.

However, students need to distinguish between:

“The university accepts Nigerian students”

and

“The university accepts WAEC/NECO as direct entry for this particular programme.”

Newcastle’s specific academic requirements should therefore be checked before an applicant assumes that WAEC or NECO alone will qualify them for direct undergraduate admission.

For students who require a foundation route, that route should be considered separately.

7. University of Manchester – Scholarships for Nigerian Students

The University of Manchester also provides scholarship opportunities for international students from Nigeria.

Its official Nigeria scholarship page states that the university offers more than 100 merit-based undergraduate scholarships, with awards of up to £30,000, or £10,000 per year over three years, for eligible international students.

This is a major opportunity for high-achieving Nigerian students.

However, again, applicants should not interpret this as meaning that WAEC/NECO alone automatically qualifies them for the scholarship.

Students must first satisfy the university’s academic admission requirements and then meet the scholarship’s eligibility conditions.

This is an important distinction that should be explained to Nigerian scholarship seekers.

8. GREAT Scholarships – United Kingdom

Another major scholarship programme available to Nigerian students is the GREAT Scholarships programme.

The British Council’s Nigeria page lists participating UK universities offering GREAT scholarships to Nigerian students.

The 2026/27 GREAT Scholarship programme provides £10,000 toward tuition fees for eligible one-year taught postgraduate courses at participating UK universities.

However, there is an important limitation:

GREAT Scholarships are primarily postgraduate scholarships.

Therefore, a Nigerian student with only WAEC or NECO who has not completed a bachelor’s degree generally cannot apply for GREAT simply because they have WAEC/NECO.

This is an excellent example of why students must match the scholarship to their education level.

WAEC/NECO students should focus on:

• Undergraduate scholarships
• Foundation scholarships
• University entrance scholarships
• International foundation programmes

Bachelor’s/master’s graduates should investigate:

• GREAT Scholarships
• Chevening
• Commonwealth Scholarships
• University-specific master’s scholarships
• DAAD
• Other postgraduate funding

9. Stipendium Hungaricum – Hungary

Hungary’s Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme is another major European scholarship programme.

The programme offers scholarships for:

• Bachelor’s programmes
• Master’s programmes
• One-tier master’s programmes
• Non-degree programmes
• Doctoral programmes

The official 2026/27 application information confirms these study levels.

For Nigerian students, this is particularly important because undergraduate applicants can potentially apply using their secondary-school qualification, provided they satisfy the programme’s admission requirements.

However, students should not claim that “Stipendium Hungaricum accepts WAEC/NECO” without checking the specific university and programme’s qualification requirements.

The scholarship application and the university admission process must both be satisfied.

10. Other European Countries to Consider

Nigerian students with WAEC and NECO should also investigate universities and scholarship pathways in:

Germany

Germany is attractive because many public universities have low or no tuition fees for many programmes, although students still need to meet admission, living-cost and visa requirements.

For Nigerian students, however, direct undergraduate entry after WAEC/NECO is not always straightforward.

A foundation or preparatory pathway may be required depending on the qualification and programme.

Hungary

Hungary’s Stipendium Hungaricum programme is one of the most important scholarship routes for international students.

United Kingdom

The UK has many university scholarships, but direct undergraduate admission using WAEC/NECO alone varies considerably.

Foundation programmes can provide an alternative route.

Finland

Finland offers university-specific tuition scholarships for international students, although students should carefully check programme requirements and whether the scholarship covers tuition only or additional expenses.

Sweden

Swedish universities offer scholarships, but most major government-funded opportunities are targeted at master’s students rather than students applying directly after secondary school.

WAEC vs NECO: Which One Is Better?

For scholarships in Saudi Arabia and Europe, there is no universal rule saying that WAEC is better than NECO.

What matters is whether the university or scholarship provider recognises your qualification.

The University of Salford is a good example because it explicitly lists both WAEC and NECO, with B or above in at least three subjects for its IFY Excellence Scholarship.

Batterjee Medical College in Saudi Arabia also explicitly mentions WAEC and NECO in its admission requirements.

Therefore, Nigerian students with either qualification should not automatically assume that they cannot study abroad.

What If You Have Two WAEC/NECO Sittings?

Having two sittings does not automatically mean that you cannot receive a scholarship.

However, some universities and programmes require specific grades in particular subjects and may impose limits on the number of examination sittings.

For example, a particular programme could require five credits in one sitting, while another could allow two sittings.

Therefore, check the requirements of the specific university and programme.

Do not rely on a general statement such as:

“Europe accepts two sittings.”

Europe is not one university system. Every country and institution can have different rules.

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What Documents Should Nigerian Students Prepare?

Before applying, Nigerian students should prepare a complete application file.

1. WAEC/NECO Result

Make sure your certificate or result is clear and readable.

2. International Passport

Your name should be consistent across your documents.

3. Academic Records

Some universities may require school transcripts or additional academic documentation.

4. Birth Certificate

This may be required for age verification, especially for undergraduate scholarships.

5. Personal Statement

Explain your academic goals, career ambitions and reasons for choosing the programme.

6. Recommendation Letters

Some scholarships require recommendations from teachers, lecturers or other qualified individuals.

7. Proof of English

Do not assume that WAEC/NECO English automatically replaces IELTS everywhere.

For example, Salford states that Nigerian students with WAEC or NECO English at C6 or above should not require an English test for bachelor’s or master’s study, but students entering the foundation programme require UKVI IELTS.

This demonstrates why students must read the exact requirements.

Important Warning: Not Every “WAEC Scholarship” Advertisement Is Genuine

Nigerian students should be very careful when they see social-media advertisements claiming:

“Study in Europe with WAEC only!”

or:

“Saudi Arabia fully funded scholarship — no documents required!”

Such advertisements may be incomplete or misleading.

Before applying, verify the information on the official university or scholarship website.

Also remember:

WAEC/NECO acceptance ≠ automatic scholarship.

A university may accept your WAEC or NECO for admission but still require:

• High grades
• An entrance examination
• IELTS
• Foundation study
• JAMB
• Age requirements
• Financial documentation
• Programme-specific subjects

Best Options for Nigerian Students With WAEC/NECO

If your highest qualification is currently WAEC or NECO, I would prioritise your research in this order:

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

1. Islamic University of Madinah
Investigate international undergraduate admission and scholarship routes.

2. Batterjee Medical College
Particularly relevant for students with strong WAEC/NECO science results. Its published requirements explicitly mention both qualifications.

🇬🇧 Europe – United Kingdom

3. University of Salford
One of the strongest examples because its IFY Excellence Scholarship explicitly lists WAEC and NECO.

4. Newcastle University
Investigate Nigerian-specific undergraduate scholarships and admission pathways.

5. University of Manchester
Investigate Nigerian undergraduate scholarships, particularly for academically strong applicants.

🇭🇺 Hungary

6. Stipendium Hungaricum
A major European scholarship route covering bachelor’s and higher levels, subject to country, programme and university eligibility.

Final Advice for Nigerian Students

If you have WAEC or NECO and want to study in Saudi Arabia or Europe, do not give up simply because you see requirements such as “high school diploma” or “secondary-school qualification.”

Your Nigerian qualification may be recognised as an equivalent, or you may be able to enter through a foundation programme.

The most important thing is to identify the exact university, programme and scholarship.

For example, the University of Salford provides one of the clearest routes: a Nigerian applicant with WAEC or NECO and B or above in at least three subjects can be considered for its International Foundation Year Excellence Scholarship, which is worth £2,500 for the 2026 intake.

In Saudi Arabia, Batterjee Medical College specifically identifies WAEC and NECO in its admission requirements, including a 90% overall requirement under its grade-equivalency policy.

Meanwhile, universities such as the University of Manchester and Newcastle University provide scholarship opportunities for Nigerian students, although applicants must meet their separate academic and scholarship requirements.

The key message is therefore:

WAEC or NECO can be a pathway to studying abroad, but the certificate alone does not guarantee admission or funding.

Research the opportunity, check the official requirements, prepare your documents early and apply only through legitimate university or scholarship channels.

For Nigerian students, the dream of studying in Saudi Arabia or Europe can start with the WAEC or NECO certificate you already have—but finding the right pathway is what turns that qualification into an international education opportunity.