Four scholarship mistakes you must avoid
We’ve all seen the advertisements for full-riding Mastercard and Chevron (Yale, Harvard, and Colombia) university scholarships. What about scholarships for others who aren’t quite as competitive? Those of us without 4.0 GPAs, what about us? How do those of us without thousands of dollars for IELTS preparation courses and AP exams fare?
Thankfully, students like you can find many low-competition scholarships available. If you know where to look, it’s easy to find most of them. And that is why we are making this post about how to find low-competition scholarships.
Top places you can find low competitive scholarship
Local Organisations:
Many small local organisations don’t have great advertising efforts (some don’t even have websites), so don’t be afraid to ask! They may be available but poorly advertised. Here are local places to check:
- Churches (yes, some churches organise scholarships for members of their church). Churches like Winners Chapel, Redeem (RCCG), and SYNAGOGUE, among others, do organise yearly scholarships. All you need to do is to check them out.
- Community Centers
- Libraries (each state has a local library, but the fact is that most students don’t use it often). The majority of community-based scholarships are posted and sent to the community library. Even forms are taken to the community centres and library.
- Local eatery shops and small businesses (often found on the local newspapers and news websites)
Professional Organizations:
If you are a member of a professional organisation, such as the Nigeria Institution of Professional Engineers and Scientists (NIPES)or the International Bar Association, there may be scholarships available through them.
If there is a membership fee associated with a professional organisation, that is normal! Legit professional organisations offer more than just scholarships. Don’t confuse a membership fee with an application fee; you should never pay to apply to one single scholarship. Membership fees normally include additional benefits like conferences, networking opportunities, resume help and more.
Here are five professional organisations in Nigeria that offer scholarships (or other similar support) plus their official links. You’ll still want to check each one’s eligibility and deadlines, but these give you solid leads.
| # | Organisation | Field / Focus | Official Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) | Women in engineering / STEM | https://apwen.org.ng/ (apwen.org.ng) |
| 2 | National Institute of Professional Engineers and Scientists (NIPES) | Engineering & science students | https://nipes.org/ (nipes.org) |
| 3 | UCEF – University Christian Education Foundation Scholarship Program | Christian students in universities (South-East / South-South Nigeria) | https://www.ucefs.org/ (ucefs.org) |
| 4 | ASMAF – Ajesola Solarin Majekodunmi Foundation | Meritorious scholarships (general field) | https://abpezprofessionals.com/meritorious-scholarship/ (Abpez Nigeria) |
| 5 | NNPC / SNEPCo Scholarship Programme (via oil & gas sector) | Undergraduate students in Nigerian public universities | https://candidate.scholastica.ng/schemes/NNPCLTDSNEPCo25 (candidate.scholastica.ng) |
3. Target School-Based or Departmental Awards
These are scholarships offered within your university — not advertised widely online. They’re usually funded by your school’s alumni, lecturers, or private donors who want to support students from a particular faculty or department.
Explore more opportunities like this
Why they matter:
- Fewer students even know they exist.
- They’re open only to students in your institution or department — which means less competition.
- The people reviewing applications already understand your course load, grades, and campus challenges.
How to find them:
- Visit your Student Affairs Office, Financial Aid Office, or your departmental notice board.
- Ask your course adviser or HOD directly — they often know of small grants that aren’t online.
- Check your school’s official website under “Scholarships,” “Endowments”, or “Student Support.”
Example:
At some universities, there’s a “Dean’s Merit Award” or an “Alumni Undergraduate Scholarship.” You might also find memorial scholarships created in honor of former lecturers or outstanding alumni. They may only require a short essay or proof of academic excellence and you could be competing with just 10–20 people instead of thousands online.
4. Look for Niche or Identity-Focused Scholarships
These are scholarships designed for a specific type of student based on your background, gender, region, or field of study. Because they’re so targeted, not everyone qualifies, which naturally reduces competition.
Why they matter:
The tighter the eligibility, the smaller the pool. A scholarship for “female engineering students from Nigeria’s South-West” might attract 50 people, while a general “STEM in Africa” program gets thousands.
Examples of niches that work:
- By gender: APWEN supports women in engineering.
- By field: The Nigerian Society of Engineers gives to students in technical fields.
- By location: Some state governments or community foundations offer awards only to indigenes.
- By background: Faith-based or NGO-funded scholarships often support orphans, rural students, or low-income families.
How to find them:
Search with specific keywords that match your profile – for example:
“Scholarship for education students in Nigeria”
“Female undergraduate scholarships in Africa”
“Scholarship for students from Benue State”
With this, you can find a low competitive scholarship and apply. Also, you can read other articles click here to read
