When a scholarship advert or award letter says “fully funded,” “partially funded,” “tuition waiver” or “stipend,” the words do not guarantee the same package every time. For a Nigerian applicant the real question is simple: after the award, how much cash do you still need to raise for the visa, the tuberculosis (TB) test, the flight and the first weeks or months before any living allowance arrives?
This guide focuses on the practical cost gaps that remain once the funding language is decoded. It complements the earlier comparison of scholarship, fellowship, bursary and studentship terms rather than repeating those definitions.
What the four phrases usually signal
Fully funded is the strongest claim. In practice it means the funder intends to cover tuition and a living allowance (stipend) for the stated period. Many also add economy return airfare, an arrival or departure allowance, visa-fee reimbursement and a contribution toward the TB test. The Chevening website, for example, lists payment of tuition fees, economy travel for the scholar only, an arrival allowance, the cost of the entry-clearance (visa) application, a departure allowance, a contribution of up to £75 for TB testing where required, a travel top-up allowance and a monthly personal living allowance whose rate depends on whether the course is inside or outside London.
Source: Chevening – What does a Chevening Scholarship cover?
Partially funded means only some of those items are paid. Common patterns include a percentage tuition reduction, a fixed cash sum toward fees, or a stipend without tuition cover. The remaining balance becomes your responsibility.
Tuition waiver (sometimes called a fee waiver or fees-only award) cancels all or part of the tuition invoice. It is not cash paid to you. Living costs, the visa fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), the TB test and the flight stay with you unless the award letter explicitly adds them.
According to the University of Cambridge students’ glossary, a “fees-only award” is “a studentship that pays for tuition fees but not living costs,” while a “full award” pays for both tuition fees and living costs. A stipend is defined simply as “a regular payment to a student for living costs.”
Source: University of Cambridge – Glossary for fees and funding
Stipend is the monthly living allowance itself. It is intended for rent, food, local transport and personal expenses. It does not pay the university invoice.
The Nigerian cost gap that funding language rarely closes
Even a well-described fully funded package leaves several unavoidable out-of-pocket items for someone starting from Nigeria. These must be paid before or immediately after arrival, often before the first stipend instalment reaches a UK (or other host-country) bank account.
1. Student-visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) currently charges £558 for a Student visa application made from outside the UK. In addition you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for the full length of the course at the rate published on the official student-visa pages. Some fully funded schemes (including Chevening) reimburse the visa fee for the scholar only; most university tuition waivers do not.
Source: GOV.UK – Student visa
2. Tuberculosis test
Nigeria appears on the UK list of countries whose nationals must present a TB certificate for visas lasting six months or longer. The test must be taken at a clinic approved by the Home Office. Chevening contributes up to £75 toward the cost when a test is required; many other awards leave the full clinic fee to the student.
Source: GOV.UK – Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants
3. Proof-of-funds / maintenance requirement
Even when a stipend is promised, the visa application often still requires you to show that living-cost funds meet the official maintenance threshold for up to nine months. According to the current GOV.UK student-visa money page the figures are £1,529 per month for courses in London and £1,171 per month for courses outside London (maximum nine months). These amounts are separate from any outstanding tuition shown on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Official financial sponsorship that meets UKVI criteria can sometimes replace the need to show personal bank statements, but the award letter must state the sponsorship clearly.
Source: GOV.UK – Student visa: Money you need
Note: a Statement of Changes published in September 2026 indicated higher monthly figures (£1,570 London / £1,203 outside London) scheduled to apply to applications made on or after 30 November 2026. Always check the live GOV.UK page on the day you apply, because the application date, not the CAS date, determines which rate is used.
4. Flights and the first weeks on the ground
Many fully funded packages book or reimburse one economy return ticket for the scholar only. Partial awards and pure tuition waivers almost never include airfare. Even when the ticket is covered, you still need cash for excess-baggage charges, airport transfers, a temporary SIM, and several weeks of living costs until the first stipend payment is processed. Some universities pay the first instalment only after registration and after you have opened a local bank account—often four to six weeks after arrival.
How to turn the award letter into a realistic budget
Create three columns before you accept any offer:
- Covered by the award – list every item the letter or official FAQ explicitly pays (tuition, stipend rate and start date, visa fee, TB contribution, airfare, arrival allowance).
- My responsibility – everything left: remaining tuition, full maintenance proof if required, IHS, TB test balance, flight if not included, rent deposit, first-month living costs, any dependants.
- When the money arrives – note whether the first stipend is paid before departure, on arrival, or only after registration.
If the letter is silent on any major cost, treat that cost as yours until you receive written confirmation from the funder or the university finance office.
Common mistakes that leave Nigerian applicants short of cash
- Assuming “fully funded” automatically includes the visa fee, IHS and TB test. Only the specific items listed on the official benefits page are covered.
- Treating a tuition waiver as cash that can be shown for the maintenance requirement. A waiver reduces the tuition figure on the CAS; it does not appear in a bank statement.
- Budgeting as if the first stipend will be in the account on landing day. Many schemes pay only after enrolment formalities are complete.
- Forgetting that dependants are almost never covered by standard student packages. Chevening, for instance, states that travel and visa costs are for the scholar only.
- Using an outdated maintenance figure. Always verify the current monthly rates on the live GOV.UK student-visa money page on the day you apply.
Questions Nigerian applicants actually ask
1. If the award is called “fully funded” but the letter only mentions tuition and a stipend, do I still need personal savings?
Yes. You will almost always need money for the visa application fee (unless reimbursed), the TB test (unless a contribution is stated), the flight (unless booked by the funder), and several weeks of living costs until the stipend starts. Map every cost against the three-column budget described above.
2. Can a tuition waiver replace the need to show maintenance funds for a UK Student visa?
No. A waiver reduces or removes the tuition amount you must prove, but the official living-cost (maintenance) requirement remains. You must still show the required monthly figure for up to nine months unless you qualify for an exemption or present official financial sponsorship that UKVI accepts.
3. Does a stipend paid after arrival satisfy the 28-day funds rule?
Usually not for the visa application itself. The 28-day rule applies to money already held before you submit the application. Future stipend payments are not treated as funds already available unless the sponsor issues a formal sponsorship letter that meets UKVI criteria. Confirm the exact wording with the university’s international student advice team.
4. How much should I keep available for the first month even with a full stipend?
A practical buffer is the equivalent of four to six weeks of local living costs plus any rent deposit or temporary accommodation fee. Exact amounts vary by city; the official maintenance figures give a conservative minimum. The stipend rate itself is not a guarantee that the first payment will arrive immediately.
5. If two offers both say “partially funded,” how do I compare them?
Convert both packages into the same three-column spreadsheet. Subtract the covered items from the total cost of attendance (tuition + official maintenance + visa + TB + flight). The offer with the smaller remaining gap is the stronger financial package for your situation, even if the percentage waiver looks smaller on paper.
Final check before you accept
Read the award letter and the funder’s official benefits page side by side. Highlight every cost that is not named. Confirm the payment schedule in writing. Verify the current visa fee, IHS rate and maintenance figures on the official UK government pages (or the equivalent pages for Canada, the United States, Australia or Europe). Only then decide whether the remaining personal contribution is realistic for your household.
For a clear side-by-side of the related terms scholarship, fellowship, bursary and studentship, see the earlier AlertNaija247 guide Scholarship vs Fellowship vs Bursary vs Studentship: What Nigerian Applicants Must Know.
Always confirm opportunity details, fees and requirements on the official organisation’s website before applying or making financial plans. Figures and rules can change; the live government or funder page on the day you act is the only authoritative source.