Studying medicine abroad is a dream for many Nigerian and African students, but the high cost of tuition, visa fees, and living expenses often makes it seem impossible. The good news is that several international governments, universities, and global organizations now offer fully funded medical scholarships that cover tuition, accommodation, stipends, research grants, and even health insurance.

The best part? Many of these scholarships do not require IELTS, making them perfect for African students who want to study medicine, nursing, public health, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, or any health-related field.

This guide highlights the top fully funded medical scholarships open to Africans, the benefits, eligibility, and how to apply successfully.

Why Medical Students Should Apply for Fully Funded Scholarships

Medical programs abroad are extremely expensive, but scholarships remove the financial burden. Here’s why these opportunities are worth applying for:

• Full tuition coverage
• Monthly living allowance
• Free accommodation or housing support
• Health insurance
• Research funding and laboratory access
• Travel allowance or flight ticket reimbursement
• No IELTS required for many programs
• Opportunity to study in top medical institutions globally

These scholarships help African medical students gain world-class training that opens doors to global careers.

Top Fully Funded Medical Scholarships (No IELTS Required)

Below are the most reliable scholarships available for Nigerian and African medical students who want to study abroad without paying for IELTS.

1. Turkish Türkiye Burslari Medical Scholarship

The Türkiye Scholarship is one of the most popular fully funded medical programs for Africans. It allows students to study Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Biomedical Sciences in top Turkish universities.

Benefits

• Full tuition
• Monthly stipend
• Free accommodation
• Health insurance
• One-year free Turkish language course
• No IELTS required

Who Can Apply

Undergraduate, master’s, and PhD medical students.

2. China Government Medical Scholarship (CSC Scholarship)

This fully funded scholarship allows students to study medicine and health sciences in leading Chinese medical universities.

Benefits

• Full tuition
• Free accommodation on campus
• Monthly living allowance
• Medical insurance
• No IELTS required (English-taught programs available)

Who Can Apply

MBBS, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Laboratory Science applicants.

3. Hungary Stipendium Hungaricum Medical Scholarship

Hungary offers thousands of scholarships yearly, including programs in medicine, public health, physiotherapy, and related fields.

Benefits

• Full tuition
• Monthly stipend
• Free dormitory or accommodation support
• Health insurance
• No IELTS required (English proficiency letter accepted)

Who Can Apply

Undergraduate, master’s, and postgraduate students.

4. Russia Government Medical Scholarship

Russia offers one of the largest fully funded medicine scholarships for African students, with no IELTS required.

Benefits

• Free tuition for the entire medical program
• Monthly allowance
• Free hostel accommodation
• Medical care
• Discounted flights

Who Can Apply

Students applying for MBBS, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and other medical courses.

5. Germany DAAD Public Health & Biomedical Scholarships

Germany is known for world-class healthcare training. Many DAAD scholarships do not require IELTS if you studied in English.

Benefits

• Full tuition
• Monthly stipend
• Travel allowance
• Health insurance
• Research support
• Family support in some programs

Who Can Apply

Public health, global health, biomedical science, and clinical research students.

6. Belgium ARES Medical Scholarship

This scholarship is specifically for developing countries, including Nigeria and African nations.

Benefits

• Full tuition
• Round-trip flight
• Living allowance
• Accommodation support
• Health insurance
• No IELTS required

Who Can Apply

Nursing, Public Health, Mental Health, and Health Policy students.

7. Mauritius Africa Scholarship Scheme

Mauritius offers a fully funded scholarship exclusively for African students.

Benefits

• Free tuition
• Living allowance
• Accommodation support
• Return flight ticket
• No IELTS required

Who Can Apply

Medical and health science students.

8. Indonesia Developing Countries Scholarship (KNB Scholarship)

This scholarship supports African students to study medical and health-related courses in Indonesia.

Benefits

• Full tuition
• Monthly allowance
• Accommodation
• Health insurance
• Flight ticket provided
• No IELTS needed

Who Can Apply

Undergraduate and postgraduate health programs.

General Eligibility Requirements

While each scholarship has unique criteria, most require:

• Valid international passport
• Secondary school certificate or university transcript
• English proficiency letter (instead of IELTS)
• Recommendation letters
• Personal statement or motivation letter
• Medical fitness report

How to Apply for These Scholarships (Step-by-Step)

Below is the general application process most medical scholarships follow:

Step 1: Choose a Scholarship

Select the program that fits your medical field and level of study.

Step 2: Prepare All Required Documents

Common documents include:

• Passport
• Certificates and transcripts
• Recommendation letters
• Passport photograph
• Motivation letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Step 3: Create an Online Profile

Most scholarships require online registration.

Step 4: Upload Your Documents

Scan your documents clearly and upload them to the portal.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Once everything is completed, submit before the deadline.

Step 6: Attend Interview (If Required)

Some scholarships invite shortlisted candidates for an online interview.

Step 7: Receive Admission + Scholarship Offer

Successful students will receive an official scholarship letter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I apply for these scholarships without IELTS?

Yes. All scholarships listed above accept English proficiency letters instead of IELTS.

2. Are medical scholarships fully funded?

Yes, they cover tuition, accommodation, stipends, and sometimes travel costs.

3. Can Nigerian students apply?

Absolutely. Nigerians are among the top recipients each year.

4. Which medical courses are eligible?

Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Anatomy, Physiology, Public Health, Biomedical Science, and many others.

5. Do I need experience to apply?

No. Most scholarships accept fresh students with no work experience.