Last verified: 28 August 2026
The MTN Foundation Scholarship 2026 did not operate as one scholarship for every African student. MTN Nigeria and MTN Ghana ran separate programmes with different benefits, eligibility rules and application processes.
Both 2026 application cycles are now closed. Therefore, do not pay anyone who claims they can still submit an application for you. This guide explains what MTN offered in Nigeria and Ghana, who qualified and what prospective applicants should check when a new cycle appears.
MTN Foundation Scholarship 2026 at a glance
| Country | 2026 status | Main applicants | Confirmed support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Closed | Eligible students in Nigerian public tertiary institutions | ₦300,000 a year, renewable subject to the programme conditions |
| Ghana | Closed on 31 May 2026 | Eligible continuing students, vocational and technical learners, and teachers | Tuition, accommodation, a laptop and a stipend for reading materials |
These programmes do not cover every country where MTN operates. This article only discusses Nigeria and Ghana because current official information for these two schemes can be checked clearly.
MTN Foundation Scholarship 2026 in Nigeria
MTN Nigeria runs three established scholarship routes:
- MTN Science and Technology Scholarship
- MTN Scholarship for Blind Students
- Top 10 UTME Scholarship
The official MTN Nigeria scholarship page confirms that each award is worth ₦300,000 a year. MTN can renew the scholarship until graduation if the recipient maintains the required CGPA and completes the required digital courses.
MTN increased the number of new scholarship opportunities from 400 to 500 in 2026. It added 100 places for medical students. However, this does not mean that 500 places will remain available in a future cycle. Readers should wait for MTN to publish the next allocation.
Science and Technology Scholarship eligibility
The Science and Technology Scholarship supports students taking eligible science and technology related courses in Nigerian public tertiary institutions.
For the 2026 cycle, applicants included students who had completed their second semester at 200 level and were moving into 300 level, as well as students already at 300 level.
The academic requirements depended on the institution:
- Students at public universities and colleges of education needed at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or 3.5 on a 5.0 scale.
- Polytechnic students needed at least a 3.0 CGPA, classed as upper credit, from their Ordinary National Diploma and admission to a Higher National Diploma programme.
- Direct entry applicants needed at least a 3.0 CGPA from their Ordinary National Diploma and admission to 300 level at a public university.
Always check the live course list when a new application opens. A course that sounds technical may not automatically appear on MTN’s eligible list.
Medical student places
MTN added 100 scholarship places for medical students in 2026. The published eligibility covered 400 level medical students in public universities and teaching hospitals. The academic requirement was a pass grade or its equivalent.
Medical applicants should not assume that the same level and grade rules will apply in the next cycle. MTN introduced the additional places in 2026 and may revise the conditions.
Scholarship for Blind Students eligibility
The Scholarship for Blind Students covers any course at a Nigerian public university, polytechnic or college of education. The 2026 information covered students at 200 and 300 level. Blind students studying law were an exception. Because law is a five year course, only students at 300 level could apply in 2026.
The academic thresholds were lower than those used for the Science and Technology Scholarship:
- Blind students at universities and colleges of education needed a minimum CGPA of 2.5.
- Blind polytechnic students needed at least a 2.0 CGPA from their Ordinary National Diploma and admission to a Higher National Diploma programme.
This difference matters. Applicants should use the criteria for their own scholarship route instead of applying the general STEM requirement to everyone.
Top 10 UTME Scholarship
This route recognises the ten highest scoring UTME candidates. MTN states that successful candidates receive ₦300,000 a year from 100 level, subject to the continuing scholarship requirements.
It is different from the main application routes. A student should not pay a third party who promises to place them on the Top 10 list.
Is the Nigeria application still open?
No. The official Nigeria application form currently states that submissions are closed. MTN’s accessible 2026 information does not provide a future reopening date.
Do not use an old April or May date to predict the next cycle. Instead, monitor the official MTN Nigeria Foundation page and confirm that the application link uses an mtn.ng address.
MTN Bright Scholarship 2026 in Ghana
The Ghana programme is called the MTN Bright Scholarship. It supported academically strong students and teachers who faced financial difficulty.
The official MTN Bright Scholarship page confirms that the package included:
- Tuition and accommodation fees
- A laptop
- A stipend for reading materials
MTN did not publish one fixed cash value for every Ghanaian recipient. Therefore, applicants should not convert the package into an estimated amount or claim that every scholar receives the same total value.
Who qualified in Ghana?
The 2026 programme covered Ghanaian citizens in the following groups:
- Continuing students pursuing eligible first degrees at public tertiary institutions
- Students taking vocational or technical skills training
- Professional teachers pursuing a degree in STEM at a public university
Applicants needed a strong academic record and good conduct. They could not be under disciplinary action.
MTN announced 500 Ghana scholarships for 2026. It allocated 300 places to students pursuing first degrees in STEM, vocational and technical routes, and 200 places to teachers continuing their education at public universities. The official Ghana announcement provides this breakdown.
Priority subjects and encouraged applicants
MTN gave preference to ICT, computer science, engineering, artificial intelligence and data analytics. Women and people with disabilities were especially encouraged to apply.
Encouragement did not remove the other conditions. Every applicant still needed to meet the citizenship, institution, academic and conduct requirements. Women looking for other funding routes can also compare the separate guide to scholarships for women.
Other scholarships and financial need
The Bright Scholarship targeted applicants who could not fund their education without support. MTN also instructed people who already held another educational scholarship not to apply.
Applicants had to provide honest information. MTN could reject an application or withdraw an award if its checks found misrepresentation or dishonesty.
Ghana application requirements
The main student guidance required an online application, valid contact details and a one page letter explaining the applicant’s educational and professional goals and why they deserved support.
Teachers also needed to describe relevant ICT or STEM projects and their expected impact. In addition, they needed a CV and a recommendation letter from their school.
The public guidance did not confirm every document that appeared in the old article. Therefore, applicants should follow the live form rather than relying on a copied list of transcripts, identification documents or financial records.
If you need help presenting your goals clearly, read the guide to writing a scholarship personal statement. Use it to improve your structure, but answer MTN’s actual question in your own words.
Is the Ghana application still open?
No. Applications closed on 31 May 2026. MTN stated that the process was free and online only. Shortlisted applicants were due to receive a notification and meet the scholarship panel.
Nigeria and Ghana compared
| Question | Nigeria | Ghana |
| Who administers it? | MTN Nigeria Foundation | MTN Ghana Foundation |
| Main institution rule | Nigerian public tertiary institution | Ghanaian public tertiary institution or eligible vocational route |
| Main award | ₦300,000 annually | Tuition, accommodation, laptop and reading stipend |
| Main student level | Depends on STS, medical or Blind Students route | Continuing first degree, vocational or technical study |
| Teachers included? | Not under the main scholarship routes described here | Yes, under the 2026 teacher allocation |
| Another scholarship allowed? | The public summary does not clearly state a general ban | No |
| 2026 application position | Closed | Closed on 31 May 2026 |
How to prepare for the next MTN scholarship cycle
1. Choose the correct country and route
Do not search for one pan African MTN form. Start with the national MTN Foundation and identify the route that matches your country, course and study level.
2. Check the current status before preparing an essay
Look for a current date and a working application button on the official website. A page that remains online may describe the programme without accepting applications.
3. Record the exact eligibility rules
Write down the required institution type, study level, subject and academic result. Check each one against your own record before starting the form.
4. Prepare accurate academic information
Keep your student number, institution details, course title, study level and CGPA ready. Do not upload a document unless the live form requests it.
5. Give referees enough time
This is especially important for Ghanaian teachers who need a recommendation from their school. Ask early and explain the deadline.
6. Submit through the official portal
Check the domain before entering personal information. Do not pay an agent, share a password or believe anyone who guarantees selection.
For a complete preparation process, use the scholarship application guide.
Information you should not rely on
The final research did not find current official support for the following claims from the previous article:
- Every Nigerian recipient receives a laptop or tablet
- Nigeria provides a standard MTN professional network package to every scholar
- The Nigeria aptitude test always contains 60 to 100 questions in named subjects
- Rwanda, Uganda and Cameroon use the same scholarship structure
- Ghana prioritised six named regions in the 2026 cycle
- A fixed Ghanaian stipend value applies to every scholar
- MTN Skills Academy is a postgraduate scholarship
Removing these claims is more accurate than replacing them with information from an unofficial scholarship website.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still apply for the MTN Foundation Scholarship 2026?
No. The Nigeria application form says submissions are closed, and Ghana closed on 31 May 2026.
Can students from other African countries use the Nigeria or Ghana form?
No. The Nigeria routes require eligible study in Nigeria, while the Ghana scheme requires Ghanaian citizenship and eligible study in Ghana. Students in other countries should check their national MTN website for a separate programme.
Can private university students apply?
The main application routes discussed here required study at a public institution. However, Nigeria’s Top 10 UTME Scholarship is an exception. MTN states that the award applies regardless of whether the successful candidate chooses a public or private tertiary institution. This award is automatic for the candidates named by JAMB and is not a normal application route.
Does every MTN scholar receive a laptop?
No. Ghana confirmed a laptop in its 2026 package. The accessible Nigeria scholarship information confirms the ₦300,000 annual award but does not promise a laptop to every scholar.
Does MTN offer postgraduate funding?
The main Nigeria routes in this guide target tertiary students at specified undergraduate levels. Ghana’s 2026 allocation included professional teachers pursuing eligible degree study in STEM. However, MTN did not present either programme as a general postgraduate scholarship.
Final advice
The MTN Foundation Scholarship can provide valuable support, but applicants must use the rules for their own country and cycle. For now, both 2026 applications are closed.
Prepare your academic information, monitor the national MTN Foundation website and wait for a dated announcement. Most importantly, never use an old deadline or an unofficial form simply because it appears near the top of a search result.