The Honorable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, invites all candidates who have completed the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) application form via the Electronic Application System (EAS), and fulfilled all requirements stipulated in the 2026 CSFP Prospectus, to attend Nomination Interview as scheduled below:
Application / Interview Deadline & Schedule:
- Interview Dates: 2nd November to 6th November 2026
- Location: Blue Spring Hotel, Off Shehu Shagari Way (Opposite Federal Ministry of Justice), Central Business District, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Tell Me About The Program:
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) nomination interview is hosted by the Department of Scholarship Awards (formerly Federal Scholarship Board) within the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria. This crucial vetting stage evaluates candidates who have successfully completed their electronic application via the Electronic Application System (EAS) for the 2027/2028 academic cycle to secure official Nigerian government nomination for prestigious postgraduate scholarships in the United Kingdom.
Interview Schedule by Zone:
- Monday, 2 November 2026: Opening Ceremony, Accreditation, and Interviews for candidates from the South-West and North-West Zones.
- Tuesday, 3 November 2026: Accreditation at the Department of Scholarship Awards and Interviews at the hotel for candidates from the North-Central and South-South Zones.
- Wednesday, 4 November 2026: Accreditation at the Department of Scholarship Awards and Interviews at the hotel for candidates from the North-East and South-East Zones.
- Thursday, 5 November & Friday, 6 November 2026: Score collation, results processing, and submission of reports by panelists.
Academic & Eligibility Requirements:
- For Master’s Candidates: Must hold a first degree of at least Second Class Upper (2:1) division.
- For PhD Candidates: Must hold a relevant Master’s degree in addition to at least a Second Class Lower (2:2) degree in their first degree.
- Admission Status: Must possess an admission offer from a UK university listed on the official Commonwealth site.
- Nominating Agency: Only applicants who selected the Department of Scholarship Awards as their nominating agency are eligible to attend.
Mandatory Interview Documents Checklist:
Candidates appearing for accreditation and interview must bring:
- One (1) hard copy of the completed EAS application form.
- All original credentials and one (1) photocopy of each.
- Evidence of submission of at least two (2) referees’ reports.
- Evidence of Supporting Statement from a UK Supervisor (PhD applicants only).
- Original academic transcripts.
- Original and photocopy of NYSC discharge or exemption certificate.
- Two (2) passport-sized photographs.
- Evidence of any special award(s), prizes, academic publications, or sample of work.
- Official English translation and evaluation for any foreign non-English certificates.
Important Notes:
- Attendance is strictly restricted to the date scheduled for your zone of origin; no interviews will be conducted outside assigned zonal days.
- Candidates must monitor their online application status beforehand to ensure referee responses are successfully registered.
- For official inquiries, contact the Director, Department of Scholarship Awards at 09033867037 or 09082454557.
