How many Scholarship Programs can I Apply for at Once?

How many Scholarship Programs can I Apply for at Once?

If you’re a Nigerian student eyeing opportunities like Chevening, Commonwealth, Mastercard Foundation, or PTDF, here’s the short answer: 10-20 scholarships in a concentrated application period.

Why? Because even the best candidates face single-digit acceptance rates. Chevening alone receives 1,500+ Nigerian applications for 50-70 spots. The Commonwealth Scholarship sees similar numbers. Your best strategy isn’t hoping to win one, it’s systematically applying to many.

Last year, Chioma (names changed for the purpose of this post) applied for one scholarship, Chevening. She spent two months perfecting every detail of her application, her essays were flawless, her recommendations glowing, her CV impressive. She didn’t get it.

Tunde took a different approach. He applied to 15 scholarships in six weeks; Chevening, Commonwealth, Mastercard Foundation, PTDF, and eleven university-specific awards. His essays weren’t perfect. His CV was solid but not spectacular. He received three scholarship offers.

The difference wasn’t talent or qualifications. Chioma actually had better grades. The difference was strategy.

Here’s what Tunde understood that most Nigerian scholarship applicants miss. With programs like Chevening accepting only 50-70 Nigerians out of 1,500+ applicants, and Commonwealth Scholarships showing similar odds, your best strategy isn’t perfecting one application; it’s systematically applying to many.

The ideal number? 10-20 scholarships in a concentrated application period.

And here’s the counterintuitive part. Applying to multiple scholarships actually saves time. When you understand the batch application method, you work smarter, not harder.

Let me show you exactly how Tunde did it and how you can too.

 Why Multiple Applications Work

This sounds backwards, doesn’t it? More applications should mean more work, more time, more stress. But Tunde discovered what successful scholarship winners have known for years: the bulk application strategy is actually more efficient than the traditional “apply and wait” approach. Here’s how it works:

1. You create reusable assets once.

When you apply to your first scholarship, you write your personal statement, gather your transcripts, format your CV, and collect recommendation letters. For subsequent applications, all you need to do is tweak and customize other than starting from scratch each time. The bulk of the work is frontloaded, then each additional application takes a fraction of the time.

2. You avoid the stop-start cycle.

Applying to one scholarship, waiting months for results, then starting over if rejected wastes a lot of time. If you apply to 10-15 scholarships in one concentrated period, you’re working efficiently while everything is fresh in your mind. You’re already in “application mode” rather than having to mentally restart the process multiple times throughout the year.

3. You won’t have to go through anxiety.

If you only apply to 2-3 scholarships and don’t win, you’ll spend months scrambling to find new opportunities, often with tighter deadlines and less preparation time. Applying broadly upfront means you’re likely to secure funding without needing that stressful second or third round of applications.

4. You leverage momentum and clarity.

By the time you’ve completed 5 applications, you know your story inside out. For example, your Chevening leadership essay can be adapted for Commonwealth’s development focus, which can then inform your university scholarship personal statements. Your 8th application essay flows faster than your 2nd because you’ve refined your message. This efficiency compounds and each application actually gets quicker, not slower.

5. You avoid last-minute compromises.

When you need funding urgently and haven’t applied broadly, you end up rushing applications or settling for opportunities that aren’t ideal fits. You might even end up not applying at all. Applying to multiple options early gives you choices and negotiating power.

The Strategic Application Process

1. Be organised

Create a tracking system to organise your application. Start out by noting the requirements for each opportunity, their due dates and your application status. This prevents you from missing deadlines or submitting to the wrong place.

Set a schedule for applying and break down the tasks into milestones e.g.  time to draft essays, gather documents, or request letters of recommendation. Dedicate a certain amount of time each day or week to completing your scholarship applications and do this with discipline.

2. Prepare your core materials first.

These materials are your essentials when applying to scholarships. Your strong personal statement, your transcripts, and recommendation letters that can be adapted for different applications. Having these at hand form a good foundation to start sending out your applications.

3. Make each application unique.

This starts with understanding each scholarship’s mission and criteria. This ensures you’re in alignment with their values. Highlight what gives you leverage; your academic and extracurricular achievements.

Never send generic applications.

Write compelling essays that connect with reviewers and add your portfolio wherever you deem necessary. 

4. Apply strategically to relevant scholarships, not just broadly.

 Focus on opportunities where you’re a strong match rather than applying to everything.

For example, If you’re in STEM, target Mastercard Foundation Scholars, PTDF (for petroleum engineering/geosciences), and specific university scholarships like Imperial College’s Nigeria Scholarships.

If you’re in development/policy, Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships align with leadership and development goals.

And for applicants pursuing postgraduate studies in the UK, prioritize Chevening, Commonwealth, and university-specific awards like the University of Edinburgh’s Global Africa Scholarships.

Quality applications to 10 well-matched scholarships will yield better results than rushed applications to 50.

5. Don’t wait until you’re ready.

 If you meet the basic requirements, apply. You’re likely to feel under-prepared but apply. Don’t be in the number of people who talk themselves out of opportunities they could have won. Ensure you submit your applications promptly.

Popular Scholarship Combinations for Nigerian Students

Many successful applicants target these combinations. You can consider them too.

1. UK Focus: Chevening + Commonwealth + 3-5 university-specific scholarships
2. US Focus: Fulbright + university assistantships + 5-8 private foundations
3. STEM Path: Mastercard Foundation + PTDF + field-specific awards
4. Pan-African: Mastercard Foundation + African Union scholarships + regional programs

Understanding Scholarship Stacking Rules

Understanding scholarship stacking rules is a very critical part of the whole process. Therefore, before committing weeks to 20+ applications, know how multiple awards work together.

1. Check award restrictions

Some scholarships explicitly state whether they can be stacked with other awards or not.

2. Beware of last dollar scholarships

They only pay what other aid doesn’t cover. In that case, if you already have full funding, you get nothing.

3. Watch out for over-awards

In this case, if your total scholarships you receive exceed your school’s cost of attendance, they may reduce other aids you applied for.

4. Report everything

Report all scholarships to your university’s financial aid office.

5. Prioritize direct-pay scholarships over the ones that are paid through your institution.

Don’t wait until you feel ready. If you meet the basic requirements, apply. You’re likely to feel under-prepared but apply anyway. Don’t be in the number of people who talk themselves out of opportunities they could have won. Ensure you submit your applications promptly.

What Success Actually Looks Like

Set realistic expectations

As stated earlier, programs like Chevening receive over 1,500 applications from Nigeria annually and award roughly 50-70 scholarships. That’s a 3-5% acceptance rate. Even stellar candidates face rejection.

This is exactly why Nigerian scholarship seekers apply to 10-40 programs. The numbers work in your favor:

• Apply to 5 scholarships (e.g., only Chevening, Commonwealth, Fulbright, PTDF, one university award) = 0-1 offer (risky)
• Apply to 15 scholarships = 1-3 offers (realistic)
• Apply to 25+ scholarships = 3-5 offers (strong odds)”

Don’t consider it a failure. It’s the nature of competitive programs. Even Harvard-bound students with perfect scores face 90%+ rejection rates.

Advantages Of Applying To Many Scholarship Openings

1. Higher chance of success: The more applications you submit, the greater your probability of getting an offer.
2. Increased options: Applying to multiple positions gives you a wider range of opportunities to choose from, which can lead to a better scholarship fit.
3. Improved skills: The process of tailoring applications for different opportunities can help you refine your resume, cover letters, and writing skills.

GAME PLAN

Realistic timeline

Plan for a 4-6 week intensive application period where you batch your work.

Phase 1: Preparation (Week 1-2)

• Create tracking spreadsheet
• Write master personal statement
• Gather transcripts and references

Phase 2: Application Sprint (Week 3-6)

• Customize 3-5 applications per week
• Batch similar tasks together

Phase 3: Submission & Follow-up

• Submit 1-2 days before deadline
• Track application status

Now you understand why Nigerian scholarship seekers apply to 10–40 programs at once.

On a final note, stay persistent! The process can be competitive, so keep trying and learn from each application to improve future submissions.

Do not feel unworthy if you do not land a scholarship. Take it as feedback to do better over your next applications. Focus only on what you can control. At the same time, everything you have learnt during the process stays with you. By the end of the applications you’d have become a better organised person and more self motivated. These qualities can land you another opportunity.

Ready to maximize your scholarship chances? Whether you’re targeting Chevening’s October deadline, Commonwealth’s various cycles, or rolling university scholarships, start building your application materials today.

Share this with fellow Nigerian students applying in 2025/2026, let’s help each other succeed.