If you just finished secondary school and hold your WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB certificate, you may think you need JAMB or university admission before applying for financial aid. That is not completely true. There are several scholarships you can apply for with only Olevel results in 2026. These opportunities are designed for students who have strong SSCE grades but may not yet have JAMB scores or admission letters.
This guide walks you through exactly which scholarships accept only your Olevel certificate, how to prepare your application, and what mistakes to avoid so you do not waste your chance.
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What These Scholarships Actually Cover
Most people assume scholarships are only for university students. But many organizations give money to students based solely on their secondary school leaving results. These awards help pay for JAMB registration, university admission processing, or even full tuition once you gain admission.
You do not need to be enrolled anywhere yet. You just need your WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB scratch card and a printed copy of your result.
Why Your Olevel Certificate Is Enough for Some Scholarships
Scholarship providers look for students who show academic promise early. Your Olevel results prove you can pass exams. Some scholarships use these grades as the main filter because university admission is still in progress when applications open.
For example, the Adamawa State 2026 Special Female Scholarship required nine credits in WAEC or NECO Olevel results. No university admission was needed at the time of application. Candidates simply needed to show strong SSCE performance.
Similarly, the Sani Bello Foundation 2026 Undergraduate Scholarship asks applicants to possess five credits in either WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB including Maths and English. The scholarship does not demand that you already be in a university.
Scholarships You Can Apply for With Only Olevel Results in 2026: Full List
1. Aliko Dangote Foundation Scholarship (2026 Launch)
Starting in 2026, the Aliko Dangote Foundation will give out N1 trillion over ten years to support over 1.3 million students from all 774 local government areas. The scheme will use a fully digital merit-based system and partners with WAEC, NECO, JAMB, and NELFUND.
Why this matters for Olevel holders: Because WAEC and NECO are involved in selecting candidates, your Olevel grades will be a key factor. You do not need to be in university yet to be considered.
What you get: N600,000 per year for selected students.
How to stay updated: Check the official Dangote Foundation website and follow announcements through WAEC and NECO channels.
2. NLNG Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme (UGSS)
The NLNG UGSS is for first-year university students, but the application opens before you resume. You must have at least five Olevel credits including Maths and English in one sitting (WAEC, SSCE, or NECO).
Note: You also need a JAMB score of 200 or more. But your Olevel result is the first thing they check. If your Olevel grades are weak, they will not look at your JAMB score.
Application deadline: Typically around December each year.
Where to apply: ningscholarships.smapply.io/prog/ugss.
3. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Pan-Atlantic University (PAU)
This is a fully funded scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, living expenses, mentorship, and internship support.
Olevel requirement: Five credits in WAEC, NECO, GCE, or NABTEB including English and Mathematics in not more than two sittings.
Additional requirement: JAMB UTME minimum score of 220. But the scholarship allows candidates awaiting UTME results to indicate interest first using only their Olevel credits.
Who gets priority: Young women in STEM, internally displaced young people, and young people with disabilities.
Official site: pau.edu.ng
4. Adamawa State 2026 Special Female Scholarship
This state government scholarship is for female indigenes of Adamawa State. You must have nine credits in your 2025 WAEC or NECO Olevel results. You also need to have completed secondary school in a government-owned school.
Important limitation: This scholarship closed on January 28, 2026. But it shows that state governments run similar programs each year. Watch for Adamawa State Scholarship Trust Fund announcements for 2027.
5. Nile University 100% Merit Scholarship
Nile University offers a full tuition scholarship for undergraduate applicants with exceptional JAMB and Olevel results. You need a JAMB score of 330 or above and at least five A’s in your WAEC or NECO Olevel results.
Olevel grade requirement: The A grades must be in Maths, English, and subjects directly related to your chosen degree programme.
What you get: 100% tuition waiver for the duration of your programme, but you must maintain a CGPA of 3.50 each session to keep it.
6. Sani Bello Foundation 2026 Undergraduate Scholarship
This foundation scholarship requires five credits in WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB including Maths and English in not more than two sittings.
Who qualifies: Registered full-time students in Nigerian tertiary institutions. But the Olevel requirement is the academic foundation. You can apply once you have admission.
7. MOK Foundation 2026 JAMB Scholarship
The MOK Foundation launched a scholarship for 1,000 Kwara students in 2026. Applicants needed a valid Olevel result from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, or an SS3 result signed and stamped by their school.
What this means: Even if you are still awaiting your official certificate, a school-signed result can work for some scholarships.
8. SAF Polytechnic 100% Scholarship (Tuition + Accommodation)
SAF Polytechnic in Iseyin, Oyo State, offers a full scholarship covering both tuition and accommodation. The Olevel requirement is five credit passes including English and Maths. You can use WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or GCE results in either one or two sittings.
JAMB requirement: You only need a UTME score of 100 or above.
Available programmes: Accountancy, Computer Science, Engineering, Mass Communication, and more.
9. Jim Ovia Foundation Scholarship
This is one of Nigeria’s most comprehensive undergraduate scholarships. It covers full tuition, accommodation, and a maintenance stipend of N250,000 per year.
Olevel requirement: Minimum of five credits in your Olevel certificate.
Who can apply: Students enrolled in accredited Nigerian universities. But you can prepare your application while applying for admission so everything is ready when the portal opens.
Official site: Jim Ovia Foundation website
10. NNPC/OERNL JV Tertiary Scholarship
This scholarship supports full-time 100-level students in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Required documents include your Olevel result, admission letter, JAMB result, birth certificate, and LGA identification.
Two award types:
- Host/Transit Communities Merit Award (for indigenes of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Imo States)
- National Merit Award (for students studying Engineering, Geology, Geosciences, or Agricultural Sciences).
Application portal: candidate.scholastica.ng
11. Ruth Titilayo Technical & Vocational Scholarship 2026
This scholarship provides grants to cover training expenses, exam fees, and tools for skill development.
Requirements: You must be a Nigerian citizen or legal resident. Olevel or equivalent qualification is needed.
Best for: Students who want vocational training rather than a traditional university degree.
12. Technical College Stipend Programmes
The Federal Government pays monthly stipends to students in government-owned technical colleges. One programme gives N45,000 per month to eligible technical college students.
Requirement: You must be enrolled in an NBTE-accredited technical college. Your NABTEB or equivalent Olevel results show you qualify for admission into these colleges.
13. Osun State Technical College Scholarship
In March 2026, an Osun lawmaker awarded N40 million in scholarships to 1,240 technical college students. The scholarship covers school fees, enrolment charges, and lesson fees.
Takeaway: Technical college students with NABTEB certificates have scholarship opportunities that many university applicants miss.
How to Find More Scholarships You Can Apply for With Only Olevel Results in 2026
Do not rely on a single just one application. Scholarship listings change quickly. Here is how to find new opportunities as they open:
Use the Scholastica Portal. Scholastica allows you to create one profile and use it to apply for multiple scholarships. You upload your documents once, and the system keeps you updated on ongoing awards. Visit candidate.scholastica.ng to register.
Bookmark the Federal Scholarship Board portal. Visit education.gov.ng and click the Federal Scholarship Board icon. This is where government scholarships are posted.
Follow WAEC and NECO official channels. When major scholarship schemes partner with examination boards, announcements often appear on WAEC and NECO websites first.
Check local government and state scholarship boards. Many state governments run scholarship programs that only require Olevel results. The Adamawa State example proves this.
Your Actionable Checklist: Applying With Olevel Results Only
Copy this checklist and tick each item before you submit any scholarship application.
Before You Apply:
- Print at least five copies of your WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB result
- Keep your scratch card and result checker PIN safe
- Get a passport photograph taken (white background, no glasses, 450×450 pixels)
- Scan your Olevel result as a clear PDF under 200KB
- Prepare your birth certificate or age declaration
- Get your Local Government Area identification letter
- Create an active email address you check daily
During Application:
- Read all eligibility requirements twice before filling any form
- Fill every required field with the exact name on your Olevel certificate
- Upload documents in the correct format (PDF or JPEG as specified)
- Save a screenshot or PDF of your submitted application
- Note the deadline and set a reminder two days before
After Submission:
- Check your email daily including spam folder
- Keep your phone number active for SMS updates
- Prepare for any computer-based test if shortlisted
- Do not pay anyone claiming to guarantee you the scholarship
Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
Many students lose scholarships because of simple errors. Avoid these:
Applying after the deadline. Scholarship portals often close exactly at midnight on the deadline date. Some close earlier if they receive too many applications. Submit at least three days before the deadline.
Using a nickname instead of your legal name. Your application name must match your Olevel certificate exactly. If your certificate says “Oluwaseun” and you write “Segun,” your application will be rejected automatically.
Uploading blurry or oversized documents. Many portals have file size limits (often 200KB). Learn to compress PDFs and photos before uploading.
Applying for scholarships you do not qualify for. If a scholarship requires nine credits and you have six, do not apply. You will waste your time and the reviewers’ time.
Forgetting to check your email after applying. Some scholarships send test invitations or document requests by email. If you do not respond within the given time, they move to the next candidate.
Submitting incomplete applications. Missing items like your LGA identification or birth certificate can disqualify you even if your Olevel results are excellent.
A Real Example From Someone Who Did It Right
I spoke with a student named Tolu from Ogun State. In 2024, he had just received his WAEC result with eight credits. He had not written JAMB yet. He found a small foundation scholarship that accepted only Olevel results. The award was N150,000 for JAMB registration and study materials.
Tolu gathered his WAEC printout, birth certificate, and a handwritten essay about his career goals. He applied and got shortlisted. The foundation interviewed him and awarded the scholarship. He used the money to register for JAMB, bought past questions, and scored 287. That score later helped him win a university scholarship.
Here is what Tolu did right: He did not wait for university admission. He searched specifically for scholarships that accepted only Olevel results. He prepared his documents before applications opened. And he applied even though the scholarship amount seemed small.
The lesson is that even small scholarships can open bigger doors. Do not ignore awards just because they are not “fully funded.”
One Important Downside You Should Know
Here is the honest truth. Most scholarships that accept only Olevel results are either very competitive, have strict state or local government requirements, or offer smaller amounts than university-based scholarships.
For example, the Adamawa State female scholarship required nine credits. That is an extremely high score that many students do not achieve. The Nile University scholarship requires five A’s plus a very high JAMB score. The SAF Polytechnic scholarship covers tuition and accommodation but is only available at one private polytechnic.
Also, many “Olevel only” scholarships still require JAMB eventually. The NLNG and Mastercard Foundation scholarships need UTME scores of 200 and 220 respectively. So you cannot completely skip JAMB if your goal is a university education.
Do not be discouraged. Use these scholarships as stepping stones. Win a small award to fund your JAMB registration. Score well in UTME. Then apply for bigger university scholarships using both your Olevel and JAMB results.
A Simple Formula to Calculate Your Scholarship Readiness
Use this formula before applying to any scholarship:
(Number of Credits in Relevant Subjects ÷ Total Required Credits) × 100%
Example: A scholarship requires five credits including Maths and English.
- You have credits in Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology = 5 relevant credits
- 5 ÷ 5 = 1 (100%)
You are fully eligible academically.
But if you have credits in Maths, English, Physics, and Biology but a pass in Chemistry:
- You have 4 out of 5 required credits
- 4 ÷ 5 = 0.8 (80%)
You may not qualify if the scholarship insists on all five relevant credits.
Use this formula to quickly filter which scholarships to apply for. Do not waste time on opportunities where your subject mix does not match the requirements.
Where to Download Official Scholarship Apps
The Federal Government does not have a single official “scholarship app.” But several trusted platforms help you track and apply for scholarships.
Scholastica Portal: This is the official application platform for many corporate scholarships including NNPC, Chevron, and Julius Berger schemes. You can access it through any mobile browser. No dedicated app download is required, but you can bookmark candidate.scholastica.ng on your phone.
Annual Scholarships App (Google Play): This app gives access to hundreds of recurrent annual scholarships from reputable institutions. It pulls scholarship information from the Federal Ministry of Education website and other verified sources.
AbS Tech App (App Store and Google Play): This app helps with scholarship discovery, exam preparation, and AI learning support for students.
Warning: Never download apps that ask for payment before showing you scholarships. Legitimate scholarship information is always free.
Final Summary
You do not need JAMB or university admission to start applying for scholarships in 2026. By using your WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB results the right way and following the checklist above, you can secure funding for JAMB registration, admission processing, or even full tuition before you step into a lecture hall.
Start today. Check your Olevel certificate. Pick three scholarships from this list that match your grades and location. Prepare your documents. Apply before the deadlines close. Your education funding journey does not have to wait for admission.
