HOW does a student who was the best in his class back in secondary school end up with loads of ‘carry overs’ at the end of his first year at university and is placed on probation? A number of factors could be responsible, but at the top of the list would be a lack of readiness for university life.

Many get carried away with the joy of gaining admission into university. While it is good to celebrate your achievement, it is more important to prepare for life on campus because it is a lot different than what you were used to in secondary school. It is a new phase of life with its own unique set of challenges, which include the following:

A new method of instruction

Back in secondary school, you must have been used to teachers coming in to class and explaining the topics in great details, giving you notes and taking extra care to ensure you comprehend the material.

Don’t expect this at university. The lecturers will mainly aim to get you interested in the subject matter and give you a list of recommended texts. You are expected to make your own notes from the lecture and study on your own. As such, you need to develop good study habits and devote time daily to study the course material. You’ll also benefit greatly from joining a study group.

Heavier Workloads

The volume of reading you have to do at university is more than you were used to in secondary school. You are probably used to reading just the notes given to you in class. Perhaps, you could even wait till few days to the exam before you cram the material and ‘pour’ it out on exam day (I did that). That method will not prove effective at university, and one reason is the sheer volume of texts you have to consume. You may be consulting as much as five textbooks for a single course!

To find your way through this, you have to start studying on time. Don’t wait till the final moments. Don’t wait till you see the timetable. Start early, as soon as you know the course content and the recommended texts. Make it a routine to spend a few hours daily to study. Aim to finish the material a couple of weeks before the exam is due; this will give you ample time for revision.


Higher Demands

Not only is the volume (quantity) of work required higher, the expected quality of your work is also of a higher standard in tests, assignments, term papers and the exams. You will be required to show clear thinking, a deeper understanding of the course content and the ability to communicate same lucidly in writing.

Place higher demands on yourself. Consult past question papers and model answers in order to be familiar with what the examiners expect of you.

Managing your time

There never seems to be enough time, and there are those who wish there would be more hours added to each day. But will that really change anything? Some are able to do much more important work with 24 hours than others are able; it all lies in your ability to manage your time. University life is rife with distractions as there are many activities clamoring for your time.

To overcome this, always keep in mind your main aim of being in school: to earn a degree, and plan your time around that. Let it be your priority. Other activities can come in after that, not before.

The burden of freedom

The greatest joy of most freshmen is that they are finally free. No more parental restrictions and restraints. But with freedom comes responsibility. Your day is no longer planned out for you, neither are your finances. You need to do these for yourself now. Hence, you must learn to manage yourself. Self-discipline is crucial.

There are a host of other challenges you’ll likely face; but these are my top five. Your days at university are crucial; they will shape the rest of your life and impact your future. So make the most of them by preparing adequately to conquer these challenges.

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There are a number of postgraduate scholarships for Nigerians who intend undertaking postgraduate studies abroad (MSc and PhD). These scholarships are provided by governments, development organizations and universities. Some are fully-funded (covering all expenses from tuition to living expenses and flight costs) while others are partial scholarships. The following is a list of postgraduate scholarships available every year.for Nigerians. For more details on any of them simply click on the link provided on each one.

Federal Government Scholarship

This scholarship aims to improve the quality of education in Nigeria and welfare of students. It is co-ordinated by the Overseas Awards division of The Federal Scholarship Board. The participating institutions include all accredited institutions of higher learning in the participating countries that have Bilateral Educational Agreements (BEA) with Nigeria. These countries include Russia (for those whose first degrees were obtained from Russia), China, Hungary, Serbia, Turkey, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, e.t.c. All fields of study are accepted. Applicant must be willing to learn the language of the host country.

To be eligible applicants must hold a first degree with at least Second Class Upper (2.1) and must have completed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) or have a Certificate of Exemption). The age limit is 35 years for Masters and 40 years for PhD

Commonwealth Masters and PhD Scholarship

Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s and PhD study in the UK are offered for citizens of developing Commonwealth countries. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), with the aim of contributing to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth. The scholarship supports both Masters (one year taught) and PhD.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

This is similar to the Commonwealth Masters and PhD Scholarship. It is also offered by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The difference is that for the one above, the selection of candidates is done by a nominating body which is usually the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), Nigeria. For the Shared Scholarships, selection of candidates is done by the participating university in the UK. A list of participating universities and eligible courses are published yearly and can be found on the scholarship website.

British Chevening Scholarship

Chevening Scholarships are awarded to outstanding emerging leaders to pursue a one-year master’s at any UK university. The scholarship programme provides a unique opportunity for future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK. Applicants can choose any course of study at any UK higher education institution.

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NDDC Postgraduate Scholarship

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) yearly offers postgraduate scholarships to indigenes of the Niger Delta who have gained admission into recognized universities abroad for Masters or PhD in the following fields: Engineering, Medical Sciences (M.Sc. Public Health excluded), Computer Science/Technology, Geology, Geosciences, Environmental Sciences, Agriculture, Environmental or Gas/Oil Law and Project Management.
Vanier CGS Canada Scholarship

The Government of Canada launched the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) program in 2008 to strengthen Canada's ability to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. Up to 167 scholarships are awarded annually.

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