MTN Foundation Muson Scholarship 2026/2027 For Nigerians | Fully Funded
Since 2006, MTN Foundation has partnered with the Musical Society of Nigeria to fund what’s now reached its 21st cohort of the Diploma in Music programme — a genuine, two-decade commitment that’s produced graduates now working across Nigeria’s music industry and internationally.
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The programme trains musicians to a standard modeled directly on international conservatoire education, meaning this isn’t casual music appreciation training but rigorous, professional-level instruction preparing students for real careers in performance or further music degree study. If you’re checking this now, the 2026/2027 application window has just closed — it ran from 20 July to 23 August 2026 — and shortlisted candidates will be notified tomorrow, 26 August 2026, for the next stage of written examinations, auditions, and interviews.
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About the MTN Foundation MUSON Scholarship
MUSON’s School of Music holds a genuine, established reputation as Nigeria’s premier music institution, and the diploma itself carries real weight for anyone serious about a music career — it’s internationally accredited and designed to prepare graduates for direct entry or transfer into university-level music degree programmes, not just standalone vocational training.
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At the 19th graduation ceremony, MTN Foundation Executive Director Odunayo Sanya described the two-decade partnership as reflecting the Foundation’s genuine, sustained commitment to developing young talent through education — language that’s backed up by the programme’s actual track record of continuous annual cohorts since 2006.
The curriculum spans fourteen possible instrumental majors, and every student, regardless of their chosen major, also takes a minor instrument from a different instrumental family for two semesters and joins the mandatory choir — string majors additionally join the orchestra, while wind and percussion majors join the band, with students from other areas able to audition for these ensembles too. This ensemble requirement reflects the programme’s broader philosophy: producing well-rounded musicians with genuine collaborative performance experience, not just individual instrumental proficiency.
MTN Foundation Muson Scholarship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | MTN Foundation Muson |
| Host Country ⇒ | Nigeria |
| Study Level ⇒ | Undergraduate |
| Benefits ⇒ | Full tuition, books, and approved course-related expenses |
| Funded by ⇒ | MTN Foundation, in partnership with the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Nigeria |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Closed Sunday, 23 August 2026 (applications opened 20 July 2026). Shortlisted candidates notified 26 August 2026, for written examinations, auditions, and interviews. Watch for the 22nd cohort’s call for applications, expected around July 2027. |
What the Scholarship Actually Covers
- Full tuition sponsorship for the complete two-year diploma programme
- Books and approved course-related expenses, covering materials genuinely necessary for the programme, not just the core tuition fee
- Training by professional musicians and instructors, delivered to a standard modeled on international conservatoire education
- Access to MUSON’s instruments, studios, and performance spaces, giving students real, high-quality facilities throughout their training
- Genuine performance opportunities, including concerts, recitals, and musical productions
- A rigorous, dual foundation in both practical and theoretical music, rather than emphasis on performance alone
- Direct preparation for entry into international university music degree programmes, positioning graduates for further study, not only immediate career entry
- Networking with Nigeria’s established musicians and mentors
Available Majors
Piano, Organ, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion, Classical Guitar, and Voice.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be a Nigerian citizen
- You must be between 18 and 35 years old
- You must hold a GCE O-Level or SSCE certificate with credits in five subjects, including English Language, obtained in no more than two sittings
- You must hold a Grade 5 or higher pass certificate in both Music Practical and Music Theory, from MUSON’s own School of Music or another recognised examining body such as ABRSM or Trinity College London
- For this 2026 cycle specifically, you must also possess a valid JAMB result — a new admission requirement introduced this year that wasn’t part of earlier cycles
- If you have strong practical skills but haven’t yet met the theory requirement, you may still be admitted, provided you take and pass a remedial theory course during your first year
Required Documents
- Your SSCE or GCE O-Level results, showing your credit in English Language
- Your JAMB result slip
- Your practical and theory music certificates (Grade 5 or above) from MUSON or a recognised examining body
- A recent passport photograph
- A national ID or other valid form of identification
How the Selection Process Works
- Applications open via the official MTN Foundation portal (mtn.ng/foundation/muson-2026) — for this cycle, this ran 20 July to 23 August 2026.
- Complete the online application form with your personal details, academic background, and preferred major.
- Upload all required documents: SSCE results, JAMB slip, music certificates, and passport photo.
- Submit your application before the deadline — incomplete or late applications are explicitly not accepted.
- Applicants who meet the admission requirements are shortlisted and notified — for this cycle, by 26 August 2026.
- Shortlisted applicants are allocated an examination number, permitting them to sit the written examination, a practical audition, and an interview.
- Successful candidates from these combined assessments are offered admission into the Diploma Programme.
How to Prepare for the Next Cohort
With the 2026/2027 window just closed, the coming months are for building genuine readiness ahead of the 22nd cohort’s application call, expected around July 2027:
- Confirm your Grade 5 (or higher) music practical and theory certificates are in order now, since these are hard eligibility requirements, not something to pursue casually alongside your application.
- Ensure your JAMB result is current and valid well ahead of the next cycle, given that this is now a firm requirement introduced for the 2026 cohort.
- If your theory certification isn’t yet at Grade 5, start working toward it now, since while admission with strong practical skills and a remedial theory plan is possible, entering with the actual Grade 5 theory certificate already secured strengthens your application considerably.
- Watch MTN Foundation’s official channels and MUSON’s website directly starting around June or July next year, since this cycle’s window opened in mid-to-late July with roughly a five-week application period.
- Rely only on official MTN Foundation and MUSON channels for application information, given how many similarly worded scholarship guides circulate — legitimate details are published exclusively through these official sources.
Deadline
Applications for the 2026/2027 cohort opened 20 July 2026 and closed Sunday, 23 August 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by Wednesday, 26 August 2026, for the written examination, audition, and interview stage. Based on this cycle’s timing and the programme’s twenty-year annual track record, expect the 22nd cohort’s call for applications to open around July 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still apply for the 2026/2027 cohort?
No. Applications closed Sunday, 23 August 2026. Watch for the 22nd cohort’s call, expected around July 2027.
Do I need a JAMB result to apply?
Yes, for this cycle specifically — this is a new requirement introduced for the 2026 admission cycle that wasn’t part of earlier years.
What happens if I have strong practical music skills but haven’t reached Grade 5 in theory?
You may still be admitted, but you’ll be required to take and pass a remedial theory course during your first year.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old.
Does the scholarship cover living costs like transportation?
Coverage includes tuition, books, and approved course-related expenses — some past cycles have specifically referenced transportation support as well, so confirm the exact current benefits package directly with MTN Foundation or MUSON.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, and figures in this post were verified from official and reported sources as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official MTN Foundation and MUSON School of Music websites. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with MTN Foundation or the Musical Society of Nigeria.
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