Undergraduate Learning Support Programme 2026 For Nigerians

Somewhere in Isolo, Lagos, a small faith-based foundation runs a scholarship application process rigorous enough that it screens personal statements for AI-generated content and rejects reference letters that read as generic — a level of scrutiny you don’t typically expect from a programme most students have never heard of.

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The Undergraduate Learning Support Programme, run by the First Class Muslim Foundation, closed its 2026 application window at 11:59 pm on Friday, January 23, 2026, after evaluating applicants against academic, moral, and religious criteria that go well beyond the standard CGPA cutoff most Nigerian scholarships rely on.

If you’re a male Muslim student heading into your first year at one of four specific Lagos institutions, this is a programme worth understanding closely before the next cycle opens, because how you prepare your documents matters here almost as much as your grades.

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Getting to Know the Undergraduate Learning Support Programme

The First Class Muslim Foundation, commonly referred to as FCM Foundation, is a non-governmental, faith-based organisation headquartered in Isolo, Lagos, built specifically to support Muslim youth through structured academic and moral development. Rather than running a single scholarship, FCM operates a small portfolio of programmes targeted at different groups: the Undergraduate Learning Support Programme for male first-year students, a separate FCM Board Scholarship for female students in their 200 and 300 levels, and a broader Student Mentorship Programme that runs alongside both.

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The ULSP specifically is designed around a philosophy that academic support alone isn’t enough — the programme pairs its monthly stipend with structured Islamic development mentorship and career guidance, aiming to shape scholars who graduate with both strong grades and grounded moral character. It’s a narrower, more intensive commitment than most one-time scholarship disbursements, and the foundation has been explicit that ongoing participation in mentorship, not just financial need, is central to how it selects and retains scholars. This is also one of the more geographically concentrated scholarships available to Nigerian students, restricted entirely to four institutions within Lagos State, which narrows the applicant pool considerably compared to nationwide programmes.

Undergraduate Learning Support Programme Summary

Eligibility Requirements

FCM Foundation applies one of the more layered eligibility structures among Nigerian undergraduate scholarships, combining academic, demographic, and character-based criteria. For the cycle that just closed, applicants needed to meet all of the following:

• You must be male and Muslim — this scholarship is specifically structured for male Muslim undergraduates and does not extend to other applicants
• You must be in your 100 level, meaning this is exclusively a first-year scholarship rather than one open across all undergraduate years
• You must be a full-time student at one of four eligible institutions: University of Lagos (Akoka), Lagos State University (Ojo), Lagos State University of Science & Technology, or Lagos State University of Education
• You must be between 16 and 19 years old at the time of application
• You must have at least six SSCE credit passes obtained in a single sitting, not accumulated across multiple attempts
• You must have scored a minimum of 250 in your UTME before gaining admission
• You must be physically, mentally, and psychologically stable, a criterion FCM assesses as part of its broader evaluation of a scholar’s readiness for sustained mentorship
• You must demonstrate good moral conduct and leadership ability, assessed through your reference letter and personal statement rather than a single document alone

Because this scholarship is restricted to first-year students at four specific institutions, students already past 100 level, or enrolled anywhere outside these four schools, were not eligible for the 2026 cycle regardless of how strong their academic record was.

What the Foundation Covers

ULSP’s benefits are structured around sustained support rather than a single lump-sum payment, which distinguishes it from many one-time Nigerian scholarship disbursements:

• Monthly stipends paid throughout the scholar’s participation, providing consistent financial support rather than a single upfront amount
• Structured Islamic development mentorship sessions, delivered as an ongoing programme component rather than a one-off orientation
• Academic and career development mentorship, covering guidance beyond coursework, including planning for life after graduation
• Ongoing academic and moral support, which the foundation has framed as central to producing scholars who graduate as well-rounded individuals, not just as students with strong transcripts

Because mentorship participation is built into how the foundation evaluates and retains scholars, applicants should treat this as a multi-year commitment involving regular engagement, not a scholarship you receive once and then have no further contact with the foundation about.

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Required Documents

FCM Foundation’s document requirements are detailed, and several carry specific formatting rules that catch applicants off guard if they aren’t read closely beforehand:

• JAMB admission letter
• Proof of current studentship — a student ID card, biodata form, or equivalent
• A reference letter from a reputable Islamic organisation, which must be on letterheaded paper and addressed specifically to the Executive Director, First Class Muslim Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria — generic or improperly addressed letters lead to disqualification, and institution-based student organisations are not accepted as valid referees based on the foundation’s related programmes
• Birth certificate or affidavit of age
• Original WAEC result
• Original UTME result
• Current result slip showing GPA, where available
• A personal statement, capped at 300 words

The personal statement requirement deserves particular attention. FCM Foundation has stated explicitly, across its scholarship programmes, that the unethical use of AI tools to generate or significantly revise personal statements is prohibited, and every submission is screened for plagiarism and AI-derivation, with anything flagged above 20% treated as unacceptable.

Applicants found in violation risk disqualification not just from the current cycle but from future foundation opportunities entirely. On formatting specifics drawn from the foundation’s related programmes, personal statements are typically expected in Century Gothic font, size 12, with 1.5 line spacing, and your full name listed at the top of the document — details worth confirming against the exact instructions published when the 2027 cycle opens, since formatting requirements can shift slightly between cycles.

How to Apply for the Next Cycle

The 2026 window is closed, but the foundation’s process has stayed consistent enough across recent cycles to prepare in advance:

1. Confirm you meet every eligibility requirement, particularly your institution, level, age range, and UTME score, before investing time in document preparation.
2. Gather your JAMB admission letter, WAEC and UTME originals, birth certificate or affidavit, and proof of studentship well ahead of any deadline announcement.
3. Secure your reference letter early from a genuinely reputable Islamic organisation, ensuring it’s addressed correctly to the Executive Director and written specifically about you rather than adapted from a template.
4. Write your personal statement entirely in your own words, within the 300-word limit, and review the exact formatting instructions published for that cycle before submission.
5. Upload all documents through the foundation’s official application system once the window opens.
6. Submit before the stated closing time — for 2026, that was 11:59 pm on the deadline date, not simply the calendar day, so leave yourself a buffer rather than submitting at the last minute.

Application Deadline

The 2026 ULSP application window closed at 11:59 pm on Friday, January 23, 2026. Looking at the foundation’s recent history, the equivalent scholarship’s 2024 cycle closed in mid-December, while the 2026 cycle closed in late January, suggesting the exact timing shifts somewhat year to year rather than following a fixed date.

Based on that pattern, applicants should expect the next window to open sometime between November and December 2026, and the safest approach is to begin checking the FCM Foundation’s official website directly starting in October 2026 rather than anchoring expectations to a specific date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Undergraduate Learning Support Programme still open for 2026?

No. The 2026 application window closed at 11:59 pm on January 23, 2026. Based on the foundation’s recent cycles, the next window is expected to open around November or December 2026.

Is there an equivalent scholarship for female students?

Yes. First Class Muslim Foundation runs a separate programme, the FCM Board Scholarship, specifically for female Muslim students in their 200 and 300 levels at selected Nigerian institutions, which operates under different eligibility criteria than the ULSP.

Can students outside the four listed Lagos institutions apply?

No. The ULSP is restricted specifically to students at the University of Lagos (Akoka), Lagos State University (Ojo), Lagos State University of Science & Technology, and Lagos State University of Education.

Can a second-year or third-year student apply for this scholarship?

No. ULSP is specifically a first-year, 100-level scholarship. Students beyond their first year are not eligible under the published criteria.

Does the foundation really check personal statements for AI use?

Yes. First Class Muslim Foundation has stated directly that unethical use of AI tools to generate or significantly revise personal statements is prohibited, with submissions screened for plagiarism and AI-derivation. Detection above 20% is treated as unacceptable and can result in disqualification from current and future foundation opportunities.

What happens after selection — is this a one-time award?

No. ULSP is structured around ongoing support, including monthly stipends and continued mentorship, rather than a single lump-sum payment, so selected scholars should expect sustained engagement with the foundation throughout the programme.

Disclaimer: All programme details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the First Class Muslim Foundation’s official website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the First Class Muslim Foundation.

Official Application Portal