The Rebecca Charles Trust Scholarship pays full tuition and a monthly stipend to newly admitted Nigerian students at federal and state universities who have strong grades but cannot afford school. You need at least 200 in UTME, five SSCE credits including English and Mathematics, and an admission letter. The deadline is 31 August 2027.
The Rebecca Charles Trust (RCT) was set up in memory of Rebecca Omolola Charles-Samuel to help underprivileged young Nigerians get a university education. Scholars also get a mentor, and the trust follows their results through school. Applications go through a Google Form with a personal statement of up to 400 words.
Rebecca Charles Trust Scholarship summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Rebecca Charles Trust (RCT) |
| Named after | Rebecca Omolola Charles-Samuel |
| Tuition | Official tuition and mandatory fees paid directly to the university |
| Stipend | Monthly allowance for living, accommodation and study costs |
| Other support | Mentorship and academic monitoring |
| Who it is for | Newly admitted (100 level) students of federal and state universities |
| Minimum UTME score | 200 |
| Deadline | 31 August 2027 |
| Enquiries | 08133507915 or 07078746787 |
The trust has not published the stipend amount or the number of scholars. Deadline: 31 August 2027 (based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens). The 2026 round closed on 31 August 2026.
Costs that may fall outside the award
“Official tuition and mandatory fees” usually means what appears on your school fee schedule. A few costs sit outside that or come before any award is confirmed:
- The acceptance fee, which most universities ask for soon after admission, often before the 31 August closing date
- Departmental and faculty dues that some schools charge separately from the main fee schedule
- Medical tests at resumption, textbooks beyond the stipend and a laptop
- Your first weeks of living costs, since stipends normally start after the award is processed
The trust has not said which of these it covers, so ask at the interview stage if you are shortlisted.
Who can apply for the Rebecca Charles Trust Scholarship
- Nationality: Nigerian citizen.
- Admission: newly admitted (100 level) into an accredited federal or state university. Private universities, polytechnics and colleges of education are not listed.
- UTME: a score of at least 200.
- O’Level: at least five SSCE credits (WAEC, NECO or NABTEB), including English Language and Mathematics.
- Financial need: real hardship that could stop you from continuing your education.
- Academic record: strong results and leadership potential.
Because the award targets freshers, your admission needs to be settled before the deadline. Accept your offer on CAPS and print your admission letter early. Our JAMB CAPS guide shows how to accept admission and what each status means.
Eligibility edge cases
- Admission not yet out by August: many universities release lists in batches through September and October. The call asks for an admission letter, so if yours has not come by the deadline, you will likely have to wait for the next round.
- Direct Entry: the call is for newly admitted 100 level students with a UTME score. Direct Entry students usually start at 200 level and do not fit the wording.
- Two sittings: the call does not say whether the five credits must come from one sitting. If yours are spread over two, upload both results.
- Older UTME result: no year is fixed for the UTME. What matters is that you are newly admitted and scored 200 or more.
- Already on another scholarship: the listings do not mention a rule against holding two awards. If you already have full tuition elsewhere, your need case is weaker, so say so honestly.
Documents for the Rebecca Charles Trust application
| Document | Accepted versions |
|---|---|
| Valid ID | NIN slip, voter’s card, international passport or Local Government ID |
| Birth certificate | Or an official age declaration |
| Passport photograph | Recent |
| O’Level result | WAEC, NECO or NABTEB result or certificate |
| Admission letter | Official letter from your university |
| Academic record | Your JAMB result slip and any transcript you have |
| Reference letters | From a teacher, principal or community leader who knows you |
| Personal statement | Up to 400 words, written by you |
Upload files as PDF or JPEG. Listings differ slightly on the document list, and the Google Form is the final word.
Ask for your reference letters as soon as your admission is confirmed. A secondary school principal or a teacher who taught you in SS3 is the safest choice, because they can speak to your results and conduct. Give them a short note with your name, course, university and the deadline so the letter is specific. Our recommendation letter samples show what a useful letter contains.
How to write the Rebecca Charles Trust personal statement
Cover three things: your academic and career goals, your financial situation, and why the scholarship would change your path. Name who pays your fees now, what they do for a living and what your fees come to; those facts tell the panel more than a paragraph about hardship in general. The trust warns that statements written with AI tools lead to automatic disqualification, so write it yourself.
With only 400 words, a four-part plan keeps you inside the limit:
- Opening (about 60 words): one specific fact about your situation.
- Your record (about 100 words): UTME score, O’Level grades and one example of leadership, such as being a prefect, leading a club or caring for younger siblings.
- Your need (about 120 words): who supports you, what they earn or do, what your fees are, and what happens if you cannot pay.
- Your plan (about 120 words): your course, the job or field you are aiming for, and what you will do with the mentoring.
A sample opening: “My father drove a commercial bus in Onitsha until his eyesight failed in 2024; since then my mother’s tailoring has fed six of us. I scored 241 in UTME and have been admitted to study Civil Engineering at a federal university, but our family cannot raise the first instalment of my fees.” It gives facts, a score and the problem in two sentences. Use your own story; the trust screens for copied and AI-written statements.
Count your words before you paste the statement into the form. Going over 400 suggests you did not read the instructions.
How to apply for the Rebecca Charles Trust Scholarship
- Confirm your admission: accept on CAPS and get your admission letter.
- Scan your documents: ID, birth certificate, photo, O’Level result and admission letter.
- Write your statement offline: keep it at or under 400 words.
- Open the form: the 2026 applications used this Rebecca Charles Trust Google Form. Use the link in the 2027 call if it changes.
- Fill and upload: enter your UTME score, O’Level grades and university details, then attach your files.
- Submit and keep proof: screenshot the confirmation page.
Applying is free. Never pay anyone who offers to submit, “fast track” or guarantee your application.
Tips for the Google Form
Google Forms that accept file uploads ask you to sign in with a Google account, so set up a Gmail address first if you do not have one. Have every file ready on the same device before you start, because a form left open for a long time can lose what you typed. Keep each file clear and readable; a photo of a result taken at an angle in poor light is the most common reason documents get queried.
Type your names in the same order as on your JAMB slip and O’Level result. If your names differ across documents, add a short note or a sworn affidavit, because the trust will check your records if you are shortlisted.
How the trust selects scholars
- Screening: the trust reviews academic performance and financial need.
- Assessment: leadership potential and your personal statement are scored.
- Interview: shortlisted applicants are interviewed.
Prepare for the interview by being able to explain your statement in your own words, and have a clear answer on what you want to do after graduation. Expect questions on why you chose your course, how your family manages, and what you would do if the scholarship did not come through. The trust has not published whether interviews are by phone, video or in person, or when results are released.
After an award, the trust pays tuition directly to the university, pays the stipend monthly and monitors your results. It has not published a minimum CGPA for keeping the scholarship, but academic monitoring means poor results could put it at risk.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using an AI tool for the statement. The trust disqualifies such statements.
- Going over 400 words.
- Applying from a polytechnic, college of education or private university.
- Uploading a JAMB “admission status” screenshot instead of the actual admission letter.
- Missing the interview call because your phone was off or the number was wrong.
- Paying anyone who claims to be an agent of the trust.
Similar scholarships for freshers
| Scholarship | Who it targets | Main rule | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebecca Charles Trust | 100 level at federal and state universities | UTME 200+, five credits | 31 August 2027 |
| KPMG Seyi Bickersteth Scholarship | 100 level business courses at federal universities | UTME 230+, five WASSCE distinctions | 13 August 2027 |
| Female Scholars Foundation Scholarship | Young women at public universities | UTME 240+, age 20 or below | 31 December 2026 |
| Decagon Undergraduate Scholarship | New students with financial need | UTME 250+, partner universities | 15 October 2027 |
Other awards for fresh students include the ICON Scholarship and the Carewave Aspire Scholarship.
Who should apply, and who should not
Apply if you are newly admitted to a federal or state university, you scored 200 or more, you have five credits including English and Mathematics, and your family genuinely cannot meet your fees. With a 200 cut-off, this is one of the more reachable full-tuition awards for freshers, so students who scored in the 200s and missed the higher bars elsewhere should take it seriously.
Skip it if you are past 100 level, at a private university, polytechnic or college of education, or if your fees are already paid by another full scholarship.
FAQ
What JAMB score do I need for the Rebecca Charles Trust Scholarship?
At least 200 in UTME, plus five SSCE credits including English and Mathematics.
Can 200 level students apply for the Rebecca Charles Trust Scholarship?
No. The 2026 call was for newly admitted 100 level students at federal and state universities.
How much is the Rebecca Charles Trust stipend?
The trust pays full tuition directly to the university and a monthly stipend, but it has not published the stipend amount.
When is the Rebecca Charles Trust Scholarship deadline?
The deadline is 31 August 2027. Confirm it when the trust opens the new form.
Sources and updates
This post uses the trust’s 2026 call as listed by ScholarshipAir (benefits, selection stages, enquiry phone numbers and the Google Form), then CrispNG and Success Tonics (UTME minimum, SSCE credits, document list and the 400 word statement). Where the listings differ, I have used the most detailed version. The trust has not published the stipend amount, the number of scholars, the interview format, a results date or a CGPA for renewal. The trust’s Google Form is final. Last checked 24 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
