AFRICA | A brilliant Nigerian man named Joshua Atiba has been awarded a fully funded PhD scholarship to study Civil and Mineral Engineering at the University of Toronto, Canada, achieving the rare feat of securing a doctoral admission without first obtaining a master’s degree.
Joshua’s achievement stands out as an exceptional academic milestone, breaking traditional graduate school pathways and highlighting the power of excellence, persistence, and strategic preparation.
Joshua's Story and How He Did It
Joshua began his academic journey at Covenant University, Nigeria, where he studied Mechanical Engineering and graduated in 2022 with a First Class Honours, earning an impressive 4.52 CGPA on a 5.00 scale.
His undergraduate years were marked by academic discipline, curiosity, and a strong research interest, qualities that would later position him for direct PhD consideration.
After completing his bachelor’s degree, Joshua focused on strengthening his academic profile rather than rushing into graduate school. He worked as a Research Assistant at Bell’s University, where he gained hands-on research experience while actively applying for graduate opportunities abroad.
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This phase was demanding and often discouraging, but it became a critical bridge between his undergraduate success and doctoral breakthrough.
In 2025, Joshua’s persistence paid off when he received a fully funded PhD scholarship to the University of Toronto, one of the world’s leading research institutions.
Reflecting on the journey, he described the year as “almost unreal.” “From sending hundreds of cold emails to professors, many of which went unanswered, to receiving a reply eight months after one was sent,” he shared on LinkedIn.
Having secured admission, he started his preparation towards graduate school, processing his visa, and eventually relocating to a new city, and adjusting to the cold.
Beginning a doctorate while adapting to a new environment was challenging, but Joshua completed his first semester and is now taking a short break to prepare for what lies ahead.
Along the way, he gained new experiences, met people from different cultures, and embraced new cuisines, which he proudly admits became his favourite part.
Joshua chose to share his story to encourage others who are still searching for funded graduate opportunities.
“Before this opportunity, I received over 10 graduate admissions, most with partial or no funding, which was discouraging at times,” he revealed. “In the end, all that mattered was one fully funded opportunity working out — and it came when I least expected it.
Joshua expressed deep gratitude to God for His grace, his family and friends for their unwavering support, and his academic mentors, including Prof. Ojo Sunday Fayomi, whose guidance and belief played a vital role in his journey.
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