The Federal Government has announced the commencement of applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme.
The announcement was made in a statement posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) platform of the PTDF.
The Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme (OSS) is designed to cultivate indigenous talent for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
According to PTDF, a Federal Government agency, the 2026 award will fund both MSc and PhD programmes, with applications restricted to PTDF partner universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.
The Fund said this approach is based on its assessment that scholarship standards would be sustained in these countries and that the objectives of the scheme would be best achieved through partnerships with the selected institutions.
PTDF emphasised that PhD scholarships in the United Kingdom would follow a split-site arrangement, allowing researchers to divide their residency between the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and UK partner institutions such as Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Portsmouth.
The Fund said benefits for successful candidates include return flight tickets, health insurance, tuition and bench fees where applicable, and allowances for accommodation and living expenses.
It added that the full list of sponsored courses and application forms is available on the PTDF scholarship portal at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng.
The closing date for applications is February 27, 2026.
Selection criteria
PTDF said its scholarships are highly competitive and that only candidates who demonstrate outstanding merit and suitability would be considered.
After initial screening based on submitted qualifications, the top applicants in each category from each state would be invited for interviews.
A selection committee would assess candidates based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:
- Academic merit, including quality of degrees, complete academic transcripts, and relevant professional qualifications
- Relevant publications (for PhD applicants)
- Membership of professional bodies
- Viability and relevance of the study plan or research proposal
- Relevance of prior studies to the oil and gas industry and the proposed programme or research
Requirements for MSc applicants
Applicants must:
- Possess a minimum of a Second Class Upper (2.1) in the first degree, or a Second Class Lower (2.2) with relevant industry experience
- Have completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
- Be computer literate
- Possess five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics
- Submit a Statement of Purpose not exceeding 500 words, stating the rationale for the proposed study, its relevance to the oil and gas industry, and the expected contribution to national development
- Have a National Identity Number (NIN) that is fully verified before application
Requirements for PhD applicants
PhD applicants must:
- Have completed the mandatory NYSC
- Be computer literate
- Possess five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics
- Hold at least a Second Class Lower (2.2) in the first degree and a good postgraduate degree
- Submit a research proposal relevant to the oil and gas industry, not exceeding five pages, covering the topic, background, objectives, methodology, and data collection approach
- Have a verified National Identity Number (NIN) before application
In addition, all lecturers are required to submit a letter from their Vice-Chancellors confirming that they are not currently benefiting from any other scholarship.
Supporting documents and conditions
Applicants are required to upload clear scanned copies of mandatory documents during the online application process.
These include the First Degree Certificate or Statement of Result, NYSC Discharge Certificate, and WAEC, GCE, SSCE, or NECO results with the relevant PINs for online verification.
Applicants must also provide a recent passport photograph, a Local Government Identification Letter, a Master’s Degree Certificate (for PhD applicants), and evidence of membership in relevant professional associations.
PTDF noted that scholarships would only be awarded for studies relevant to its mandate and that the proposed course of study must align with the applicant’s prior academic background.
Applicants seeking PhD scholarships under the PTDF–DAAD partnership in Germany must secure a research supervisor before the final selection interviews.
Multiple applications will result in automatic disqualification, while submission of illegible or falsified documents will also lead to automatic disqualification.
Candidates previously sponsored by the Fund for a scholarship category are not eligible to apply again for the same or a lower category.
Shortlisted candidates invited for interviews must present their academic transcripts.
Additional information
PTDF disclosed that it received a total of 29,633 applications for the 2025 Overseas Scholarship Scheme, of which 5,723 candidates were shortlisted nationwide for MSc and PhD awards.
Beyond petroleum-related courses, the Fund also considers fields such as Management and Law due to their relevance to the oil and gas sector.
