Nigerian graduates seeking advanced training in the oil and gas sector can now apply for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme, as the Federal Government has opened applications for postgraduate studies in select foreign universities.
The development was announced on Monday via a post on X by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, confirming the commencement of the application process for the scheme, which covers study opportunities in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Malaysia.
Information published on the PTDF scholarship portal shows that the scheme is open to candidates pursuing MSc and PhD degrees in disciplines relevant to Nigeria’s petroleum industry. Successful applicants will receive full sponsorship, including tuition fees, return air tickets, accommodation, living allowances, health insurance and bench fees where applicable.
According to the Fund, the overseas scholarship programme is designed to provide access to advanced training, modern research facilities and global expertise, while strengthening indigenous capacity in the country’s oil and gas sector.
For doctoral candidates in the United Kingdom, the PTDF said the scholarship will run on a split-site model, allowing scholars to conduct research at both the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and selected partner universities in the UK, including Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Portsmouth.
The agency noted that the selection process is highly competitive and will be based on academic performance, the quality of research proposals, professional affiliations and the relevance of the proposed course of study to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
To be eligible for the MSc category, applicants must hold at least a Second Class Lower or Upper degree, have completed the National Youth Service Corps programme, be computer literate and possess a minimum of five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics. PhD applicants are required to submit a research proposal of no more than five pages outlining their objectives, methodology and data collection plans.
The PTDF also stated that applicants must have a verified National Identity Number before applying, warning that multiple applications or the submission of false documents would lead to automatic disqualification.
Applications are to be submitted online via scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for programmes approved at PTDF partner institutions, with the application deadline set for February 27.
