The Federal Government has announced the commencement of applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme, offering Nigerian postgraduate students the opportunity to study in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Malaysia.
The announcement was disclosed on Monday via a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun.
“FG has announced the commencement of applications for 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships overseas,” the post stated.
According to information published on the PTDF scholarship portal, the scheme is open to qualified candidates seeking MSc and PhD degrees in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas industry.
Successful applicants will benefit from full tuition, return flight tickets, accommodation and living allowances, health insurance, and bench fees where applicable.
The Fund said the programme is designed to provide beneficiaries with access to world-class training, research facilities and global expertise, while strengthening indigenous capacity within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
For PhD candidates applying to study in the United Kingdom, the PTDF explained that the scholarship will operate on a split-site model. This arrangement allows scholars to conduct research between the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and selected UK partner institutions, including Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Portsmouth.
Emphasising the competitive nature of the scheme, the agency noted that only applicants who demonstrate exceptional academic merit and suitability will be shortlisted. Selection will be based on academic performance, quality of research proposals, membership of relevant professional bodies, and the relevance of the proposed course of study to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
For MSc applicants, eligibility requirements include a minimum of a Second Class Lower (2.2) degree, completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, computer literacy, and at least five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics. PhD applicants are additionally required to submit a research proposal of no more than five pages, detailing research objectives, methodology and data collection strategies.
The PTDF also warned that all applicants must have a verified National Identity Number (NIN) before applying, adding that multiple applications or submission of falsified documents would lead to automatic disqualification.
Interested candidates are to apply online through the PTDF scholarship portal at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for approved programmes at partner institutions. Applications close on February 27.
