The federal government has announced the initiation of applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund Overseas Scholarship Scheme, offering possibilities for Nigerian postgraduate students to pursue studies in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.
This was affirmed in a post disseminated through X (formerly Twitter) by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, today.
The Federal Government has announced the initiation of applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships abroad.
The scholarship board’s website states that the program is aimed at MSc and PhD candidates in fields pertinent to the oil and gas industry, providing advantages like tuition, round-trip airfare, accommodation, living stipends, health insurance, and bench fees when appropriate.
The PTDF announcement indicated, “The 2026 Overseas MSc and PhD Scholarships offer access to premier training, research facilities, and international expertise, while enhancing indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.”
PhD applicants in the United Kingdom will have scholarships structured as a split-site arrangement, enabling research to be undertaken at the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and designated UK partner universities such as Robert Gordon University, University of Strathclyde, and University of Portsmouth.
The agency underscored that the scholarships are exceptionally competitive.
The statement indicated that only candidates exhibiting exceptional potential and appropriateness will be considered, noting that applicants will be assessed based on academic qualifications, research projects, professional affiliations, and the pertinence of their studies to the oil and gas sector.
The prerequisites for MSc applicants comprise a minimum of Second Class Lower (2.2) or Second Class Upper (2.1) in a first degree, completion of the NYSC programme, proficiency in computer skills, and five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics. PhD candidates are required to submit a research proposal of no more than five pages detailing aims, methods, and data gathering strategies.
The PTDF statement specified, “All applicants must verify their National Identity Number (NIN) before applying, and any multiple applications or submission of fraudulent documents will lead to automatic disqualification.”
Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit their applications online at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for sanctioned programs at PTDF partner universities. The deadline for applications is February 27, 2026.
About the Author
