The Federal Government has thrown open applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to building high-end manpower for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The development was confirmed on Monday through a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, signalling the start of the competitive process for qualified Nigerian postgraduate students.
According to the PTDF, the scheme is designed for MSc and PhD candidates in disciplines critical to the petroleum sector, with study destinations covering the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Malaysia. Successful applicants will enjoy a comprehensive funding package that includes tuition, return air tickets, accommodation and living allowances, health insurance and bench fees where applicable.
In a statement on its official scholarship portal, the Fund described the initiative as a strategic investment in national capacity. It noted that the 2026 overseas scholarships would expose beneficiaries to world-class training, cutting-edge research facilities and global expertise, while strengthening indigenous competence in Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.
For PhD candidates opting to study in the United Kingdom, the PTDF explained that the programme would adopt a split-site arrangement. Under this model, research will be jointly conducted at the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and selected partner institutions in the UK, including Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Portsmouth.
The agency stressed that the scholarships are highly competitive, underscoring that only applicants who demonstrate exceptional merit and suitability will be shortlisted. Assessment criteria include academic performance, the quality and relevance of research proposals, professional body membership and the alignment of proposed studies with industry needs.
For MSc applicants, the requirements include a minimum of a Second Class Lower degree, completion of the National Youth Service Corps programme, computer literacy and at least five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics. PhD applicants are also required to submit a detailed research proposal of no more than five pages, outlining objectives, methodology and data collection plans.
The PTDF further warned that all applicants must ensure their National Identity Number is verified before applying, adding that multiple applications or the submission of false documents would attract automatic disqualification.
Interested candidates are to submit their applications online through the PTDF scholarship portal. Applications will close on February 27, 2026.
