The Federal Government has opened applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme, offering Nigerian postgraduate students the opportunity to pursue studies in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Malaysia. The announcement was disclosed on Monday through a post on social media by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, confirming the start of the application process.
Information published on the PTDF scholarship portal indicates that the scheme is designed for MSc and PhD candidates in fields relevant to the oil and gas industry. Successful applicants will receive comprehensive support, including tuition fees, return air tickets, accommodation and living stipends, health insurance, and bench fees where applicable.
According to the Fund, the 2026 overseas scholarships are aimed at exposing beneficiaries to high-quality education, advanced research facilities and international expertise, while strengthening local capacity within Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
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For doctoral candidates studying in the United Kingdom, the programme will operate under a split-site model. This allows research work to be carried out both at the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, and selected partner universities in the UK, including Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Portsmouth.
PTDF noted that the scholarship is highly competitive, stressing that selection will be based strictly on merit. Applicants will be assessed on their academic performance, research proposals, professional affiliations and the relevance of their chosen courses to the oil and gas industry.
Eligibility requirements for MSc applicants include a minimum of a Second Class Lower degree or higher, completion of the National Youth Service Corps programme, basic computer skills, and at least five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics. PhD applicants are additionally required to submit a detailed research proposal of no more than five pages outlining their research objectives, methodology and data collection plans. The Fund also warned that all applicants must have a verified National Identity Number before applying, adding that multiple submissions or the use of falsified documents will lead to immediate disqualification.
Interested candidates are to submit their applications online through the PTDF scholarship portal at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for approved courses and partner institutions. The deadline for applications is February 27.
