January 19, (THEWILL) — 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 pursue advanced studies in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.
The announcement was confirmed on Monday, January 19, 2026, in a post shared by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun.
According to the official guidelines released by the PTDF, the scheme targets MSc and PhD candidates in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas sector.
Beneficiaries will receive full sponsorship covering tuition, return flight tickets, accommodation, living allowances, health insurance, and bench fees where applicable.
The program is designed to develop indigenous capacity by providing access to world-class training and research facilities.
For the 2026 academic year, PhD scholarships in the United Kingdom will follow a split-site arrangement.
This requires successful candidates to divide their research residency between the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and designated UK partner universities, such as Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Portsmouth.
The agency emphasized that the selection process is highly competitive.
Applicants will be assessed based on academic merit, the quality of their research proposals for PhD candidates, membership in relevant professional bodies, and the direct relevance of their proposed studies to the Nigerian petroleum industry.
Specific eligibility requirements for MSc applicants include a minimum of Second Class Upper (2.1) in a first degree, or a Second Class Lower (2.2) with relevant industry experience.
Applicants must have completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, be computer literate, and possess five O’Level credits including English Language and Mathematics.
They are also required to submit a 500-word Statement of Purpose.
PhD applicants must have completed the mandatory NYSC, be computer literate, and possess at least a Second Class Lower (2.2) in their first degree along with a good postgraduate degree.
They are required to submit a research proposal of up to five pages outlining their topic, objectives, methodology, and data collection strategy.
All candidates must ensure their National Identity Number (NIN) is verified prior to application.
The PTDF warned that multiple applications or the submission of falsified documents will result in automatic disqualification.
Interested candidates must apply online through the official portal at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng before the deadline on February 27, 2026.
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