The Federal Government has opened applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme, offering Nigerian postgraduate students the chance to study in selected foreign universities.
The announcement was made on Monday through a statement shared on X by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Mr. Dada Olusegun.
According to the PTDF, the scholarship programme is designed for MSc and PhD candidates pursuing courses relevant to the oil and gas industry in countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Malaysia.
The fund explained that successful applicants will enjoy full sponsorship covering tuition fees, return air tickets, accommodation, living allowances, health insurance and bench fees where applicable.
In a statement published on its official website, the PTDF noted that the scheme is aimed at building local capacity by exposing Nigerian scholars to advanced training, cutting-edge research facilities and global best practices in the energy sector.
For doctoral candidates applying to study in the United Kingdom, the agency disclosed that the programme will adopt a split-site model. This will allow scholars to conduct research at the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, as well as partner universities in the UK.
The approved UK institutions include Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Portsmouth.
PTDF stressed that the scholarship is highly competitive, stating that selection will be based on academic excellence, quality of research proposals, professional affiliations and the relevance of proposed studies to Nigeria’s oil and gas needs.
The agency listed eligibility criteria for MSc applicants to include a minimum of 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 not more than five pages, outlining the study objectives, methodology and data collection plan.
The fund further warned that applicants must ensure their National Identity Number is properly verified before submission, adding that multiple applications or the use of false documents will lead to automatic disqualification.
Interested candidates are to apply online through the PTDF scholarship portal, with applications closing on February 27.
