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 advanced studies in oil and gas disciplines in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.
The development was confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, emphasising the government’s commitment to developing local capacity in the country’s energy sector.
According to the PTDF, the scholarship covers tuition fees, return airfare, accommodation, living allowances, health insurance, and bench fees where applicable.
The programme is open to MSc and PhD candidates, with selection based on academic merit, relevance of study to the oil and gas industry, research proposals, and professional qualifications.
“The 2026 Overseas MSc and PhD Scholarships provide access to world-class training, research facilities, and global expertise, while developing indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector,” the fund stated.
PhD applicants intending to study in the UK will follow a split-site arrangement, allowing them to conduct research both at the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and at partner institutions such as Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Portsmouth.
The scheme is highly competitive, and candidates must demonstrate outstanding academic and professional credentials to be considered.
Specific requirements include a minimum of a Second Class Lower (2.2) undergraduate degree, completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, computer literacy, and at least five O-Level credits including English Language and Mathematics for MSc applicants.
PhD candidates must submit a detailed research proposal of up to five pages outlining objectives, methodology, and data collection plans.
The PTDF also noted that applicants must have a verified National Identity Number (NIN) and cautioned that multiple submissions or the provision of false documents would result in automatic disqualification.
Applications are to be submitted online at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng, with a closing date of February 27, 2026.
Analysts say the programme aims not only to provide individual academic advancement but also to bolster Nigeria’s domestic capacity in research, technology adoption, and innovation within the oil and gas industry, a sector critical to national economic growth.
