FG Opens 2026 PTDF Overseas Scholarship Applications for Oil and Gas Postgraduates
The Federal Government has announced the opening of applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund Overseas Scholarship Scheme, offering postgraduate study opportunities for qualified Nigerian students in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.
The announcement was confirmed on Monday through a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, who stated that “FG has announced the commencement of applications for 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships overseas.”
The scheme, which targets candidates pursuing Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas sector, provides a comprehensive package of benefits including full tuition coverage, return flight tickets, accommodation and living allowances, health insurance, and bench fees where applicable.
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According to a statement published on the scholarship board’s official website, the initiative is designed to build technical capacity within Nigeria’s petroleum industry by exposing students to world-class training and research facilities abroad. “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 PTDF statement said.
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund was established by the Federal Government in 1973 as an intervention agency under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, with the mandate to provide scholarships and training for Nigerians in the fields of engineering, geology, science, and management as they relate to the petroleum industry. Over the decades, the fund has sponsored thousands of Nigerian students both locally and internationally, contributing significantly to the development of technical expertise within the nation’s oil and gas sector.
For PhD applicants seeking to study in the United Kingdom, the 2026 scheme will operate under a split-site arrangement that allows doctoral research to be conducted between the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna and selected partner universities in the UK. The partner institutions named in the announcement include Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Portsmouth, all of which have established programmes in petroleum engineering, energy studies, and related disciplines.
The PTDF emphasised that the scholarships are highly competitive and that only candidates who meet stringent academic and professional standards will be considered. “Only candidates who demonstrate outstanding merit and suitability will be considered,” the statement said, adding that selection will be based on academic credentials, quality of research proposals, membership in relevant professional bodies, and the direct relevance of the proposed course of study to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Eligibility requirements for Master’s degree applicants include possession of a minimum of Second Class Lower division (2.2) in a first degree, though candidates with Second Class Upper (2.1) are preferred. Applicants must also have completed the National Youth Service Corps programme, demonstrate computer literacy, and possess at least five O’Level credits including English Language and Mathematics in not more than two sittings.
For PhD applicants, additional requirements include the submission of a comprehensive research proposal of up to five pages. The proposal must clearly outline research objectives, methodology, and data collection approaches, and should demonstrate the applicant’s capacity for independent scholarly inquiry.
The PTDF statement also issued a stern warning regarding the integrity of the application process. “All applicants must ensure their National Identity Number (NIN) is verified prior to application, and multiple applications or submission of falsified documents will result in automatic disqualification,” the statement said.
The inclusion of NIN verification reflects ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to enhance transparency and accountability in the administration of public scholarships and prevent fraudulent claims or identity misrepresentation.
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Prospective applicants have been advised to submit their applications online through the official PTDF scholarship portal at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng, where a list of approved programmes at partner institutions is available for review. The agency stressed that only courses offered by PTDF-approved institutions and listed on the portal will be considered for funding.
The closing date for applications has been set for 27th February 2026, giving interested candidates just over a month to prepare and submit their documentation.
The announcement of the 2026 scholarship scheme comes at a time when Nigeria’s oil and gas industry continues to face significant technical and infrastructural challenges, including aging facilities, limited local refining capacity, and a shortage of skilled professionals in critical areas such as petroleum engineering, geoscience, and offshore technology. The PTDF scholarship programme is widely regarded as a strategic intervention aimed at addressing these human capital deficits by equipping Nigerian professionals with cutting-edge knowledge and skills acquired from leading institutions abroad.
Over the years, beneficiaries of the PTDF scholarship scheme have gone on to occupy key positions within Nigeria’s petroleum sector, including roles in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, regulatory agencies such as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and multinational oil companies operating in the country.
The inclusion of Germany, France, and Malaysia alongside the United Kingdom as study destinations reflects a broader diversification strategy by the fund, aimed at exposing Nigerian scholars to varied educational systems, research cultures, and technological approaches in the global energy industry. Malaysia, in particular, has emerged as a significant hub for petroleum engineering education in Southeast Asia, while Germany and France remain leaders in energy transition research and renewable energy integration.
The Federal Government’s renewed commitment to funding postgraduate education in the oil and gas sector also aligns with broader policy goals outlined in the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021, which emphasises the development of local content, skills transfer, and the training of indigenous technical personnel as critical pillars for the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.