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 study in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.

The announcement was confirmed in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun.

“FG has announced the commencement of applications for 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships overseas,” the post stated.

According to information published on the PTDF scholarship board website, the scheme is open to MSc and PhD candidates in disciplines relevant to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The scholarship covers tuition fees, return flight tickets, accommodation and living allowances, health insurance, and bench fees where applicable.

The PTDF noted that the programme is designed to build local capacity in the oil and gas industry by exposing beneficiaries to global best practices. “The 2026 Overseas MSc and PhD Scholarships provide access to world-class training, research facilities, and global expertise,” the agency said.

For PhD candidates studying in the United Kingdom, the scholarship will operate under a split-site arrangement. This allows research to be conducted between the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and selected UK partner universities, including Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Portsmouth.

The agency emphasized that the selection process is highly competitive, noting that only candidates who demonstrate outstanding merit will be considered. Evaluation criteria include academic qualifications, research proposals, professional body membership, and the relevance of the proposed study to the oil and gas sector.

Eligibility requirements for MSc applicants include a minimum of Second Class Lower (2.2) in a first degree, completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, computer literacy, and five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics. PhD applicants are additionally required to submit a research proposal of no more than five pages detailing objectives, methodology, and data collection strategies.

PTDF further warned that all applicants must have a verified National Identity Number (NIN) before applying. Multiple applications or submission of falsified documents will lead to automatic disqualification.

Interested candidates are advised to apply online via scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for approved programmes at PTDF partner institutions. The deadline for submission is 27 February.