Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme 2025 / 2026

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), a Federal Government agency mandated to develop indigenous human capacity, research and technology for the oil and gas industry, invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the Overseas MSc and PhD scholarships to specific programs at selected institutions under its Overseas Scholarship Scheme for the 2025 / 2026 academic session.

Applications are invited for:

Title: 2025 / 2026 Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme for Universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Malaysia and College Of Petroleum And Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), Nigeria

Description

• The scheme was developed to offer candidates the opportunity to benefit from a diversified pool of knowledge and the facilities offered by world-class institutions across the globe. Under it, candidates are invited to apply through PTDF to specific programs at partner institutions.
• The award includes the provision of flight tickets, payment of health insurance, payment of tuition and bench fees (where applicable), and allowances to meet the costs of accommodation and living expenses.

The PTDF 2025/2026 Scholarship Program
Strategic Partnerships: With Universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Malaysia:

• For the 2025/2026 award, applications will be limited to PTDF partner universities in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia, where the Fund is confident that the scholarship’s high standards can be maintained, and the objectives of the scheme will be best served.

Split-Site UK PhD: Offered at the PTDF-Owned College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, Nigeria:

• Starting in 2025, all PhD programs in the United Kingdom under this scheme will be offered exclusively as Split-site programs. These programs will enable scholars to conduct research in Nigeria and the UK by dividing their residency between the PTDF-owned College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and any of the three partner universities in the United Kingdom.

College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK):

• The College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK) was established to provide a competitive and world-class education in Nigeria, addressing the needs of the growing energy industry by domesticating valuable overseas postgraduate degree programs and research at the institution.

Split-Site UK Partnership Universities:

• The following UK universities are currently in partnership with PTDF and CPESK to deliver postgraduate studies aligned with the evolving needs of Nigeria’s energy industry and with programs structured to align with the global energy landscape:
  • Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen: Approved courses are available here
  • University of Strathclyde, Glasgow: Approved courses are available here
  • University of Portsmouth: Approved courses are available here

Selection Process, Criteria & Requirements

• PTDF scholarships are highly competitive, and only candidates who are outstanding across the board are selected.
• Based on the submitted documents, applicants with the highest points under each category from their respective states will be invited for an interview, where a selection committee will be constituted to assess applications using the following criteria:
  • Merit as evidenced by the quality of degrees, full academic transcripts and other professional qualifications acquired
  • Relevant publications to be referenced by applicants (PhD applicants only)
  • Membership of professional bodies
  • The viability and relevance of the study/research plan.
  • Relevance of previous studies to the oil and gas industry and the proposed course/research

MSc UK:

• The PTDF is in partnership with eighteen (18) top-ranking universities in the United Kingdom to deliver a world-class Master's degree in Oil and Gas-related fields, in line with the Fund’s mandate.

PhD / MSc GFM:

• Under its strategic partnership in Germany, France and Malaysia, PTDF will continue to sponsor fully funded PhD and MSc programmes in the 2025/2026 session in Public Institutions within the three (3) countries. Please note that all public universities in Germany are acceptable. Hence, the list is not provided.

Requirements
Candidates with M.Sc. Degree:

• Have a minimum of Second Class Upper (2.1) qualification in their first degree or a Second-Class Lower (2.2) with relevant industry experience.
• Have completed the mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC).
• Be computer literate.
• Possess 5 O/level credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
• Write a statement of purpose (maximum 500 words) stating the reason(s) for the proposed study, its relevance to the industry and its expected impact on national development.
• Have a National Identity Number (NIN) fully verified (NIMC verification charges apply) before applying for the scholarship. 

Candidates with a PhD Degree:

• Have completed the mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC).
• Be computer literate.
• Possess 5 O/level credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
• Have a minimum of Second-Class Lower (2.2) in their first degree and a good post-graduate degree.
• Submit a research proposal relevant to the oil and gas industry (of not more than five pages) to include: Topic, introduction, objective, methodology and mode of data collection.
• Applicants must have a National Identity Number (NIN) and will be required to have verified it (NIMC verification charges apply) before applying for the scholarship.

Interested applicants should please note the following:

• The scholarship is for the 2025/2026 academic session.
• The scholarship is limited to PTDF-approved courses at PTDF partner institutions.
• Scholarships will only be awarded for studies relevant to the PTDF mandate; candidates may be disqualified for applying for programmes not applicable to the oil and gas industry.
• The proposed course of study must also be related to previous studies.
• Candidates with multiple applications will be automatically disqualified.
• Candidates who have been sponsored by the Fund in a specific category (MSc/PhD) are ineligible to make another application for the same or a lower category.
• Candidates who are beneficiaries of any other scholarship from similar organisations are not eligible to apply. Additionally, all lecturers must provide a letter from their Vice-Chancellors confirming that they are not receiving any other form of scholarship.
• A full list of sponsored courses and Application Forms can now be accessed on the scholarship portal: scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng

Application Closing Date

• 4th June, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click Here to Start Application

Click Here For More Information

Required Documents

• Applicants are advised to scan copies of the following documents and attach them to their online application forms:
• First Degree Certificate or Statement of Result
• NYSC discharge certificate
• WAEC / GCE / SSCE / NECO results and the PINS on the application forms to enable PTDF to view the O’level results on the relevant website.
• Recent Passport Photograph
• Local Government Identification Letter
• Master’s Degree Certificate (PhD Applicants only)
• Evidence of membership in professional associations

Note

• Candidates who successfully scale through the first round of screening will be requested to attend the interview round with their transcripts; all applicants are therefore advised to prepare their transcripts in anticipation.