The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has officially announced the commencement of its 2025/2026 Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme (OSS), offering fully-funded opportunities to Nigerian graduates for advanced studies in select international universities and within Nigeria.
Aimed at nurturing top-tier professionals for the Nigerian oil and gas sector, the PTDF scholarship covers all major expenses including airfare, health insurance, tuition, research-related costs, and living stipends. This announcement signals the fund’s continued investment in building local capacity through global exposure and strategic partnerships.
According to the statement released via PTDF’s official Twitter handle, eligible candidates can now apply for Master’s and Doctoral degree programmes in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia, with applications set to close on June 4, 2025.
The scheme offers a fully-funded MSc scholarship in all four countries listed, while the PhD scholarship is available in Germany, France, and Malaysia. However, a significant restructuring now sees the UK-based PhD programme offered exclusively as a Split-Site initiative at the PTDF College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), in partnership with three renowned British institutions—Robert Gordon University, University of Strathclyde, and University of Portsmouth.
“This restructuring reflects a deliberate move to localize high-impact academic collaboration while ensuring global standards are met,” a PTDF official noted. “It allows Nigerian scholars to benefit from international academic rigor while contributing to research and capacity development back home.”
The scholarships are open to Nigerian citizens who have demonstrated academic excellence and are interested in pursuing studies in disciplines closely tied to the oil and gas industry. Applicants must submit their forms through the designated portal at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng.
In its official communication, PTDF emphasized that the detailed eligibility requirements, course areas, and partner institutions for both MSc and PhD programmes are available on its website, ptdf.gov.ng, and encouraged all interested candidates to review the guidelines thoroughly before applying.
Past beneficiaries of the OSS have gone on to contribute significantly to the Nigerian energy sector and allied industries, making the programme a cornerstone of human capital development for the country’s economic future.
Prospective applicants are advised to act promptly, as late applications will not be considered. The Fund also reiterates its commitment to transparency and merit in the selection process, assuring that only qualified candidates who meet the outlined criteria will be shortlisted.
“The PTDF OSS remains one of the most impactful scholarship schemes in the country, and we look forward to welcoming a new cohort of scholars who will help shape the future of Nigeria’s energy landscape,” the statement concluded.
