The PTDF Scholarship 2027 is the Nigerian government’s largest fully funded scholarship program, open to Nigerian citizens only. Run by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, it provides fully funded undergraduate, master’s, and PhD studies through two schemes: the In-Country Scholarship Scheme (ISS) at Nigerian public universities, and the Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) at partner universities abroad. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the PTDF Scholarship, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
PTDF exists to build Nigerian capacity for the oil and gas industry, and the funded courses follow that mandate. The list is wider than most people expect, though. Beyond petroleum, chemical, and mechanical engineering, the sponsored courses cover computer science, cyber security, geology, renewable energy, and management fields including law, accounting, and business administration.
Each scheme is announced in its own advert on the PTDF Scholarship Management Portal. The 2026/27 advert that ran from April to June 2026 covered the In-Country Scheme, and the Overseas Scheme is advertised separately, so watch the portal for the OSS announcement. The application itself is free. The only cost you will incur is a small third-party NIMC charge to verify your National Identity Number, which is now mandatory before you can apply. Anyone asking you to pay for a PTDF form, processing, or a “guaranteed slot” is running a scam.
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PTDF Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate / Master’s / PhD
- Institutions: Nigerian public universities (ISS) and PTDF partner universities abroad (OSS)
- Study Destination: Nigeria (ISS); partner countries under the OSS, which in recent cycles have included the UK, Germany, France, China, and Malaysia
- Courses Offered: Oil and gas, energy, and management-related fields, including engineering (petroleum, chemical, mechanical, electrical, civil, software, and more), sciences (geology, geophysics, computer science, cyber security, chemistry), environmental and renewable energy courses, and management courses such as law, accounting, business administration, and economics. The full list is published with each official advert.
- Program Period: Undergraduate: from 200 level to graduation, Master’s: 1–2 years, PhD: 3–4 years
PTDF Scholarship Deadline
The 2026/27 In-Country Scholarship Scheme application window ran from 27 April to 5 June 2026 and has closed. The Overseas Scholarship Scheme is announced in a separate advert. Check the PTDF portal for the current status of each scheme, because PTDF advertises each cycle separately and the dates change from year to year.
PTDF Scholarship Coverage
The PTDF Scholarship is fully funded for the selected scheme. Scholars receive:
- Full tuition, paid directly to the university
- A living allowance for the duration of the program
- For overseas scholars: return flight tickets and health insurance cover
Two rules from the official guidelines are worth knowing before you plan around this money. Past PTDF beneficiaries cannot apply again for the same or a lower degree level, and if you currently hold any other scholarship, you are not eligible to apply.
Eligibility Criteria for the PTDF Scholarship
To qualify for the PTDF Scholarship, the candidate must fulfill the following requirements:
- Required Language: English
- Eligible Countries: Nigeria (Nigerian citizens only)
- A National Identity Number (NIN), verified through NIMC, before the application can proceed
- Five O’Level credits in WAEC/SSCE/NECO including English Language and Mathematics, in no more than two sittings
- Full-time study only. Part-time admission is not considered for any category.
For undergraduate applicants (ISS):
- Must be a full-time student at a Nigerian public university, currently in 200 level
- A minimum CGPA of 2.4 on a 5.0 scale (Second Class Lower) in the first year
- Course of study must be on the sponsored list (oil and gas, energy, and management-related fields)
- First-year transcript, signed and stamped by the HOD, Exams Officer, or other authorized university personnel
For master’s applicants:
- A full-time admission letter into a Nigerian public university (ISS)
- A minimum of Second Class Lower (2:2) in an oil and gas-related field
- NYSC discharge certificate or letter of exemption
- A personal statement of at least 1,000 words explaining why you want to undertake the study, its relevance to the industry, and its expected impact on national development
- O’Level results must precede the first degree
For PhD applicants:
- A full-time admission letter into a Nigerian public university (ISS)
- A minimum of Second Class Lower (2:2) in the first degree and at least a Merit in the master’s degree, both in oil and gas or management-related fields
- NYSC discharge certificate or letter of exemption
- A research proposal of not more than 6 pages covering the topic, introduction, literature review, research questions, methodology, mode of data collection, expected outcomes, novelty, relevance to the industry, and references. The official template is available in your profile on the scholarship portal.
Selection is merit-driven, but PTDF also balances awards across the 36 states and the FCT, so your certificate of state of origin must match your other documents. Postgraduate shortlisting is followed by an oral interview before final selection. For overseas cycles, requirements are set out in the OSS advert and have historically been stricter, with a Second Class Upper (2:1) as the usual benchmark for the master’s.
How to Apply for the PTDF Scholarship?
Please follow the instructions below to apply for the PTDF Scholarship:
- Wait for the official advert on the PTDF portal announcing that your scheme (ISS or OSS) is open. PTDF also announces on its verified Twitter/X and Facebook pages.
- Verify your NIN. The portal requires NIMC verification before the application can proceed, and NIMC’s small verification charge applies.
- Create an account on the PTDF Scholarship Management Portal and select your scheme.
- Fill in the application form and upload your documents. Everything except the passport photograph must be in PDF format, legible, and within the file sizes stated on the portal.
- Submit before the deadline and keep a copy of your completed application.
- Shortlisted postgraduate candidates are invited for an oral interview before final selection.
- Successful scholars are announced by PTDF, and overseas scholars are matched to partner universities before pre-departure processing.
Documents Required for the PTDF Scholarship
Undergraduate applicants (ISS):
- WAEC/SSCE/NECO results with at least 5 credits including English and Mathematics (maximum two sittings, first sitting uploaded)
- Letter of admission into the university
- First-year academic transcript, signed and stamped by authorized university personnel
- Certificate of indigeneship (state of origin and local government)
- A personal statement of at least 300 words on your reasons for the course of study
Postgraduate applicants:
- First-degree certificate or statement of results
- NYSC certificate or letter of exemption
- WAEC/GCE/SSCE/NECO results
- Admission letter
- Personal statement of at least 1,000 words (MSc applicants)
- Certificate of indigeneship
- For PhD applicants: second-degree certificate or statement of results, and the 6-page research proposal using the portal template
Our guides on writing a statement of purpose and preparing an academic CV cover the two documents where applicants lose the most marks. Scan everything before the portal opens. PTDF windows run about six weeks, and the portal slows near the deadline as applications pile in.
Website
To learn more about the PTDF Scholarship, please visit the official website:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the PTDF scholarship application free?
Yes. You apply through the official portal, and PTDF charges nothing. The only cost is NIMC’s small third-party charge for verifying your NIN, which the portal requires before you can proceed. PTDF does not use agents, and anyone selling forms or “guaranteed slots” is a scammer.
Can I apply with a Second Class Lower (2:2)?
For the In-Country Scheme, yes. The official guidelines set 2:2 as the minimum for both master’s and PhD applicants, provided the degree is in an oil and gas or management-related field. The Overseas Scheme has historically required a 2:1 for the master’s, so check the OSS advert when it opens.
Which courses does PTDF sponsor?
Oil and gas, energy, and management-related fields. The current list spans engineering, sciences including computer science and cyber security, environmental and renewable energy courses, and management courses such as law, accounting, business administration, and economics. The exact list is published with each advert on the guidelines page.
Can I apply if I already hold another scholarship?
No. The guidelines state that current beneficiaries of any other scholarship need not apply, and past PTDF scholars cannot apply again for the same or a lower degree level.
Is NYSC compulsory for the PTDF scholarship?
For postgraduate applications, yes. You need your NYSC discharge certificate or letter of exemption at the time of application. Undergraduate ISS applicants apply from 200 level, so NYSC does not apply to them.
Can I study part-time or at a private university under PTDF?
No on both counts. The guidelines restrict the In-Country Scheme to full-time study at Nigerian public universities, and part-time admission is not considered for any category.
