PTDF Scholarship 2024: How to Apply and Win the Scholarship

The PTDF scholarship is a fully funded scholarship project by the Nigerian federal government.

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, established in 1973 during the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon by Act No. 25. 

The purpose of the creation is to help develop the indigenous workforce and imbue them with the knowledge of handling operational and managerial posts in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry competently.

So, the primary purpose or what could be called the mission is to train Nigerians either in Nigeria or abroad to become professionals, technicians, and craftsmen in the engineering, geology, science, and management fields so they can be qualified to work and manage the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Every year, Nigerians who majored in petroleum technology-related disciplines in their undergraduate programs are called to apply for the PTDF Masters and PhD scholarships, where they get to be trained overseas (in selected countries) completely on the Federal Government’s account, with no penny required. All that is required, of course, is your wits.

This year, 2024, PTDF has begun its usual call for qualified candidates to apply and be beneficiaries of the overseas Masters and Doctorates scholarship for specific programs at selected institutions for the 2024/2025 academic session.

Eligibility for PTDF Scholarship

Unfortunately, not everyone is eligible to apply for the PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS). 

The award is for Masters and PhD alone; none for undergraduate. 

This means one must have undergone 4 to 5 years of training in any recognized tertiary institution with relevant transcripts as proof in the required fields (disciplines related to science and technology, namely; engineering, geology, management sciences, and petroleum engineering).

To be eligible for the PTDF Scholarships, first of all, you must be a Nigerian with a National Identity Number (NIN). 

Then for Masters, you must have a minimum of Second Class Upper (2.1) in your first degree in one of the relevant fields or a Second Class Lower (2.2) with years of experience in the oil and gas industry. 

While for PhD, a minimum of Second Class Lower in their first degree with a good Post-graduate degree.

You must have also completed the compulsory one-year National Youth Service (NYSC).

As a university lecturer, you are eligible to apply for the PhD program as long as you can provide a letter from your Vice Chancellor attesting that you are not currently a beneficiary of any scholarship program.

Benefits of PTDF Scholarship

Once you are accepted for the PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme, the Federal Government of Nigeria foots all the required funds. The benefits are;

1. Free flight tickets
2. Health insurance covered 
3. Full tuition fees and bench fees
4. Living and accommodation allowances till completion of studies
5. Immediate employment into the oil and gas sector on completion of studies.

Requirement for PTDF Scholarship

Requirement for Masters Candidate:

The requirements for Masters candidates in the 2024 PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme are;

• A minimum of Second Class Upper in your first degree program, or a Second Class Lower with extensive experience in the gas and oil industry.
• You must have completed the compulsory one year National Youth Service (NYSC) or has NYSC discharge certificate.
• You must know how to operate and use a computer very well.
• You must have acquired 5 credits including one in Mathematics and in English Language in your O’level result.
• A maximum of 500 words Statement of Purpose, stating why you want to embark on this study, the relevance of your chosen discipline in the oil and gas industry, and how it will impact on national development .
• You must have a National Identity Number (NIN) of which you will be required to verify with NIMC before applying for the scholarship. 

Requirements for PhD candidates:

• You must have completed the mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC).
• You must know how to operate and use a computer very well.
• You must have acquired 5 credits including English language and Mathematics in your WAEC, GCE, SSCE or NECO result.
• You must have acquired a minimum of Second Class Lower in your first degree with a presentable Post-graduate degree.
• A maximum of five pages Research proposals relevant to the oil and gas industry, include topic introduction, objective, methodology and mode of data collection.
• If you are a lecturer, you must provide a letter from your Vice Chancellor attesting that you are not currently a beneficiary of any scholarship program.
• You must have a National Identity Number (NIN) of which you will be required to verify with NIMC before applying for the scholarship (charges may apply)

Here is the link for the PhD Approved Research Areas.

Document Requirements for PTDF Scholarship

These are the required documents for the PTDF Scholarship award. You are to scan all of the documents before attaching them to the online Application form.

1. First Degree Certificate or Statement of Result
2. NYSC completion Certificate.
3. Any of the O’level Certificates (WAEC/NECO/GCE/SSCE). You are required to write the PINs to access the results on the application forms to enable PTDF to view the O’level results directly from their sources.
4. Recent Passport Photograph 
5. Local Government Identification Letter or Certificate of Origin
6. Master’s Degree Certificate (for PhD applicants only).
7. Evidence of membership in professional associations.

How to Apply for PTDF Scholarship

Applying for PTDF Scholarship is very simple. All you have to do is make sure you are eligible, then get all the requirements ready, including scanned relevant documents as stated above, then;

1. Visit the PTDF Scholarship official website page. 
2. Click on Create Applicant Account or visit the create new application portal and fill in the required details and your email correctly.
3. An email will be sent to the email address you provided with instructions on how to login and set your password.
4. Once you’re done, login with your email as username, and input the password you created from the email instructions you got.
5. Once you’ve logged in, click “Verify NIN” first before you start your application.
6. If you have successfully verified your NIN, fill the requested fields and agree to the terms (you will be charged).
7. If you were unable to verify your NIN, don’t attempt a second time. Click on the red interface which reads “Click here for all failed NIN verification”, then enter your payment transaction reference number and NIN to complete your verification. If NIN verification issue persists, contact iss.applications@ptdf.gov.ng
8. A Disclaimer will pop up which you are required to click “Agree” after reading it, to continue. If you click “Disagree”, you will have ended your application.
9. After that, you begin the application. Make sure to fill all the fields and upload the required documents file according to their file formats and size. Any file that does not reach the upload requirement will show an error.
10. Next page is the Course Information, where you will have to ‘Accept’ the terms and conditions that states that PTDF has the right to award another university that is different from the ones you choose. You will be required to make three choices of university, and the same with courses. 

Note: If your first choice is a German university, you must choose Abuja as the place for your interview.

1. After that, you will be required to upload your Statement of Purpose (for Msc applicants) or Research proposal (for PhD applicants).
2. Next, you will be required to upload additional documents in the Additional Uploads section, which include birth certificate, LGA certificate of origin. All uploads should be less than 300KB.
3. Next is to upload your proof of Professional Membership and Publications. A maximum of 5 journals/publications and a maximum of 5 academic membership of any profession. 
4. The final part is to submit.

 Note that once you submit, you cannot edit your details. It is therefore expected that you preview your application very well, to make sure there are no mistakes, before submitting.

How to Win PTDF Scholarship

To win the PTDF Scholarship, here are a few tip for you;

1. Make sure you meet all the necessary requirements. Including proof of Professional membership and journals (at least 4). 
2. Your previous academic performance matters. A 2.1 is most likely to put you in the A-list. And your O’level results with at least a credit in relevant subjects.
3. Your Statement of Purpose should be well written. Statement of Purpose is very important to winning the PTDF Scholarship award.

Do not make use of emotions while writing.

You are supposed to tell them why they should trust you with the award, and not necessarily why you need it.

Your Statement of Purpose should include your motivation to embark on a Master’s research, and the benefits of your research to your own development and the society at large.

Talk about your achievements so far in respect to your field of study and how much of an impact you can be to the oil and gas industry.

Your Statement of Purpose should be constructive, convincing and articulate. You can check for a PTDF Scholarship Statement of Purpose sample or a PTDF Scholarship essay sample to give you insight on what is required. 

1. For PhD applicants, your research proposal should be well written, highlighting most importantly the relevance of such research to the oil and gas industry. 
2. During the interview (of course if you reach this stage, you’re on the brink, but you can still be disqualified if you fail to do the needful), be punctual, dress well, apply your wits, and be very confident.

List of Approved Courses for PTDF Scholarship

All fields of studies or research that have relevance to concerns in oil and gas.

The related fields according to the PTDF quarterly publication for 2010 include the physical sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computing, Engineering, Environmental Studies, and Geology.

Others are Geophysics, Microbiology and Biochemistry.

While supporting courses open for sponsorship include the Management Sciences and Law, Petroleum Law and policy, Energy Economics, Energy Finance, Petroleum Accounting and Oil and Gas Management, depending on need of the industry.

For PhD applicants check for areas to consider in your Research Proposal.

FAQs on How To Apply for PTDF Scholarship

Final Thought

PTDF aims at producing capable Nigerians who will be equipped with the essential skills and technical know-how to man and manage the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. Enough of foreigners managing the country’s oil and gas. For 37 years now, this has been the vision of PTDF.

There has been a lot of progress, with over 3,000 beneficiaries. The program is a continuum, so if you do not have the complete requirements this year, you can apply next year. 

PTDF Scholarship 2024 will be limited to partner universities in four countries abroad; United Kingdom, Germany, France and Malaysia.

The criteria used in selecting the winners include; academic merit, publications as expected in the requirements, membership of professional bodies, relevance of previous studies and proposed course/research to the oil and gas industry.