Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarship Scheme – All You Should Know

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) was established in 1973 by Act No. 25 of 1973, which replaced the Gulf Oil Company Training Fund (Administration) Act, 1964 and vested in the Fund all the assets and responsibilities of the defunct Gulf Oil Company Training Fund.

The PTDF Act in its definition clause states that it is “An Act to repeal the Gulf Oil Company Training Fund (Administration) Act 1964 and to establish the Petroleum Technology Development Fund for the purposes of training and education of Nigerians in the Petroleum Industry”.

From the time it was established, the PTDF operated only as a desk in the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) until the year 2000 when it was reconstituted and made a fully functional, independent parastatal.

After its reconstruction in 2000, the fund has vigorously pursued its mandate which hinged on 3 focal areas, thus:

• Human capital development
• Institutional capacity building
• Research and development for technology enhancement

PTDF Scholarship Scheme

The PTDF scholarship scheme comes under the Human Capital Development Programmes.

Human capital is asserted to be the most important element of success in business today. Developing human capital requires creating and cultivating environments in which human beings can rapidly learn and apply new ideas, competencies, skills, behaviours and attitudes.

Bearing this in mind, the PTDF scholarship scheme and several training programmes were mapped out in order to improve people who will eventually use their knowledge to better Nigeria’s Oil and Gas industry.

The PTDF scholarship scheme is the fund’s flagship programme which was designed to meet the long-term capacity building requirements of the Oil and Gas industry through research and training of Nigerians in relevant fields such as:

• Engineering
• Geological Sciences
• Environmental Studies
• Energy Studies
• The overseas scholarship scheme (OSS)

The OSS which is the Fund’s flagship programme is designed to meet the long-term capacity requirements of the Oil and Gas Industry through training of young Nigerians in related fields of Engineering, Geological Sciences, Environmental and Energy Studies both at the Masters and Doctorate levels.

The expectation is that beneficiaries will fit in directly to the Petroleum Industry and/or the academia and hence contribute positively to nation building.

In the long term, this will help to meet the set targets in the attainment of the Nigerian Content and also, make Nigeria the hub of Oil and Gas personnel development for the West African sub-region and the Gulf of Guinea.

The PTDF scholarship scheme for overseas study covers payment for tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses to successful scholars who are trained at both the Masters and Doctorate levels mainly in the best ten acclaimed Universities in the United Kingdom (UK) and a few Universities in North America and some other parts of Europe.

PTDF Local Scholarship Scheme (LSS)

Under the LSS, PTDF Scholarships are granted for undergraduate, masters and PhD studies in relevant fields in PTDF upgraded Universities in Nigeria.

The major purpose of the establishment of the PTDF is to develop and promote petroleum technology in addition to creating the human resource needs of the oil and gas industry through research and training of Nigerians.

To ensure a steadfast implementation of this mandate, PTDF yearly invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for overseas and in-country MSc and PhD scholarships.

The scholarships are usually awarded for studies in different foreign countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, France, United States of America as well as Federal universities and centres of excellence in Nigeria.

Application forms are accessed online through a specified website address using an ATM (Interswitch, Master or Visa) card or through the purchase of a scratch card from designated banks in all the 36 States and FCT, upon payment of a NON-REFUNDABLE amount of money as stated by the funds.

Instructions on how to access the form online are clearly stated on the backside of the cards.

Applicants who meet the requirements below are shortlisted and invited for a Computer-Based Aptitude Test, in the case of M.Sc. applicants, while an oral interview is conducted for PhD applicants (full-time and Split-site) on dates to be announced.

Following the aptitude tests and interview, successful candidates are selected and awarded the PTDF scholarship.

Criteria For PTDF Scholarship Scheme

Applicants for the Overseas Scholarship Scheme must be in possession of the following:

1. Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)(USA)
2. G.R.E (Graduate Record Examination) (USA)
3. GMAT –for management related courses (USA)
4. International English language testing system (IELTS) (UK

M.Sc.

1. A minimum of a second class upper (2.1) in an Oil and Gas related field OR a 2.2 with oil and gas industry experience;
2. National Youth Service (NYSC) certificate;
3. Applicants must be computer literate;
4. Possession of O/level with credit in English language; (At least C6 in WAEC/SSCE or C4 and above in NECO); and
5. Applicants must not be above 30 years of age.

PhD

1. A minimum of a second class upper (2.1) in an Oil and Gas related field OR a 2.2 with oil and gas industry experience;
2. National Youth Service (NYSC) certificate;
3. Applicants must be computer literate;
4. Possession of O/level with Credit in English Language; (At least C6 in WAEC/SSCE or C4 and above in NECO); and
5. Employment in the academics in reputable Nigerian institution, teaching oil and gas related disciplines;
6. A minimum of 2.2 in their first degree and a minimum of merit as a second-degree certificate in an oil and gas related discipline;
7.  Submit a research proposal relevant to the oil and gas industry (of not more than 5 pages) to include: Topic, introduction, objective, methodology relevance to the industry and mode of data collection;
8.   Possess a valid admission letter; and
9.   Must not be over 40 years of age

Documents To Scan And Attach To Application Form

Applicants are advised to scan the following documents and attach to their online application forms:

1. First-degree certificate or statement of result;
2. NYSC discharge certificate;
3. WAEC/GCE/SSCE/NECO results;
4. 2 Recent passport photographs;
5. Local government identification letter;
6. Masters’ degree certificate (PhD applicants only); and
7. Admission letter (PhD applicants).

Please Note That The Possession Of A Valid University Admission Letter Is Compulsory For Local Scholarship Scheme (Undergraduates, M.Sc. & PhD) Applicants.

List Of Approved Courses For Sponsorship

M.Sc. Courses

Scholarships may be offered for admission into the under-listed courses (for overseas M.Sc.). Candidates are usually advised to apply for admission into Universities in the UK, Germany, Brazil, France and the United States that offer these courses while applying for the Petroleum Technology Development Fund Scholarship.

The Local Scholarship Scheme applicants can apply to all Federal Universities and Centre of Excellence in courses relevant to the Oil and Gas Industry.

• Downstream operations: refining, transportation and marketing
• Upstream exploration and production of conventional and unconventional energy resources
• Gas engineering innovations
• Innovations and solutions for new renewable energy technologies
• Multidisciplinary engineering technology

Read More: 20+ Facts About The National Postgraduate Medical College Of Nigeria 

PhD Courses and Research Areas

The PhD research areas in addition to the afore-listed M.Sc. program areas may also include any of the following related areas:

• Refining technology
• Oil exploration and production
• Gas engineering
• Renewable energy technologies
• Multidisciplinary engineering technology

Please Note That:

1. Recipients of other scholarships must not apply for the PTDF scholarship.
2. The duration of the PhD award is limited to a maximum of thirty-six (36) months only.
3. Applicants who already possess a master’s degree need not apply for M.Sc. programme but are qualified to apply for the PhD.
4. The PTDF award will take effect from a specified month of the year
5. PhD applicants who would have already commenced their programmes are eligible to apply, however, the PTDF award will be effective at a stated time.