The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has started screening 5,885 shortlisted candidates for its 2026/2027 Overseas Scholarship Scheme. The interviews, which began Tuesday in Abuja, cover applicants seeking MSc and PhD placements abroad. Dr Bello Mustapha, Deputy General Manager, Education and Training at PTDF, confirmed the figure and disclosed that the agency received over 38,000 applications for the programme. Candidates are being assessed based on academic performance, relevance of proposed courses, and institutional quotas. The scholarship covers tuition, stipends, and travel expenses for successful applicants.
Only 5,885 made the cut from over 38,000 applicants, meaning less than one in six will even reach the interview stage. Dr Bello Mustapha's confirmation of the scale of competition underscores how prized these fully funded overseas slots remain. For Nigerian students, especially in STEM fields, a PTDF scholarship can shape long-term career trajectories. The high demand reflects both the prestige of the programme and the shrinking pool of public funding for advanced education.
