NNPC/SNEPCo Postgraduate Scholarship 2026: UK, Fully Funded

The NNPC/SNEPCo Postgraduate Scholarship 2026 is a fully funded award that sponsors qualified Nigerian graduates to study a one-year taught MSc in the United Kingdom from September 2026. It is run by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) on behalf of NNPC and its co-venturers, and it is open to applicants from all 36 states and the FCT. The deadline is tight — the official notice gives 8 June 2026 — so this is a move-now opportunity.

Quick facts

• Award: Fully funded one-year MSc in the UK — tuition, one economy return flight from Nigeria to the UK, a contribution towards living expenses, and medical insurance in line with UK student visa requirements.
• Provider: SNEPCo, on behalf of itself, NNPC and co-venturers (Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria and Nigerian Agip Exploration Company Limited), in partnership with two UK universities.
• Level: Postgraduate (one-year taught Master’s degree).
• Deadline: Completed scholarship applications must reach the participating universities by 8 June 2026 (the University of Aberdeen’s own funding page lists 10 June 2026 — follow the date stated by the university you apply through).
• Who can apply: Nigerian graduates aged 21–28 with a 2:1-equivalent degree, completed NYSC, and an admission offer for an eligible MSc at a participating UK university.
• Official link: Apply for admission via the University of Aberdeen (abdn.ac.uk/study/funding/687) or Newcastle University (ncl.ac.uk); scheme details are published on Shell Nigeria’s scholarships page (shell.com.ng).

Who is eligible for the NNPC/SNEPCo Postgraduate Scholarship

This is a competitive, criteria-heavy award. Missing any single requirement removes you from consideration, so check each point carefully before you start.

You must be a Nigerian citizen residing in Nigeria, and the scheme is open to applicants from every state and the FCT. You must be aged between 21 and 28 years by 30 September 2026, and you must have completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme by September 2026.

On academics, you should already hold — or expect to hold by the time you take up the scholarship — a degree of an equivalent standard to a UK Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1). You must also display intellectual ability and leadership potential, which the universities and SNEPCo assess at interview.

You need an adequate standard of English: at least 6.5 in IELTS, alongside meeting the university’s own language requirement. You must hold a Nigerian international passport valid until at least December 2026.

There is one structural condition that catches many applicants out: you must first be offered admission to one of the eligible MSc courses at a participating university, having applied through its normal application process. You cannot apply for the scholarship before you hold an admission offer.

Two exclusions are worth stressing because they are firm. First, applicants must not have already had the chance of studying in the UK or other developed countries. Second, employees, employees’ relatives, and former employees who left less than five years before of SNEPCo, the Royal Dutch Shell group of companies or the participating college are not eligible.

Who it is — and isn’t — for

It suits Nigerian graduates within the 21–28 age band who have a 2:1, have finished NYSC, have not previously studied in a developed country, and want a funded route into a UK MSc in an energy, engineering or technology field. It is not for current undergraduates, applicants over 28, those who have not completed NYSC, anyone who has already studied abroad in a developed country, or candidates hoping to apply for the scholarship without first securing university admission.

Benefits: what the award covers

The scholarship covers the eligible costs of one year of MSc study. Successful candidates receive tuition fees, one economy-class return flight between Nigeria and the UK, and a contribution towards living expenses. The living-expense support follows the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) published living rates and is limited to that purpose. SNEPCo also provides medical insurance in line with UK student visa requirements.

Two honest caveats from the official notice matter here. The award covers the listed items only — not every cost a student abroad may incur — so budget accordingly. And it is a non-committal scholarship: neither SNEPCo nor NNPC and its co-venturers is obliged to offer employment to any candidate after graduation, and successful candidates are not bonded to the sponsors for any period on account of the award. In short, it funds your studies; it does not promise a job.

Eligible universities and courses

For the session starting September 2026, the scholarship supports MSc study at two UK universities.

At the University of Aberdeen, the eligible courses are MSc Geophysics; MSc Safety & Reliability Engineering for Oil & Gas; MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering; and MSc Integrated Petroleum Geoscience.

At Newcastle University, the eligible courses are MSc Data Science and AI; MSc Data Science; MSc Engineering Management; MSc Sustainable Chemical Engineering; MSc Artificial Intelligence; MSc Robotics and AI; and MSc Marine and Ocean Engineering.

These programmes were chosen for their relevance to the oil and gas industry and to wider energy, engineering and technology fields. Check the exact course title and entry requirements on each university’s website, as specific course admission requirements are set by the universities.

How to apply (step by step)

Because admission comes before the scholarship, follow this order:

1. Choose an eligible course at the University of Aberdeen or Newcastle University from the lists above.
2. Apply to that university for admission through its normal postgraduate application process, meeting the course’s academic and English-language requirements.
3. Secure a formal admission offer. You cannot proceed without one.
4. Access the scholarship application form, which is available only through the University of Aberdeen and Newcastle University websites after you have received an admission offer.
5. Submit the completed form so it reaches the university by the deadline (8 June 2026 per the official notice; Aberdeen’s page lists 10 June 2026).
6. Attend an interview with SNEPCo if the university shortlists you. Final selection follows the interview.

Given how close the deadline is, contact the universities’ admissions offices immediately if you have not yet applied for a place.

Required documents

Exact requirements are set by the universities, but applicants typically need:

• A formal university admission offer for an eligible course.
• Academic transcripts and a degree certificate showing a 2:1-equivalent result.
• Your NYSC discharge certificate.
• A Nigerian international passport valid to at least December 2026.
• Proof of English proficiency, such as an IELTS result of at least 6.5.
• Any additional documents specified by the university or the scholarship form.

Key dates and deadline

• Application window: Open now for the 2026 award.
• Scholarship deadline: Completed applications to reach the participating universities by 8 June 2026 (Aberdeen’s funding page lists 10 June 2026).
• NYSC requirement: Must be completed by September 2026.
• Age cut-off: Must be aged 21–28 by 30 September 2026.
• Studies begin: September 2026 in the UK.

Follow the deadline given by the university you are applying through, and confirm it directly on that university’s page before relying on any date here.

How winners are selected

The participating universities process scholarship applications and select candidates to attend interviews with SNEPCo before final selection. A 2:1-equivalent degree and a place on an eligible course get you considered; the interview and your wider profile — including demonstrated leadership potential — decide the outcome.

Tips to strengthen your application

• Sort admission first and fast. With the deadline so close, your priority is an eligible-course offer from Aberdeen or Newcastle.
• Match the course to your background. Apply for an MSc that follows naturally from your first degree; it strengthens both your admission and your scholarship case.
• Be ready to evidence leadership. Prepare specific examples of initiative and responsibility for the SNEPCo interview, not just your grades.
• Get documents in order early. Transcripts, degree certificate, NYSC certificate and passport take time to gather and verify.
• Confirm the English requirement. You need at least IELTS 6.5 and must meet the university’s own language standard.
• Read the official notice in full. The exclusions — prior study abroad, and links to SNEPCo or the Shell group — quietly disqualify otherwise strong candidates.

Before you apply

The NNPC/SNEPCo Postgraduate Scholarship is a genuine, well-established fully funded route to a UK Master’s, but it is admission-first, age-restricted and time-pressured, and it carries no job guarantee. Do not delay on university admission, gather your documents now, and confirm the deadline and eligibility on the official Shell Nigeria notice and the universities’ pages before relying on any figure here.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for the NNPC/SNEPCo Postgraduate Scholarship 2026? Nigerian citizens residing in Nigeria, aged 21–28 by 30 September 2026, who hold a 2:1-equivalent degree, have completed NYSC by September 2026, have not previously studied in the UK or another developed country, meet the IELTS 6.5 requirement, hold a valid passport, and have an admission offer for an eligible MSc at a participating university.

Is it open to NOUN graduates? The award is based on your degree and admission, not on which Nigerian institution you attended, so a National Open University of Nigeria graduate who meets the age, NYSC, 2:1-equivalent and admission requirements can apply. Confirm that your qualification satisfies the chosen university’s entry standard.

What is the deadline? The official SNEPCo notice states that completed applications must reach the participating universities by 8 June 2026; the University of Aberdeen’s funding page lists 10 June 2026. Follow the date for the university you apply through.

Is it free to apply, and does it guarantee a job? There is no fee for the scholarship itself, though you must first secure university admission through the normal process. It is a non-committal award — it does not guarantee employment with SNEPCo or NNPC, and recipients are not bonded to the sponsors.

How are winners selected? The universities process applications and shortlist candidates, who then attend interviews with SNEPCo before final selection.

What does the scholarship cover? Tuition, one economy return flight from Nigeria to the UK, a contribution towards living expenses based on ACU rates, and medical insurance for the UK student visa — for one year of MSc study, and the listed items only.

This opportunity has closed. Browse current scholarships.

Always confirm details on the official provider’s website before applying. Dates and eligibility may change.