NNPC Total National Merit Scholarship Award: Application Guide

What the scholarship offers

NNPC Limited and TotalEnergies Nigeria jointly fund the National Merit Scholarship Award, an annual programme that supports Nigerian undergraduates through their degree. The award targets students already inside the university system rather than fresh admission seekers, which sets it apart from JAMB-linked entrance scholarships.

Applications open online once a year, and each cycle has its own closing date. The 2025 cycle, for example, closed on July 1, 2025, according to MySchoolGist . Watch NNPC Limited's official notices and TotalEnergies Nigeria's scholarship page each year for the new cycle's opening and closing dates.

Eligibility rules

• You study full-time at a university recognized by Nigeria's National Universities Commission (NUC).

• You are in 100 level or 200 level when you apply.

• You scored 200 or above in your UTME.

• If you are in 200 level, your cumulative grade point average is 2.5 or higher on a 5.0 scale.

• You do not already hold a similar scholarship from another oil or gas company.

You are disqualified if your UTME score fell below 200, if you are in 200 level with a CGPA under 2.5, or if an oil or gas company already sponsors your studies. TestStreams lists these exclusion rules alongside the main criteria.

How the application works

1. Visit the TotalEnergies Nigeria scholarship page or NNPC Limited's official scholarship notice for the open cycle.

2. Create your application profile with your personal, academic and UTME details.

3. Upload the documents the portal requests: admission letter, UTME result slip, and current academic transcript or result for 200 level applicants.

4. Submit before the stated deadline. The process is online only, with no paper submission or courier option.

5. Wait for the shortlist announcement. Only shortlisted candidates move to the next stage.

The selection test

Shortlisted applicants sit a selection test administered by a national examination body such as WAEC, at centres located across the country. The test result decides the final award list, so treat the shortlist stage as the halfway point, not the finish line.

Prepare using your standard university coursework and general aptitude practice. NNPC and TotalEnergies have not published a fixed syllabus for the test, so broad readiness across mathematics, English and your field of study serves you better than guessing specific topics.

Documents to prepare

Gather these before the portal opens so you are not searching for paperwork against a deadline:

• UTME result slip showing your score

• University admission letter

• Current CGPA transcript or result slip (200 level applicants)

• A valid means of identification

• A recent passport photograph

Duration and renewal

The scholarship supports you through your degree once you win it, not as a one-off, single-session payment. Renewal each session typically depends on keeping your academic standing above the programme's minimum CGPA, so a strong first award is only the start. Confirm your specific renewal conditions with your award letter and your university's scholarship or bursary desk once selected, since terms differ by cohort.

Tips to improve your chances

• Apply as soon as the portal opens. High-volume scholarship portals in Nigeria slow down close to the deadline.

• Keep your UTME result slip and admission letter scanned and ready before you start the form.

• If you are in 200 level, request your official transcript or result slip from your department early, since verification takes time.

• Do not apply if an oil or gas company already sponsors you. Duplicate sponsorship claims get applications disqualified.