Friday, September 18, 2009

PTDF SCHOLARSHIP SUCCESS GUIDE





HOW TO FILL THE FORM SO YOU ARE INVITED FOR THE TEST


Now that you have gotten the form does it mean because you have a 2-1, you’ll be invited for the test? NO, it is not automatic. You need to fill the form in such a way that you’ll be attractive enough to be invited. So what are they looking out for, there are two things; firstly your employment history and secondly your personal statement.


Basically, PTDF was made to further empower people involved in the oil and gas industry either those presently employed in the sector or those with previous industry exposure. For example, if your internship or industrial training was in the oil sector that is sufficient exposure. If you’re currently working in a company remotely related to the oil industry that is also sufficient. But if you’re currently working in a bank, it would be foolish to put that and expect to be invited for the test. So when filling this part of the form list all possible associations you’ve had whether directly or indirectly to indicate your interest in the petroleum industry.


Secondly your personal statement is the other important factor. Here you have to explain why you want to study overseas, why you want to study what ever course you have chosen and how the scholarship would benefit you, the petroleum industry and ultimately your beloved country Nigeria. This is where people can make up for their lack of sufficient relevant industry experience. So give it your best.

Believe me if you don’t get these two things right with your 2-1 you may not be called. But if your employment history and personal statement are well written to portray the above points, even with a 2-2, you will be invited for the test and nothing stops you afterwards from getting the scholarship. Several of such cases abound.


HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT Msc. COURSE


This is where most people miss it. The best course that will aid you get the scholarship is one that is the most related to your field of study. You know whatever course you fill in your application form is what determines the PTDF exam questions you’re eligible to write. So if you studied Mechanical engineering or electrical engineering and because you want to have a job in the oil industry you choose a core petroleum engineering course as your PTDF course, you may be on your way to failing. This is a very competitive exam, so compete in a field you are familiar with. If you want to study oil and Gas engineering or the like at masters level, wonderful, you can do that by securing sponsorship from other sources and going directly to study. However if PTDF scholarship is your only hope of sponsorship then choose a course related to your field.


DO YOU NEED A PETROLEUM ENGINEERING DEGREE TO WORK IN THE OIL INDUSTRY?


The answer is capital NO. It doesn’t matter your course of study at masters level you can be employed in the oil industry. The Masters only gives you a better chance of being considered for employment. That is to say it increases your eligibility for multinational jobs. So where every body applying for a particular job has a 2-1, and 1st class and you have in addition a masters you’re likely to be considered first. That’s just it. But eventually if you are employed you’re assigned a job function related to your first degree field. That is the practice.


THE SECRETS OF PREPARATION


Having Chosen a course, hopefully related to your first degree discipline you need to start preparing from this minute, don’t wait. There are 3 parts.


Part 1: 50 objective questions. These are basically current affairs questions.


Part 2: This basically tests your writing skills. It includes a set of essay type questions from which you’re required to answer one. They mostly contain contemporary questions coined from current economic, political and petroleum industry trends, depending on your chosen course.

So think through some of the happenings in the country and industry and think up likely questions and practice answering them.


Part 3: A set of about 11 questions mainly core calculation questions from which you’re to answer all.

The questions are mainly drawn from 2nd and 3rd year university courses. So you need to go review thoroughly your undergraduate courses.


Time available: As usual the time given to answer all these questions is very short. So you need to work on your speed as part of your practice.


HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPECIAL CONCESSION FOR FEMALE CANDIDATES


PTDF has now been designed to encourage and favour female candidates. So if you’re a lady you have 2 chances of winning the scholarship.


· You win the scholarship based on your overall performance among all candidates that sat for the exams. i.e. guys and gals alike.


· You win the scholarship based on your performance among all the females that took the exam that year.


So what does that mean? It means it’s twice as easy for you girls to get the award. So ladies just add a little more effort to your preparation. And guys don’t go helping them out in the hall because you have a harder chance of getting the scholarship award.


NON CORE OIL AND GAS COURSES AWARD (ECONOMICS, LAW ETC)


This is another set of people that have one cool sloth for them and funny enough they’re few people in this category and so it’s easier for them. So for those that studied courses like law, economics and some social science courses one scholarship slot is reserved for you. So take your chance.


OVER 60 PTDF SCHOLARS THIS PAST SESSION WERE FORCED TO DIFFER THEIR AWARD, HOW TO AVOID IT.


PTDF usually says it would get admission on your behalf but depending completely on them caused about 64 people that won the scholarship this last 2009 session to be compeled to differ there admission. What happened? The schools PTDF applied to for these students denied them admission at the last minute. You know in Nigeria anything can happened, deferment can change to we are sorry try taking the PTDF exam again.


To be on the safe side you need to get a UK Masters admission yourself. And luckily it’s very easy. You can then forward the admission to PTDF and they would sponsor you based on that. So learn the lesson. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

No comments:

Post a Comment