₦airaland Forum

greatdave: There's gotta be a way PTDF can reslove this english language requirement dem Unis be asking for. Its Nigeria! We were colonized by the UK! We're part of the Commonwealth for Pete's sake!!

DON'T TELL ME U DIDN'T DO AS ADVISED HERE EARLIER!
IF U CAN FIND A WAY TO RESOLVE IT, HOW & WHY WILL PTDF DO SAME?
I PRAY & HOPE PTDF FINDS A WAY TO RESOLVE IT LIKE YOU SAID.
BUT I'LL BE MORE GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU TRIED TO REGISTER FOR IELTS OR TOEFL, AND U ALSO TRIED TO APPLY TO OTHER SCHOOLS TO SEE IF ONE CAN OFFER YOU A GOOD COURSE WITH UR AVAILABLE CREDENTIALS.
REMEMBER THAT ENGLISH LANGUAGE WAS A REQUIREMENT DURING THE PTDF APPLICATION PROCESS, AND THEY ALSO SUGGESTED TOELF & IELTS FOR THOSE WHO COULDN'T MEET THE ENGLISH REQUIREMENT.

SO, I THINK IT'S NOT WISE TO WAIT ON PTDF UNLESS YOU INTEND TO DEFER THE SCHOLARSHIP TO NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU MUST HAVE GOTTEN YOUR TOEFL. I KNOW IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT, COZ THE LIST WAS RELEASED LATE, BUT YOU SHOULD PUT NIN YOUR BEST COZ THE EARLIER THE BETTER.

manaja87: Their major concern is the schools, not the courses. Once u have ur offer from one of the schools listed, u're in business!

Are you sure?
That's really good news!
Well, I'll give call tomorrow coz the mail didn't also confirm that we should arrive at the venue of the 10th as earlier advised.
Gotto be clear on this.

Yeah, I received the mail too.
It also contained the link for us to input our admission info.
But they didn't state if they granted our courses that are different from the awarded courses, yet they rendered strict warning about sticking to the listed courses and schools.
I'm confused.

What's the plan for Abuja?
Na flight abi na bus? Lol
How far BH activities? LMAO
Na wa o!

Nothing from my side guys.

For the PhD and LSS guys, the list for successful scholars is now out on the PTDF website.

And on the page, I got the info below:

Candidates are invited for induction programme, which has been scheduled to hold from August 11 to 15, 2014. Candidates are expected to arrive at the venue of the induction on August 10, 2014. They are to come along with originals of their credentials for sighting and photocopies for documentation, this will include certificate of indigeneship, age declaration or birth certificate and marriage certificate as may be applicable.

Please note that during the induction programme candidates will be subjected to medical examination at the expense of the Fund.

The address of the induction venue:
Chida International Hotel, Plot 224 Solomon Lar Way, Utako District, Abuja.

I guess this should also apply to the MSc guys.

Best Wishes.

I guess that mail was sent to only those that meet the course and university requirements from PTDF, and those whose admission offers have been considered and accepted.
So, others should receive similar mails once their submitted offer letters have been reviewed and accepted or otherwise.

Good work pals, let's keep the information flowing here.

So does anyone want to give us a hint of what it's about or you rather leave us in suspense?

Finally contacted PTDF via the contacts provided by a pal here.
The MTN number was a personal number of a PTDF staff who was not working in the MSc unit. So, I was advised to call the etisalat (08189745530), which I did.

I got professional response from both lines. They were very calm and willing to help.

To my complain of not getting a confirmation that my mail was received, I gave some details, and was asked to stay on the line while that was confirmed, and they confirmed receiving it.

To my complain of not having enough evidence to get an unconditional offer, accommodation booking, and CAS. I was told not to worry about it, that it's usually the case as most schools require upfront payment. But that all of those will be taken care of during the induction as we will be given our offer letters or so.

Cheers guys, guess all that's left is to relax and await induction.

manaja87: Okay Bro! I will keep u posted. My first degree course is Applied Geology.

You're on track if you get a second degree in Applied Petroleum Geosciences

manaja87: Thanks bro! The problem is that if the WAEC is more than 7years old, they would not accept it. That was what they told me.
The course I want to study at derby is Applied Petroleum Geoscience.
When I informed PTDF about my case yestarday, they said I should send the derby's offer for consideration.

Then why are you worried?
Allow PTDF consider your Derby offer pls!
That course is a VERY NICE COURSE if I must say.
Have you sent the Derby offer to PTDF?
Pls keep us updated with their response coz many of us can be calmed with that. Your chosen course and university are not listed, so if they accept it, then we'll be sure we're all on the right path to selecting the best courses for our career development.
In all, I hope they approve that course for you coz Petroleum Geosciences is a very hot field at present, and should you acquire the degree and be gainfully employed, the gains are unlimited. What's your first degree in?

Guys what's the way forward for those of us that sent our offer letters to PTDF without any reply or response from them?
Should we resend or follow up with a call? At least let's be sure that our admission offers are being considered, so that we can be notified in time if we need to make any changes.

manaja87: I'm currently holding 3 offer of admissions out of which 2 are conditional offers from newcastle and manchester. The remaining 1 is an uncondtional offer from university of derby. I have contacted manchester and newcastle to see if they can change my offer to uncondtional but they both said I must provide an IELTS results which I do not have right now.
Guys, what do u suggest I should do. Thanks!

Bro,
your case is really serious o! There's no way those schools will change your offer without IELTS or TOEFL pass score. Some schools accept A, B or C in WAEC. So, if u have that, u can try presenting ur case with ur SSCE English grades.
However, your best bet would have been to get IELTS or TOEFL which my brother is already very late coz it takes 2weeks to release scores after exam, and I doubt if there's any upcoming TOEFL or IELTS test in Nigeria.
Rather than fold your hands begging and hoping for Newcastle and Manchester to change your offer condition, you may want to check out TOEFL and IELTS sites for available test dates before September start, and apply for the earliest date even if it means paying the late registration fee, that's if you have the money and you actually wanna go for your MSc this year.
Again, you must not just go for any MSc because any school gave you admission; you must be sure that you're going for the right course.
What was your PTDF offered course and school? What's your desired course and school? What's the offer given by Derby?
You really need to start working out something!
Try applying to other PTDF listed universities and follow up with them as to urgency, ensuring that you print and send the Successful List to them and direct them to where your name is on the list as rightly advised by a member here.
You lose nothing in applying, but be sure to go for a course that's worth it. Let's not just go and waste our Country's resources in developing another country's economy without gaining something to bring back home and benefit our country. I'm sure y'all know that expectations are high on you from friend, families, loved ones, ex-colleagues and employers, etc after your program, so don't let yourself down from the start by going for the wrong course. We must pray for our future...

Can't wait to see the day when Naija will be fulfilled in all sectors including education, and we'll stop all this big spending abroad. Lol
Just get's me worried each time I do the maths of NGN10m x 175 per yr. That will go a long way. But can't advise that yet coz it'll all sink in corrupt pockets without any account of what it was used for.
Maybe we're the solution to the long lasted problem of the nation!

lazinc: Hey! I'm not trying to scare you o. Just making sure the whole processes go flawless without any itch. I'm not surprise for Manchester Uni, alot of PTDF scholars go to Manchester.
If you're very interested in going to RGU for the drilling and Well Enginering, I may want to offer my assistance to make sure you get your offer letter by next week. You can PM me the name of the person that is corresponding to you. I'll help you follow up next week and lets see how it goes from there.
If I may ask, what course did you apply for in Manchy? ACSE?

Best of luck

That's awesome bro! Thanks for the helping hand here!
I'm not having it easy using the PM here on nairaland. So, I'll just go direct here.
I already have a CONDITIONAL OFFER for MSc, Drilling and Well Engineering at RGU.
The condition of the offer is 40% upfront payment which amounts to GBP 7,400. This is what is preventing them from processing my CAS as claimed.
However, they said they'll only take off that condition IFF I send an evidence or proof of sponsorship in the form of an award letter.
I haven't got a specific correspondent from them. They only contact me via general admission mail:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
PGOffice@rgu.ac.uk
Tel: 01224 262209
However, I noticed the offer letter was signed by:
Will Lind
Postgraduate Admissions Officer
I applied for Refinery Design and Operation which has now been renamed to Advanced Process Design and Integration at Manchester University.
I'll be glad if you can be of assistance in RGU.

manaja87: Please how long does it take to process UK visa?

Priority Visa takes just 3days - 1week, which I'm sure will be what PTDF will use.

Normal Visa takes 2weeks to months depending on the available valid evidence and purpose of travel.

Napolitano14: When I contacted ptdf for my letter of award tegu replied with this message after intense pressure.
We have received your admission letter as shown by the auto response. Please visit our office in Abuja on any working day from 10am so that we can commence the processing of your sponsorship letter.
If u can make Abuja before induction fine but I want to believe it will be ready for collection after induction

Nice one brother.
But I doubt most of us would have the time to go to Abuja for the award letter before the induction which is just about a week away.
For the instant response after sending your admission letter, I'm still wondering why I didn't receive the same. Was it that I sent it to the wrong mail? Is it not oss_msc@ptdf.gov.ng ?

Guy, you're doing a great job here.
You've been really helpful.
Though you're getting me nervous all over with the VISA and ACCOMMODATION comments.
I have already done your advice about sending the list of successful candidates at the PTDF website.
Manchester accepted it easily like you said but that's because they saw the university name against my name on the list.
But RGU didn't accept it, they need an award letter which should be a confirmation that PTDf has accepted the request for change of course since the course I was applying for didn't even appear in the list of sponsored courses. And, I don't even wanna go far with Manchester coz I really don't prefer that.
I'm still trying to convince them to process and send me the CAS.

lazinc: Eat, sleep, wake up, watch TV and gist with friends.

That was on a lighter note. Some few presentations, enlightenment about life in the UK, do some documentation and then VISA application for those that have their CAS and other documents ready.

PTDF will take you guys to the consulate on convoy with some preferential treatments as 'big boys and girls' concern.

To be honest is one week of flexing, so make use of that opportunity to eat better food before coming over to the UK to eat rubbish

Considering the CAS, you talked about, how are we to get the CAS when we don't have proof of sponsorship yet. And most schools require you to either make a deposit or provide a proof of sponsorship.

Now, for those that haven't got a CAS and/or admission letter, what was their one week induction like?
Also, where was the location of the induction during your time? Since, you talked about consulate, I'm assuming it's Lagos. Which means I'll be making a redundant trip?! coz I'll be leaving Lagos for PH the week before the induction.

majestic8855: Hello all,
Candid advice, i have got admision to manchester for reliability engineering nd asset mgt and from newcastle for offshore engr and crainfield for offshore tech with pipeline engineering.

I am a lady with petroleum engineering as first degree.

Which of these courses look viable in the long run, everything put together

Depends on what you want, the kind of career you're looking at.
You've got your first degree in a very good field, if not for the limitations offered PTDF as per course, it would have been nice to advance in MSc courses directly related Petroleum Engineering in Universities like Heriot Watt & RGU e.g. Petroleum Geosciences, Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum Production Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, Drilling Engineering, etc. Also, process and design courses will be nice for a petroleum engr.

However, you can make the best choice from your list by looking at the individual course contents, and choose the course that you can enjoy and excel in, not something you'll struggle to succeed in. Next, is the kind of job you'll take up after such a degree, is it a job you'll enjoy doing? Ask yourself, what do I need a masters for? Will the selected course help me achieve this purpose? Can I do the kind of jobs that graduates of this field do?

In the past, once you say you're a lady, one would readily suggest "reliability engineering nd asset mgt", but today, ladies have broken into the industry and are competing favourably with the guys. Thus, you're fine with all three options. So, keep the "I'm a lady" out of this. It's ALL about what type of career you dream of.

Best Wishes

Pistacho: I have actually sent my admission letter to them but no reply yet from them( not even an automatic generated message), anybody with this issue?

Same here pal.
Nothing from them.
Can't tell why

Each time I see the comments that we can change course as verified by contact with PTDF, I feel very happy.
However, it just struck my mind to ask that:
This change of course we speak of here, does it apply to ONLY courses and universities listed for sponsorship on their website, or it also applies to other courses we choose to?
Because, truly, my interest is in DRILLING AND WELL ENGINEERING at ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITY.
The university is listed, but the Course is not listed on their website, and I have an offer letter already from then.
Though, as a back up anyway, I've got offer for the awarded course from the awarded university.

I tap into your faith and grace bro!
I've never prayed in that line!!!
Thanks for the eye opener!
Now I'm also gonna pray for God to butter my bread by giving me a STUDY LEAVE WITH PAY!!!
He'll surely answer when we ask!!! He won't give us stone for bread, nor will He turn His face from His own!!!

@Napolitano14:

Now i feel like I'm sailing the same ship with someone, and I'm feeling a bit relieved.

Anyway, I think it's really hard to make a good decision in this scenario when you have something good doing.

Make up your mind on what future you want, and pray about it. I'm sure God will direct you.

Here's my view, God will not give you the scholarship if it's not His will or plan for you. So, be very careful about making the decision to forgo the scholarship for your job. Don't get me wrong, however, I'm not also saying you should forgo your job for MSc. It's a decision you must be careful about as this is vital to your future.

As for me, it has always been my deepest desire to further my study. So, I'll only be fighting for the choice of course. And I pray God grants my heart desires according to His own will, not mine. For my desires may lead me to condemnation if they're not in line with God's purpose for me.

Is there anyone here who is or knows someone who is going to MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY for REFINERY DESIGN AND OPERATION?

I am made to understand that the course name has been changed to ADVANCED PROCESS INTEGRATION AND DESIGN, which is more attractive than the refinery thing. I was skeptical about going to Manchester coz I felt the refinery course was restrictive, but with the new course name, one will have broader opportunities and application. However, I wish to be sure that others who applied for MSc REFINERY DESIGN AND OPERATION are in the same shoe as I as per change of course name. I hope PTDF is aware of this change? Maybe we should put a call through to them on this.

Days are counting on, and we still haven't created a solid network of scholars who will be attending the same course and/or school.

It will be nice to start the group work here, so that we can only improve on that once we get there.

I'm sure so many persons, like I, are still fighting with the course choice as well as the decision of leaving job for school; however, I advise you make up your mind early enough and start refocusing your mind from work to academics if you must excel in your academics, rather than spend the time deliberating on decisions, you can divert it into preparing yourself for the new challenge.

Trust me, you will have different views, and the more will be that you should keep your job and forget the MSc. But be very sure that your final decision is what you really want coz it's your future. I won't add to your worries by saying my view, but you should decide what you want early enough and move on.

Let's see if you have a worse case than mine:

I am a Chemical Engineering graduate (2009)
All my experience, from IT to date has been in the Petroleum Sector. I have about 2years 7months experience in Cementing, an operation that's part of the Well Drilling and Completions Operations.
I applied for this scholarship in 2013 when I had just about a year experience, and so was at more advantage with the selected course.
But today I feel like the course is no longer relevant to me.
And I wish to change it to Drilling and Well Engineering at RGU, and many have given me the hope that the change is possible.
Yet I still have to worry about the fact that this course change will limit me to just drilling operations and subject me to more of field work, and this was my fear initially with Refinery Design and Operation.
So, I ask myself, what kind of career do I really want? Do I really enjoy the kind of job I'm doing? What happens after study? Which course gives you more advantage in the market? ETC

I bet you have your various suggestions, advices, and opinions about this, but I must say I have heard plenty of those, and it came down to one fact; IT'S ALL ABOUT ME..........

So, you better make that decision yourself, so you don't go blaming people for advising you wrongly. However, listen to people's contribution and use them wisely to draw your conclusions.

In all, LET GOD ALMIGHTY HAVE HIS WAY.... For we no not what tomorrow may bear... All we know is that we'll meet an expected end...

The Induction is 11th - 15th August as stated on their website.

The Venue for the induction will be released on 10th August on the website as stated there too.

You're advised to always visit the site for more information.

I don't know much about the courses and schools, but I'm sure all our questions will be answered during the induction.

However, some pals here have earlier said they contacted PTDF as well as past scholars who said you can always change your course, school or even defer your admission, just come to the induction with your admission offer letter for your course or choice of school, and others as your case may be.

You should be fine anyway, I'm sure PTDF will help with some of these knowing full well that they released the list a bit late, most schools have ended applications for September, 2014 entry.

My advice is that you get an admission offer for your choice of course and school, while awaiting the one from UCL. At least, should UCL not respond before the induction, you're still good to go.

esere826: Hope this helps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsH18S_pysI

SUPERB SIR.

VERY EASY AND HELPFUL!

U'RE RLY GOOD AT THIS.

I HAVE ASKED LOTS OF PALS FOR OVER A YEAR BUT NEVER GOT A WAY OUT.

HAD I NOT BEEN IN DIRE NEED OF IT THIS TIME, I WOULDN'T HAVE REMEMBERED NICE FORUMS SUCH AS THIS.

THANKS.

THANKS BRO.

I'LL TAKE A LOOK AND GET FURTHER ASSISTANCE IF REQUIRED.

For the accommodation, it should be September to September. That's a year.

I was even thinking we should get 3months after study to search for job before returning home.

Any of which, we'll be oriented during the inauguration.

It'll be nice for us to connect on BBM or Watsapp for quick and easy communication

DMainMan: @greatdave, catchdwind4rmkd, kenevics, ucheewa.

Av u guys applied for hostel accommodation.

D earlier d better before it is filled.

I want to know the accommodation specifications that is within PTDF budget. Make I no go select wetin de no fit afford o.

When applying for my school accommodation, they were asking which
housing types do I desire whether it is a
Single room, Single room with basin, double room, ensuites, Private accommodation etc.

Also, de were asking if it is goin to b
catered or self catered. By Catered, they mean the university hostel will offer feeding to you while self catered means feeding will b provide by oneself.

Also, i will like to know about accommodation duration. Is it
September to September or
September to June cos my course
semester finishes by June o according to my admission letter.

My case is worse brothers.

Got Refinery Design and Operations on the Scholarship List

Applied alrdy to Manchester, though the course name has been changed to Advanced Process Integration and Design; they already sent me the admission letter and I've accepted. Surprising took them just 2days.

But here's my problem, I'm already working in the Oilfield and really finding it hard to accept the career change. I applied to RGU for Drilling and Well Engineering even before I applied to Manchester, but they are yet to reply me with an offer saying it will take 21days.

As a Chemical Engineer though, I'll be fine with the process course, however, I've got to maintain my advantage of re-employment after study.

As such, until I'm sure which of the schools I'll join, I can't rush into booking for accommodation.

Napolitano14: I was able to get through to ptdf through one of their numbers, I was told that u can always change ur course that u should just come with ur new admission letter durring induction.

Lovely.

That's a good one

OK Sir

I am still waiting sir