Short answer first: the ADNOC Scholarship Programme is open to UAE nationals only. If you are not a UAE citizen you cannot apply, no matter which agent or website tells you otherwise. This guide explains exactly who qualifies, what ADNOC funds and how the selection process works — and, if you are reading this from Nigeria or elsewhere in Africa, it points you to funded programmes you can apply for.
Who the ADNOC Scholarship is for
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has run its scholarship programme since 1974 to build the technical workforce behind the UAE’s energy sector. Eligibility is restricted to UAE nationals who have been accepted, or conditionally accepted, by an ADNOC-approved university for a technical, engineering or STEM major.
That restriction is the single most important fact on this page. ADNOC does not operate an international track for this programme.
What the scholarship covers
- Tuition fee support at the approved university
- Support with living expenses while studying
- Rewards for strong academic performance
- A route into ADNOC Group’s technical career pipeline after graduation
Eligibility requirements
- Nationality: UAE national
- Field of study: technical, engineering or STEM major at an ADNOC-approved university
- Undergraduate academic minimum: a final high school average of at least 90% to study overseas, or at least 85% to study inside the UAE
- Core subjects: at least 85% in core science and mathematics subjects
- Medical: applicants must pass a medical fitness assessment
- National service: applicants must have completed national military service or hold an exemption
How the selection process works
- Submit an application through ADNOC’s official careers portal during an open cohort window
- Shortlisted applicants attend a competitive interview
- Successful candidates complete a medical assessment before an offer is confirmed
Important dates
We do not publish a deadline for this programme, because ADNOC does not keep one permanently open. Application windows for each cohort are announced by ADNOC itself on its official careers site. Check the official page directly rather than relying on any third-party date, including ours.
Not a UAE national? Apply to these instead
Most people who reach this page are searching for funded study in engineering and the sciences but are not UAE citizens. These are open to international and African applicants:
- Chevening Scholarship 2026 for Nigerians — fully funded UK master’s, open to Nigerian applicants
- ANGUS-SAWISE Scholarships in Science and Engineering — for African women in STEM
- Fully funded doctoral scholarships for international students
- Cheapest universities in the UAE — if the goal is studying in the Emirates on your own funding
Frequently asked questions
Can Nigerians apply for the ADNOC Scholarship?
No. The programme is limited to UAE nationals. Any website or agent offering Nigerians an ADNOC scholarship application is misleading you.
Is there an application fee?
No. ADNOC does not charge candidates to apply. Never pay anyone for access to this or any government or corporate scholarship application.
Does ADNOC fund study outside the UAE?
Yes — approved overseas study is supported, but the academic bar is higher: a minimum 90% high school average for overseas study compared with 85% for study inside the UAE.
Where are the official dates published?
On ADNOC’s own careers portal, linked below. Cohort windows open and close there.
Apply on the official ADNOC portal
If you are a UAE national and meet the requirements above, apply directly through ADNOC — never through an intermediary:
ADNOC Scholarship Program — official ADNOC careers page