2027 NNPC/Renaissance JV Sabbatical and Postgraduate Research Internship Programme for Nigerians
Overview
The 2027 NNPC/Renaissance JV Sabbatical and Postgraduate Research Internship Programme is offered by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited as operator of the NNPC/Renaissance/TotalEnergies/Agip Energy and Natural Resources Joint Venture. The initiative aims to connect academic work with practical challenges in the energy industry, allowing participants to undertake industry-related research, gain practical experience, and contribute to technical development within the energy sector. Both programme tracks run for 12 months and are non-renewable.
Who can apply
The programme is open to suitably qualified Nigerian candidates. The postgraduate research internship is designed for Nigerian postgraduate students pursuing MSc, M.Phil., or PhD qualifications. The sabbatical attachment is intended for university lecturers holding the rank of Senior Lecturer or above. Previous participants in the programme are not eligible to apply.
What you get
Participants receive the opportunity to gain practical industry experience, conduct relevant research, and contribute to research activities aligned with the company operational priorities. Sabbatical participants may also contribute to teaching, research, and technical capacity development at the Renaissance JV Centres of Excellence.
Requirements
Applicants must select the programme track and discipline relevant to their academic qualifications, professional experience, and research interests. Pipeline availability internship candidates must be PhD candidates in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or Oil and Gas Engineering, and possess at least three years of pipeline engineering experience in design, construction, or integrity assessment. Exploration PhD interns must specialise in Geology or Geophysics with research interests in artificial intelligence applications within exploration workflows. Professorial applicants for Nigerian Content Development must have an engineering background with interests in process engineering or project engineering. Sabbatical applicants must hold a university appointment at Senior Lecturer level or above.
How to apply
Applicants must submit an application letter stating the preferred team or discipline, along with a curriculum vitae containing a contact telephone number, email address, and contact details for three referees. Postgraduate research interns must also submit a research proposal covering the study background, technical objectives, methodology, required data, and expected outcomes. Sabbatical applicants must provide a titled, one-page summary explaining how they intend to add value to Renaissance business during the 12-month sabbatical. Submissions must be sent by email to university-relations@renaissanceafrica.com using the relevant team or discipline as the email subject line. The application process is entirely free of charge.
Key dates
Applications open on 23 October 2026 and close on 6 November 2026.