OSI/FCO Chevening/Cambridge University Scholarships

Note: The deadline for applications to the OSI Chevening Awards for the University of Cambridge has passed. Please check this page again in late 2008 for a new announcement for the 2009-10 scholarship awards.

Offered in collaboration with the Open Society Institute, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Cambridge Trusts (Cambridge Overseas Trust, Cambridge Commonwealth Trust), these scholarships enable students of outstanding academic merit to pursue one-year taught postgraduate courses of study at the University of Cambridge in subjects relevant to the needs of their countries.

Eligible Countries & Subjects

Students from Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia:

MPhil in Criminology, Development Studies, Education, English & Applied Linguistics, Historical Studies, History & Philosophy of Science, International Relations, Management, Philosophy, Political Thought and Intellectual History, Social Anthropology, LLM Law.

Students from Bangladesh and Pakistan:

MPhil in Criminology, Development Studies, Economics, Economics & Development, Education, Historical Studies, History & Philosophy of Science, International Relations, Management, Philosophy, Political Thought & Intellectual History, Social Anthropology and LLM Law.

Eligibility

Applicants must be citizens of and resident in one of the following countries: Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo (which is at present under United Nations administration), the Republic of Macedonia, the Republic of Montenegro, Serbia; Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Applicants should be planning to return to their home country at the end of the period of study.
All applicants must have completed at least four years of university study and have obtained, or expect to obtain, the appropriate degree(s), no later than September 2008.
Applicants must demonstrate the potential to become leaders, decision makers, and opinion formers in their home country. This requirement is of considerable importance in the selection process, and applicants should be sure to complete Section 9 of the application form fully and appropriately.
Applicants will be required to have passed an English proficiency test (TOEFL or IELTS) before being offered a scholarship. The minimum requirement for some of the courses available is TOEFL 600 (250 in the computer-based test) or IELTS 7.0; however most courses require the higher minimum requirement of IELTS 7.5, and some IELTS 8.0. Please refer to the University of Cambridge Graduate Studies Prospectus at www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/gsprospectus/ for further details.

A preference will go towards applicants who have not studied previously outside of their home countries.

Ineligibility

The following applicants are ineligible to apply:

Employees, employee's relatives (or former employees who have left employment less than 2 years before) of FCO (including FCO Posts), the British Council, the Educational Advising Centers or other OSI-NSP representations in the region and the participating Universities will not be eligible to apply for these awards

Also ineligible are those who have received a scholarship funded by the British government within the previous three years.

Application Process & Deadlines

All applicants must complete the OSI/FCO Chevening Scholarship Application and return it to the scholarship coordinators in their home countries by 31st January 2008.

All applicants must also send the Graduate Admission and Scholarship Application Form (GRADSAF) to the Board of Graduate Studies at Cambridge by the general deadline of 31st January 2008. However, if a course deadline is earlier, the GRADSAF must be returned to the Board of Graduate Studies to meet that deadline. Please consult the website of the University of Cambridge to learn about each course deadline.

Applicants from Bangladesh and Pakistan are advised to contact the British Council Offices in their countries to return copies of their application materials. Please note that the deadline is still 31st January 2008 or the individual course deadline – whichever is earliest.

Selection Process

Applications for admission to the university will be considered by the Board of Graduate Studies (the graduate admitting authority of the University).

Short-listed applicants for Economics, Economics and Development or Finance will be required to take a GRE test. This will be arranged by the local Soros Foundation/Advising Center; the British Council Offices in Bangladesh and Pakistan respectively.

Short-listed applicants will be required to take an English language test, which will also be arranged by the local Soros foundation/Advising Center; the British Council Offices in Bangladesh and Pakistan respectively.

Applicants offered a place by the Board of Graduate will be interviewed in their home countries.

Final decisions will be made in June/July 2008.

Guidance Notes & Applications

Detailed guidance notes, application forms, and lists of the required supporting documents are available through the local scholarship coordinators.

Financial Terms

The scholarships will cover the University Composition Fee at the overseas rate, approved college fees, a maintenance allowance sufficient for a single student, and one return economy airfare to the UK. No financial support is provided for dependants or family members.

Contact Information

For further details and an application, applicants should contact the appropriate scholarship program coordinator at the Soros foundation/Advising Center in their home country, or at the British Council Offices in Bangladesh and Pakistan.