OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Leeds Scholarships

The deadline for scholarship applications for the 2009-10 academic year has passed.  Please check back again in fall 2009 for a new call for applications for the 2010-11 academic year.

These scholarships aim to provide opportunities for independent postgraduate study in the United Kingdom for students who are engaged in or intending to pursue postgraduate work in their own country and who have demonstrated both academic excellence and the potential to become leaders, decision makers, and opinion formers in their own country. Subject to satisfactory progress, the scholarships lead to the award of a master’s degree.

Scholarships are available for study for the following full-time taught postgraduate programs at the university: MA International Studies, MA International Political Economy, MA Development Studies, MA Development Studies and Gender, MA Gender Studies, MA Democratic Studies, MA Social and Public Policy, and MA Conflict Development and Security.

Each scholarship provides tuition fees at the University of Leeds, a stipend to cover living costs (for one person only), and return air travel from the scholar’s home country.

Deadline

The deadline for application submissions was January 30, 2009.

Eligibility

The scholarships are open to applicants from Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and Tajikistan.

Applicants will normally be expected to:

• be nationals of, and normally resident in, the selected country during the academic year in which they apply for the award; applicants who are temporarily out of the country (for a total period of less than three consecutive months) may be treated as being resident;
• already hold (or expect to hold by the time of taking up the award) a degree of an equivalent standard to at least a good UK second-class Honours degree;
• provide written evidence of an adequate English Language standard IELTS band score 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in any skill) or paper based TOEFL 580 (with 4.0 on the Test of Written English TWE) or computer based TOEFL 240 (with an essay rating of 4.0) or equivalent;
• return to their home country at the end of their scholarship period to continue their studies/work there;
• not have already received or be currently receiving financial benefit from a previous HMG-funded scholarship.

Employees, employees' 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, the participating Universities will not be eligible to apply for these awards.

Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously studied outside of their home country.

To Apply

Complete the following:

• the University form "Application for Taught Postgraduate Study," available at www.leeds.ac.uk/students/postgraduates.htm. Applicants should also provide copies of the other documents listed in the Notes for Guidance section of the application form.
• the Scholarship application form (available at the local scholarship offices listed below).

Deadline

The completed forms and other documents must be returned to the local British Council office in the case of Lebanon, and to the local National Foundation offices in the case of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, at the addresses below by January 30, 2009, at the latest. Applicants are required to submit three copies of the application package: one original set and two photocopies of the entire package.

Selection Procedure

All completed applications received by the British Council office and the Soros foundation offices by the deadline will be forwarded to the University of Leeds. Academic staff at the university will compile a shortlist.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview and an English language test in their home country in early May 2009. Applicants should keep their schedule free in May. Applicants will be informed by the British Council office and the Soros foundation offices by late April 2009 whether they have been shortlisted or not.

Interviews will be carried out by representatives of Open Society Foundation and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Final awards will be decided jointly by the university, the FCO, and OSF. Candidates will be informed by June. In addition, certain candidates may be offered reserve places for scholarships, which means that there is a possibility that they will be awarded a scholarship if one of the successful candidates withdraws from the program.

Please note that the staff at the British Council Lebanon and the Soros foundation offices in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are not involved in the decision-making process. They will notify candidates as soon as they can whether or not they have been successful. Please understand that staff will not be able to inform you until they have been told by the University of Leeds and OSF.

Successful applicants will receive award letters from the university and OSF.

More Information About the University of Leeds

Read the university’s Postgraduate Prospectus. The British Council office and the Soros foundation office will make a copy available for consultation. This copy may not, however, be taken home.

The postgraduate coursefinder is available to read on the university website. Please go to www.leeds.ac.uk/students/postgraduates.htm and click on the "Coursefinder" link on the right-hand side of the page. Bear in mind that in some cases details of any new courses may only be available on individual department webpages.

Visit the university’s homepage at www.leeds.ac.uk.

Additional Questions

Please make use of all of the available written documentation: these guidance notes, the university’s Postgraduate Prospectus, and the guidance notes included with the university’s Taught Postgraduate Study Application Form.

Queries about these guidance notes should be directed to either:

• The British Council office and the Soros foundation office (see below) or
• Margareta Mamaliga, UK Program Coordinator, Network Scholarship Programs, Open Society Foundation London, via fax or email only: +44 20 7031 0201, or Margareta.Mamaliga@osf-eu.org.

Academic questions should be directed to the appropriate department at the University of Leeds (listed in the university’s Postgraduate Prospectus).

The British Council and Soros Foundation Offices

Soros Foundation–Kyrgyzstan
55A Logvinenko Street
Bishkek
720040
Kyrgyzstan
Tel: (996 312) 663475, 663495, 664240, 664218
Fax: (996 312) 663448
Contact person:
Rakia Rustemova: rakia@soros.kg

British Council Lebanon
Berytech Technology and Health
Mathaf/Sodeco Street, Damascus Road
Beirut 2064 1509 - Lebanon
Tel: +961 1 428900
Fax: +961 1 428908
Contact person:
Masri Fatme: Fatme.Masri@lb.britishcouncil.org

Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation–Tajikistan
Trade and Business Center "VEFA"
37/1 Bokhtar street, 4th floor, room #404 
734002, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Tel:  (+992 47) 441-07-45,441-07-46, 441-07-47,441-07-48.
Fax:  (+992 47) 441-07-29
Contact person:
Gulnora Choukourbekova: gulnora@osi.tajik.net