OSI/FCO Chevening Scholarships/University of Oxford

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

The OSI/FCO Chevening Scholarships at the University of Oxford 2008-9 are designed to provide opportunities for postgraduate study in selected fields in the United Kingdom for doctoral students, junior lecturers and young professionals who demonstrate both academic excellence and the potential to become leaders, decision-makers and opinion-formers in their home countries.

Most of the awards available under the scheme are for Masters and nine-month research scholarships at the University of Oxford in any field within the social sciences and humanities, including environmental policy studies and public health.

Within the scholarship scheme the following three options are available:

Research scholarships (please click for further details):

1: Nine-month Research Scholarships at the University of Oxford for postgraduate research contributing towards a doctoral degree in the candidate's home institution. These awards may be held for study in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences or public health/policy related areas of Medical Sciences. The scholarships are held from 1st October 2008 to 30th June 2009.

Master's scholarships (please click for further details):

2: One-year Scholarships to read for a Master's degree or diploma at the University of Oxford. Applicants should obtain a list of the available degrees from the local Soros Foundations/Educational Advising Centers.

3: Twelve-month scholarships to read for an MA in Political Philosophy (The Idea of Political Toleration) at the University of York.

Applicants should have excellent academic qualifications, a clear and precise proposal describing what they wish to study, and a fluent command of the English language. Further details and application forms are available from the national Soros Foundations/Educational Advising Centers (see contacts below).

Deadline

The deadline for applications to the OSI Chevening Awards for the Universities of Oxford and York has passed. Please check this page again in late 2008 for a new announcement for the 2009-10 scholarship awards.

Completed OSI Scholarship Application Forms must be returned to the scholarship coordinator at the National Foundation/Advising Center in your home country by the date above.

Eligible Countries

The scholarships are open to applicants from the following countries:

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine or Uzbekistan

Application Information

You can get application forms, guidance notes for applicants, together with information about the University of Oxford from the address of your nearest scholarship program coordinator at Soros Foundations/Educational Advising Centers.

All applicants for Option 2 (Master's at Oxford) must also apply directly to the University for admission on to the course. Application forms are available from the Oxford website (www.admin.ox.ac.uk), which also gives details on how to apply (either online or using the paper application form). There is a normally a non-refundable charge of £25 payable when submitting a Master's application to the University of Oxford. However, the sponsors will cover this fee on your behalf on the following conditions:

you must submit an OSI Scholarship Application Form to the your local foundation office by 17 December 2007
you must apply for admission to the University using the paper application form
you must write 'OSI' on the top right-hand corner of the front page of the University application form.

You can then submit your application without payment. Your fee cannot be covered by the sponsors if you apply online.

For Candidates from Uzbekistan, all Application Forms can be obtained from and submitted to the local British Embassy in Tashkent, as well as from the Bilim-Central Asia Centers in Almaty and Shymkent.

Criteria

Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the following criteria apply:

Applicants must be citizens of and resident in one of the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine or Uzbekistan
Applicants should be planning to return to their home country at the end of the period of study.
Applicants must have completed at least four years of university study, and have obtained, or expect to obtain, the appropriate degree(s) by September 2008.
Applicants for Option 1 (Nine-month Research Scholarships) must be registered, or have a firm intention of registering, for a PhD program in their home country or be employed as university faculty in their home country.Clear and specific information regarding this point should be made on the application form.
Preference will go towards applicants who have not previously studied outside of their home country.
Applicants must demonstrate the potential to become leaders, decision-makers and opinion formers in their home country. This requirement will be treated as 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 Options 1 and 3 is TOEFL 570 (230 in the computer-based test, 88-89 in the internet based test (iBT)) or IELTS 6.5.

The requirement for Option 2 is TOEFL 600 (250 in the computer-based test, 100 in the iBT) or IELTS 7.0, except for applicants applying for the Magister Juris, where the minimum requirement is IELTS 7.5 (630 in TOEFL, 267 in the computer based test or 109 in the iBT), and for the M.St. in Oreintal Studies where the minimum requirement is IELTS 8.0. Please refer to the University of Oxford Graduate Studies Prospectus for further details.

Selection Process

Applicants should submit two copies of completed OSI Scholarship Application Forms, together with references and academic transcripts by the 17th December.

For Option 2 (Master's at Oxford) a separate Application for Graduate Study should also be submitted in paper format only to Oxford by the 18th January 2008.

Shortlisted candidates are interviewed in their home countries in April and given language tests where appropriate. Final decisions are made in May.

Applicants for Option 2 and 3 are requested to contact the Soros Foundation/Educational Advising Centers in their countries for more detailed information concerning language tests.

Financial Terms

Each award will provide for payment of academic tuition fees, college fees, a monthly stipend for living expenses sufficient for a single student, and other agreed allowances including one return economy airfare. No financial support or special provisions are provided for dependants or family members.

For further details and an application, please contact the appropriate scholarship program coordinator at the national foundation in your home country.