OSI/FCO Chevening/University of St. Andrews Scholarships

Please note: The application deadline for the 2010-11 academic year has passed.  Please check back again in fall 2010 for the next call for applications

The scholarships aim to provide opportunities for independent postgraduate study in the United Kingdom for students who have demonstrated both academic excellence and the potential to become leaders, decision makers, and opinion formers in their own country. Upon completion of their studies in the UK, scholars are expected to return to their home country to resume their studies or work.

Scholarships are available for study for the master's in International Strategy & Economics, the master's in Middle East and Central Asian Security Studies and the M.Litt in Peace and Conflict Studies.

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

Deadline

The deadline for applications was February 4, 2010.  Please check back again in fall 2010 for the next call for applications.

Eligibility

The scholarships are open to applicants from Indonesia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Applicants must:

• be nationals of, and normally resident in one of the selected countries 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;
• display intellectual ability and leadership potential;
• already hold (or expect to hold by the time of taking up the award) a degree of an equivalent standard to a good UK second-class Honours degree;
• have passed an appropriate English language test by the time of taking up the award;
• have not already received or be currently receiving financial benefit from a previous HMG fully funded Scholarship;
• return to their home country at the end of their scholarship period to continue their studies / work there.

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

Employees, employees’ relatives (or former employees who have left employment less than two years before) of FCO (including FCO posts), the British Council, the Educational Advising Centers or local OSI  representations in the region and the participating universities will not be eligible to apply for these awards.

Application Process

You should complete the University’s application form 'Application for Admission to Graduate Study'.

You may obtain an application form from your local scholarship contact office (please find contact details below) or you may download it from the University’s website: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/admissions/pg/Applicationprocess/Howtoapply/.

The completed forms and supporting documents must be returned to your local scholarship contact office by February 4, 2010, at the latest (see below address and contact details). Applicants are required to submit three copies of the application package: one original set and two photocopies of the entire package.

Note: The three master courses covered by the scholarship program are based in the Faculties of Arts or Divinity and applicants are required to submit a sample piece of written work (of not more than 2,000 words in length) along with other supporting documents.

Selection Process

• All completed applications received by the local scholarship contact office by the deadline will be forwarded to the University of St Andrews. Academic staff at the university will compile a shortlist.
• Short-listed applicants will be invited for an interview and an English language test in their home country between mid-April and mid-May 2010. Candidates should keep their schedules free between these dates. Candidates will be informed by the local scholarship contact office at the end of March 2010 whether they have been shortlisted or not.
• Interviews will be carried out by representatives of OSI and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In certain cases, there may also be a panel member representing the interests of the University.
• Final awards will be decided jointly by the university, the FCO and OSF. Candidates will be informed by early June 2010.
• Please note that the local scholarship contact office staff are not involved at all in the decision-making process. They will inform applicants as soon as they can whether or not they have been successful. Please understand they will not be able to inform candidates until they have been told by the University of St Andrews and OSF.

Please note that all successful applicants will be invited to attend a one-month preparatory academic writing summer school in July or August 2010. The Network Scholarship Programs’ (NSP) Pre-Academic Summer Program is designed to prepare NSP grantees for a successful academic experience in the UK. Successful applicants will be provided with the opportunity to refine their research and writing skills through intensive courses in academic writing and social sciences. The exact date and location of the summer school will be available at a later stage in the selection process.

About the University of St. Andrews

• Read the University's Postgraduate Prospectus: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/admissions/pg/. The British Council office or the Educational Advising Centre will be able to make a copy available for consultation. It may not, however, be taken home.
• Visit the University of St. Andrews Admissions homepage: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/admissions/.
• Read more about application form and admission at: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/admissions/pg/Applicationprocess/.

Contact Information

Please make use of all available written documentation: these guidance notes, the university's Postgraduate Prospectus, the guidance notes included with the university's form "Application for Admission to Graduate Study."

For queries about these guidance notes, contact either:

• Your local scholarship contact office (please find contact details below), or:
• Margareta Mamaliga, UK Program Coordinator, Network Scholarship Programs, Open Society Foundation London, via fax or email only:
  Fax: +44-20-7031-0201
  Email: Margareta.Mamaliga@osf-eu.org

For academic queries please contact the following as per the relevant course:

• MSc in International Strategy & Economics:
  
  Prof. Gavin Reid
  Course Director
  School of Economics & Finance
  University of St Andrews
  The Scores
  St Andrews, KY16 9AL
  Scotland
  Email: pgsececon@st-andrews.ac.uk


• MLitt Middle East and Central Asian Security Studies:
  
  Dr. Sally Cummings
  Program Director
  Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus Studies
  School of International Relations
  University of St Andrews
  St Andrews, KY16 9AL
  Scotland
  Email: snc@st-andrews.ac.uk


• M.Litt in Peace and Conflict Studies:
  
  Dr. Gurchathen Sanghera
  Course Director
  School of International Relations
  University of St Andrews
  Arts Faculty Building
  Library Park, The Scores
  St Andrews, KY16 9AX
  Scotland
  Email: gss10@st-andrews.ac.uk

Local Scholarship Contact Offices

Indonesia
British Council
Jakarta Sticj Exchange Tower II, 16th floor
Jalan Jenderal Sudirman Kav. 52-53
Jakarta 12190
Tel: 62 (0)21 515 5561
Fax: 62 (0)21 515 5562
Contact person: Rowena Rompas
rowena.rompas@britishcouncil.or.id

Tajikistan
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: Firuza Tursunova
E-mail: tfiruza@osi.tajik.net

Uzbekistan
Educational Development Center "Bilim–Central Asia"
25, Gani Ilyaev Str., Shymkent
486012, Kazakhstan
Tel/Fax: (+3252) 211981
Contact person: Arman Turdaliyev
aturdaliyev@mail.ru

Uzbek applicants may also submit their applications to the British Embassy in Tashkent:
British Embassy Tashkent
Tel: +99871 120 15 00
Fax: +99871 120 15 20
Contact person: Dildora Nishanova
Dildora.Nishanova@fco.gov.uk